Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-03-19
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In Underhill March 9Th, EnESBzsa BunsAsx, aged
II. Printers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts,
In Huntington, on The goth ult, Lurnka CAnrrs-
TER, aged 81 years.
In this village the 9Th inst, al the residence OF
Mrs B. l.. Walker, MARGARET BENEDrcT, native Of
st. Francis and member Of the st. Francis Tribe
of Indians in the 18th year of her age.
The sudden death of this interesting youth is one OF
those mysterious Providences the reasons OF which
are concealed from mortals 1t has awakened the
sympathy of large community, who were engaged
tribe.
AS we have had, of late, SO interesting connexon
with her and with her people may be proper to give
little history of both. The ST. Francs tribe Of IN
dams were once numerous warlike and cnterprisng
race spreading themselves large extent OF coun-
try. Their original location is not well known But
they have shared the fate of most other tribes by
entertainments from European settlers, by war, and
contcntions-they have been much reduced and scat
tered. The main body of the nation, now having
separate existence, and amounting to between three
& four hundred hold a small extent of country at st.
Francis about seventy or eighty miles north -enst OF
Montreal. This is secured TO them by the British
Government, from which they also receive a rifpg
sum in goods in the way of an annual donation;
Most of the tribe are nomlnally Roman Catholics,
but in great ignorance. During the last twenty years
several of their young men have been educated nj
Dartmouth College, or rather, at Moore's Charity
School" whichis the preparatory depar Of that
institution, ana was by
education,o of Indian youth. Among the number thus
educated was Peter p. Ozunkerhne. He was mar
RED man long before lie had concluded his studies
While at Hanover, he became Christian. His soul
was now filled and fired with the desire of Chrstian
zng his people. He toiled through his studies with
unquenchable zeal-thcn went back to his tribe re
duced Their language TO writing -prepared spelling
book IN the Indian tongue-traverscd the country on
foot till he obtained the means of printing it, and of
establishing press at St Fsancis He then opened
school-commcnced himself conrse of theological
study--wa licensed and commissioned by the Am
Board rs an ordained missionary to his tribe IN 1885
He now has thriving little church Of about twenty
five members. But while Mr.. Osunkerhine was thus
wonderfully transformed by the grace of God and by
education, into an intelligent, christian man his
wife and child who had remained at home under the
influence OF henthensm were Indians still IN Their
dress habits and all their feelings Feeling it essen
tial to his own usefulness well as happiness, that
his companion should have some instruction; and
rightly anticipating that Christians in Burlington
would take an interest in him and his people, he came
out with his wife and little boy (six seven years old
clad pure indian garb TO If they could not be IN
| struccd here. The Congregational Church. TO which
he made the proposal; readily complied with i, and
placed them in Mrs. Walkers school, and with her
protlered aid and that of few other friends, sustained
about one year in course ofinslrucon- furnish
ed her, her return home, with the means of intro
duclng among her people our American modes Of
dress housekeeping &c.
Soon after Mr. Osunkerhne's wife returned two
little girls from the tribe among us about four
teen years of age. They became hopeful converts TO
Christ. One of these was Margaret Benedict--a
niece Mr.. O. and the subject of this brief sketch
She has lived during the last four years successfully
IN different christian families, in order that she might
be instructed in regionin domestic labor and enjoy
| the opportunity of attending school, She endcared
herself her Teacher and to the families in which she
has resided, by kind temper and correct department
| She carly showed peculiar aptness TO learn To
qualify hersefto he useful to her tribe was, especially
during the last year of her life, the great, absorbing
and present object of her thoughts. Often would
she inquire of her teacher pastor and other friends If
they did think her sufficiently qualified to return
and gather the Indian children in school and teach
| them the Bible and the way of salvatonr This de-
sire was her ruling passion in her last sickness. She
did not think that she should die because, (she tho
God had work for her to among her nation or other
tribes When she was told she probably could not
recover, and would die perhaps in n few hours, she
seemed to yield with perfect cheerfnlness and compo-
sure to the will OF C;od-and said We'll, God is wise
God is wise # he thinks best for to die in Bur-
lington it will be right In this frame she committed
her departing spirit into the hands other Saviour; and
her end was peace. 1t was our cherished hope that
God would USE her an instrument in missionary
work among her people But God is vise,' to his
| wiI, .ai us chccrfuly submit Com,