The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-20
Usage MISSION.

10 US publication from one of the females
of the Usage Mission Family. The interest
so extensively felt for this little company,
placed several hundred miles above the
mouth of the Usage, and far beyond the lin
its Of the most remote Of our settlements,
warrants us in believing the extract will be
gratifying to our readers. The letter COM
mences with the date of Dec. /, 1921, and
after mentioning that the sickness in the
family had abated, proceeds thus Il
The Affections which the Lord has been
pleased to send us, have probably before this
reached your ears; although you may not
have yet heard of the death of Brother Seeley.
This is great loss TO the Mission Family
Not only his occupation in life, but his piety,
rendered his presence necessary.
Monday, Dec. 3.-This is the day observed
by Christians of almost every denomination for
prayer. This evening we have prayer-meet-
ing in Mr.. Dodge's house, at which place the
family will PROBABLY hold their meetings this
winter, as it IS larger than the others.-Will
You not rejoice with us, my dear Parents, that
we are 50 comfortably situated land that all
our dwellings are completed before cold wealth
er?-These are ten in number; and what, in
civilized country, would be called very mean
But here we think them good enough. If
could have better dwelling should not
choose it; for this low I" mud walled cottage''
will teach us humility whereas. if we had ar
rived at our station, and found buildings in
readiness, or been able to put up more commo-
ious ones, it would have had very different
effective might have felt lofty, and there
fore very unfit for the work on which we were
sent. After our arrival at this place, every
member Of the Family was sick but we saw
the hand of the Lord, and in the midst of
judgment sang praises. lie did not smite all
at once he left just that number sufficient to
do the work indispensably necessary, and
take care of the sick, SO far, that they need not
suffer for the want of attention. He raised
up some, and brought down others. The hand
Of death has taken some while are are left
Oily one of the Brethren has been able to
work, at a time, since we came on land.
Either the husband waits on the wife, or the
wife on the husband and when both have been
sick together, some of the hired help have fill
ed their places. But these too have seen Attic
tons. Five were hired, which number was
thought sufficient to erect all the cabins neces-
sary not one have escaped the Fever and
ASuS-DuL uI arc
We have just learnt the particulars of the
war existing between the Cherokee and Usage
Indians IAN the .4rkonsG,c, which was said to
be hushed up but this we learn was incorrect.
Brothers Chapman and Fuller, (the former of
whom is now with us) inform us, that the Osa-
ges began first on the Cherokees, by stealing
horses, sc. which Initiated the latter 10 such
degree, that they came out and killed few of
tho 0coons Aifar flaia haand ro4I;,.. &c
them, until a few days since, we understand
that the Cherokees have attacked and killed,
both men, women and children without dis
tinction for this is their custom. The young
men were out at work with the Pawnees, and
consequently it was mostly old men tn at were
killed. We cannot at present ascertain the
number, but hope it is not 80 large as we have
heard. But more of this in my next.
Brothers Chapman and Requa have been
here almost three weeks, and will return in
the course of next week. You cannot tell
how we love their people, and how much at
tached we feel to the sister Mission. From
Fort Usage to Arkansaw, there is, and will
be, much travelling. This is about half way
between those places, and Of course we shall
be likely 10 see much company in few years.
Indeed, we have already seen more than
eUer expected to see after left civilized society
Friday, 18th. We have just had visit
from two of the Indian women--one of them
had an infant which was probably week or
two old, confined on a board--it was laid
STRAIGHT its hack and lief-ah Elk to cover
its face and body-to this was added a small
Buffalo skin, to complete its dress.-Thus the
little innocent will be carried forseveral months.
This may be assigned as a reason why the
or zit,hf aud handqnpna -uot1
will seldom find a deformed Indian in the
whole nation. The health Of the family still
continues to Improvisation
The death Of Mrs. Thomas, announc-
ed in this days Gazette, was produced
by circumstances which ought not to
pass unnoticed, as a melancholy caution
10 house-keepers- 1t appears she ex-
pected company in the evening Of this
lcogoeyraDbo Aooioor draccpd hnrsaf