The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-26

7
exhorted to prefer one another IN honor,
and we knew his meeting would be a
failure il ours went on, and we were
afraid OF the "freeze-up," so We would
not wait any longer. He expressed his
willingness to take the chances on his
meeting" and there being no law or
gospel to hinder any man from making
a fool Of himself, he did take the
chances" and lost, not over seven OF
eight, aud they Of the most narrow aud
bigoted of his own members, staying
away from our crowded audiences on
any evening, to hear his usual plati-
tudes. Whenever the Methodist con-
ference puts its men of sufficient brains
to exhibit a little courtesy and mag
namity on the outposts, their phase Of
religion enjoys u fair share OF public
patronage. But the "skim-milk par
son" in seedy dressing gown and shabby
slippers, has no legitimate business on
the border, where the people will do
their own thinking, regardless Of sect
or creed
Failing TO secure the church, we next
called upon Mr.. Milarky, proprietor Of
the town hall, and stated our case, aud
that gentleman being.a Christian, with
sufficient faith in his creed Cthe Catho-
licl to believe we couldn't injure 10 IL we
would, and enough of "a physiOgnomist
to know at once that we wouldn't il we
could, kindly accommodated US with
the hall, Prof. King postponing his dane
ing school to give usan opportunity to go
on with the lectures as long as we dared
to risk the coming cold weather. Never
have we had better or more appreciat-
i've audiences, aud nowhere has our gos-
pei been better received. Mr.. Tustin, of
the Independent, and Mr. Turner, Of the
East OregOnidn, were especially friendly
to our work, each editorially exhorting
their readers to hear US for themselves,
and both commenting our humble ef-
forts in the most fiatteriug terms.
\ week had passed in Pendleton, and
we were ready for departure, our face
turned homeward in the numbering
stage. The morning was cold, and a
light snow had fallen, but the air was
crisp and clear, and the hot rocks Mrs.
Bailey had furnished for our feet kept
the circulation at equilibrium, and We
didn't mind the nipping atmosphere.
The ride to Umatilla was long and
lonely. The fertile hills gave way Ia
sandy sage plains, aud these at last "a
I rocky wastes, where only the jack rab-
bit sometimes crossed the road. Bat
away in the distance rose the beautiful
Blue Mountains, undulating and tree
covered. upon whose crests the cider
mantle Of the storm king nestled low
ingly. High noon and no dinner sta
/ tion; but here aud there we see a lonely
farmhouse, surrounded by denuded
trees, slender, aud tall aud sinewy,"
their regular rows proclaiming that ma.
ture never planted them.
The Umatilla River at last broaden.
into a wide aud wild and booming tor.
rent; and soon we mount another ris,
and the welcome old Columbia greet.
our eager gaze, with the wind worn vii.
lage Of Umatilla Nesting like a weary
/ babe at its side.
Two o'clock, aud we are in the vii.
lage. The driver halis in front Of III,
hotel, Mrs. Wilson aud her daughter
conduct Us to the parlor fire, aud W,
were soon engaged in making the mos
Of life aud its comforts at the well-kep
wayside inn. Evening, and a lecture
We sometimes wonder is we are not ,
machine which only needs to be wounC
up to get US TO grinding speeches. Ger
tain it is that We do vast amount o
speech-makiug and hold out, all thing
considered, passing we'll Captain
Gray, with quite a number OF other gen
tlemen aud ladies, attended the lectur
from the steamer, aud the company wa
favored by them with guitar aud voca
music after the lecture, the good time
lasting to IA late hour
Sunday evening, and another lecture
the audience increasing in numbers an,
interest, and the subject, Hash" ;" beini
compound Of things theological, gen
eral and practical.
, The society OF Umatilla is very pleas
ant, and the people are contented an,
prosperous. But there is great antici
patton Of Indian trouble, and conse
r quent shudderiug fear abouuds, whicl
, is liable to break into panic at almos
any hour. This point aud Wallula ar
each at the mercy Of the savages from
= their exposed position, especially durin
T the winter freeEe-up. Some Indian
z are to be hung in Pendleton early i
January for the murder OF George Cog
, gan and others, and the inhabitants q
? the frontier have apparent good caus
: for apprehension, especially as th
I Umatillas are unusually saucy aud dem
, onstrative, aud are naturally Incense
at the prospect OF a speedy removs
from their favorite reservation.
But, again the weekly letter grow
upon our hands, aud We must stop rigt
here. A. J. d.
= Umatilla, December IS, 1873.
} JUSTICE TEMPERED WITH MERCY