Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12

air of mystery surrounds his life and move
ments. He starves himself almost to
death. Months after Eabsenting himself
a conJurer. | went to see one of these old
men one night, as was my custom when
visiting q new tIihe. Ny scout had gone
ahead to tell him the missionary was com
ing. The old IIan was unusually danger
Gus and unning. | entered his wigwam
and told him the truth about the object Of
my visit. L have come 10 break the power
you WELD over your people. [ said. 1 will
taEe supper with yon first and then we will
talk the matter over His eyes lighted up
with an expression Of triumph and exulta-
ton. He glanced toward his poison bag
and then surveyed me with an expression
OF satisfaction and contentment. knew
what he meant and recalled the entreaties
OF my cout. who had begged me to stay
away, and when | refused said in despair
that be would accompany me If | would
promise not to eat of the conjurer's food
Now, you are not going to poison me- |
said to the conjurer, as MS eyes returned
from the poison bag. 1 know what you
have there, but you dare not give it to me-
Come, be friendly; will furnish the tea
and you the meat, and before he had a
chance to object began to make tea while
the conjurer jumped up and threw several
chunks Of meat into the pot. The rascal
told me it was venison, but | know it was
dog meat. never had any trouble with
him after that.
ARE INvETERATE GAMBLERS.
E'e-->'--~~~ - j~,---,As7s av acr 1ss
swollen streams aud restless lakes" Rev.
H. -.
perlloGs to an unusual degree. but my
scouts always brought me through safely
and | learned to scoff at danger These
Indians know nothing of intoxicants and
are therefore trustworthy. They do not
even know how to brew inebriating liquors
from herbs. Their only vice is gambling,
and | have almost persuaded them to quit
that. They gamble by sitting around on
the ground and guessing at the number of
sticks one of the gamblers holds in his
hand, which is secreted under blanket or
the skin OF an animal When first went
among the Cree Indians this vice was
practiced to an alarming extent. | have
known Indians to go to the fur agencies
with their entire winters catch of pelts
and come back without stitch Of ciothinz
to protect their forms. They would hover
over the blankets guessing at the number
of stick until they had lost BLANKETS, furs.
sleds, dogs, guns, clothing and finally wife
and children. These of course were ex-
ceptional cases. Polygamy formerly ex.
listed in the tribes, but that vice has al
most disappeared.
The Indians are now honest and re-
ceive our teaching with evident comfort
to themselves. l found many noble and
generous fellows among them. many pleas
ant travelling companions. Some of them
are very witty in their own tongues.
They tell very funny and peculiar jokes at
the end of long journey, after the fires
have been lighted for the night. For more
than ten years l have lived among them
without fastening either the doors or WIN
dows of my house. | never suffered the
loss of any of my property, although some
Of my belongings tempted these people
sorely. When | think of Their fidelity and
faithfulness to me, and the splendid SER
vices rendered to me and my good wife
during our long life among them, | feel
fully compensated for the hardships
through which passed and the suffering
that at times attended my work Chicago
Sunday Herald.