Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-03-02

Letters from = Young VermOnter who
Finds his Lifew Ork among the Alas
hn Indiana.

letters from . Young Vcrmonter who
Finds his Lifew Ork among the Alas
kn indians.
The article on Alaska in a recent number
of The Phoenix was especially interesting
~ one of its readers, from the fact that he
has a young friend, n native Of this state,
who has chosen that far-off region as the
scene Of his life-work The Rev. John w.
Chapman of Middlebury, Vt. clergyman
Of the Episcopal church, has left home and
friends with the single purpose of teaching
the poor natives, and instructing them in
the principles of the doctrine Of Christ and
the holy gospel and his devotion and self
sacrifice are certainly worthy of mention,
as such instances in our day are seldom
known, t. e., in comparison with the num-
Der Of those wherein persons are seeking
milder climes in search of health or for
tune When it is stated that communica-
tions can only pass between him and his
relatives once each year, unless some un-
foreseen event occurs in the Transmission of
mails, it will be understood that the many
deprivations he must of necessity expert
ence in the manner Of living, etc, are not
by any means the only sacrifices made
From private letters received by his fam
lily the following extracts are taken, which
will serve to indicate somewhat the nature
of his work and its surroundings
VINO.
From letter dated The Yukon River, Aug 1,
1885,"
bo ta Iaar at AuN,ik fnr to, Jo,-s avJ
have just left Mr.. Parker there qnite nice
ly settled, while | am going down to st.
Michaens again by the steamer to look af-
ter the remainder of our goods which we
were not able to take up the first time, and
to get II few more supplies.
eve are provided with stoves, which are
said here to be much superior to open fire
places, and with the most convenient tools
and whatever humanity speaking can insure
comfort and whatever time has been con
sumed in preparation is more than made
up by the ease with which we are now
working. Our arrangements for teaching
aud housework this winter have been set
tied as follows Mr.. Parker teaches three
hours day and gets supper | teach two
hours, from 10 to II A. NJ. and > to 3 p NJ,
and get breakfast and dinner. On Satur-
days Mr.. Parker takes the baking and the
The native women do our sewing neatly
and make our fur garments and our boots
Of deer skin, with soles Of the thick skin of
the seal. The natives are not altogether
untaught in Christianity, though to most of
them | think 1t is more "a name than prin-
cple. Soon after we moved in they brOught
US skins to sell to us but We made them
understand that We were not traders, but
had come to tell them of Jesus Christ, and
pointed to the cross which we had on the
table. The room was full of Indians, and
the spokesman said, with lighting up Of
his face, j sabe Indians sahe, t. f.. under
stand"
From a letter dated st Michael's Aug.l8,1ss7."l
"A saw mill in this country would sup
port itself from the start, and | am think
ing we ought 10 get up one within a couple
Of years if the mission gets adherents. At
present all the sawed lumber made in the
country is prepared by hand, and it is a
scarce article. would rather have Il good
mill here than good mine.
"A pleasant thing occurred day or two
since. An Indian whom had seen at An
yik, came down the river, and | saw and
recognized him A day or two afterwards
as | was walking along he came to me and
asked me in broken English. You back,
Anvik : l. E., whether | was going back.
| said Yes, 20 back to Anvik : and his
face beamed as he said, All right, all right,
which is an expression they all use when
they are satisfied, We have a plenty Of
daisies here now, ami a great variety of
flowers. Cranberries are beginning to ri
pen, and we shall probably have plenty
brought to us at Anvik. They are prepar-
ing the boats to start up the river This
will probably be the last letter this year,
unless possibly boat comes down the river
in time to get some account Of our doings
at Anvik down here before the Bear gets
here which is hardly probable so l bid
you all good-by, and may God spare US all
to hear from each other next year