The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-10-26
LETTER FROM $751;

|. LETTER FROM sLsSETON AGENCY.
Our readers will remember recent
item in our columns stating that Miss
Media Lewis and Miss Arrie Grant, two
Of our most worthy young ladies. had
gone to the Sisseton Agency, in Dakota,
to teach the young Indian idea how to
read, sew, keep house, etc. Mrs. Lewis
received letter recently from her
daughter, from. which we copy, by per-
mission, the following interesting por-
lions: -.
Our trip was tedious and rather I'M
pleasant Oh account of tie weather.
During the latter part of the week we
suffered with the cold, especially Friday
and Saturday, and then that midnight
ride was enough to take the romance
cut of anybody. Just think of our
wandering around over those hills, fol-
lowing ali Indian trail part OF the time
and part of the time without anything
to guide us but the sun, for two DAYS
and half u night. But it is over with
now, and I have had enough of over
land travelling to last me a lifetime,
think. suppose bert has related to
you his midnight experience with the
squaW. have to laugh every time 1
think Of them trudging along up that
hill in front of the team.
have been very agreeably surprised
every day since l came here, to see how
different every thing is from what we
expected to find it. L wish some of
those people who said we would have
to live in tepees and wear blankets could
see Mrs. II. 3 brussels carpet and fine
furniture. She is a perfect lady, and
has been very kind to us. Indeed, eve
ry one seems to think we are quite dis
tinguished personages, aud they spare
no pains to make things pleasant and
agreeable for US. We have taken a
smaller room than the one they wrote
us about, and our carpet covers all the
floor. We had our stove put up to-day,
and our room is quite comfortable now.
Pictures, brackets and flowers, all help
to make it pleasant. The teaching
force here consists of the PRINCIPAL.
Mr.. Kimball, the Matron Mrs. Eldridge,
Il young widowed lady who has charge
of the kitchen, dairy, laundry and din
ing room-you see we have nothing to
do with any If. tiiese,-and our two
selves, making five teachers in all, and
only twenty-three pupils.
just please tell those folks who said
we would have to live OH muskrats and
lizards, that we had bread, butter, tea,
Holsters, plum sauce and jelly cake for
tea tonight. / have seen only one In
dian with 4 blanket on, and that was a
woman. They dress and look very
much like other people. From our win
dow we have full view of All Indian,
farm, which is nicely fenced, we'll
stocked, and has 4 good looking white
frame house larger than yours. Our
school is quite small now, but they ex-
pect more pupils soon. The Principal
has given me full charge of the school
room which is AS conveniently arranged
and us nicely furnished as any 1 ever
saw. We have school only in the fore
noon. We teach the children to read
and write the English language. They
all speak a little English. think they
are as bright and us good looking as
white children, and am not sure but
that like them as we'll us l do white
children. My creates: difficulty in
school is to make them understand me-
but they do not forget what tell them.
Mr.. Kilnball says may make whatever
promises or threats see fit and he will
see that they are carried out. Every.
thing is kept under lock and key here,
both night and day, and every teacher
carries ring of keys ut her side. 1t
takes some time to 80 from one side OF
this house to the other when one must
stop to unlock and lock every door
My. fingers are sore from turning keys
I do not see the necessity of it, but
they insist that it shall be done, and
hold us responsible. Maj. Hamilton
pecting Mr.. Newton and family soon
liz has offered Mr.. n. a situation a:
teacher in district school about TWEEN
ty miles from here, ut a salary of $50(
per year MEDIA.