Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/215

 (Reprinted from The Friend, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) OREGON MISSION Under this caption, The Friend, published in Hono- lulu, February 14, 1846, the following: We have recently been gratified in receiving a friendly epistle from a missionary brother, the Rev. C. Eells, re- siding at Tahimakain [Tshimakain] near Fort Colville, in the Oregon Territory. The Missionaries in that por- tion of the Indian country, are laboring under the pa- tronage of the A. B. C. F. Missions. In the former part of his communication he speaks of the inconvenience of not receiving letters from friends for months and years. Under date of October 10th, 1845, he writes as follows : — Our letters from the States are often from eighteen months to two years on the way. We have just received communications from Boston, up to November last. My last file of papers previous to this, was nearly two years old, when received. The history of this Mission may be compared to alter- nate sunshine, and cloudy weather. Fond hopes and pleasing anticipations cherished, only to experience sad disappointment. However, if such a checkered scene produces an effect to make us look away from earth and earthly things, an important object will have been accom- plished. Soon after the date of my last, this station was, to human appearance, unusually promising, but soon after, and suddenly there was an unfavorable change. During the winter, the school for natives was small and finally run out. The summer a little more favorable than the preceding. The latter part of the last winter, and spring, was a peculiarly trying period to the two families connected with the south branch of the mission. More than a year ago, a party of Indians composed of those chiefly about Dr. Whitman's station, and Walla Walla, went to Califor- nia for cattle. Among the number was a young man, son of Walla Walla, chief, who had been educated at the Methodist Mission School. Either his own improper con-