The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-25
MISSIONARY LIFE.
Some of Its Incidents in the Snow Drifts
of Labrador-A Pastoral Tour of EHope-
dale Pastor-Bread Frozen too Hard to
be Eaten.


dale Pastor-Bread Frozen too Hard to
be Eaten.
Since the Bowdoin College Labrador
Expedition much interest has been taken
by charitable women in Portland in the
missionaries who are laboring in that
bleak country. AS often as possible
barrels of clothing and other useful arti-
cles have been sent to them. In return
the missionaries have sent interesting
letters describing their work and ac-
knowledging the gifts. One of these,
written to Mrs. James P. Baxter, gives a
description that will be of general in
terest
Hopedale, Labrador, October 3, 1898.
Dear Madam:
For your very kind letter and for the
very useful articles for our people, accept
my best and kindest thanks We have
already made some of the people glad
with cloth, and we will but be SO glad
for them in the winter time.
Happily the codhshery has been much
better this year than last, thus we can
more confidently look. forward to the
coming winter time than we could last
and we finished the many kind gifts
long before the spring came on, when
they were able to earn their own bread.
We have had a very cold and dreary
summer, the few warm days could easily
be counted, and now the winter is at
the door,
On last Christmas day we had nice
Christmas celebration with our school
children in the chapel. For this purpose
we had placed two nice Christmas trees
and, two illuminated transparents in the
chapel. My dear husband translated
Eskimo, and taught the children to
sing them. Between the hymns they
recited songs and texts from the Bible.
Sometimes one by one and then again al
together. The children made it very
nicely. The choir, which sang some
nice pieces, helped to make the whole to
sound better. Finally every child got
a large biscuit and cup of tea, which
seemed to make greater impression than
the whole celebration. The congregation
were also invited and they were very
much interested in it.
In the midst. of FebraaryI accom-
panied my dear husband on his journey
congregation, which live scattered far
away from here towards the South.
We left Hopedale one morning, having
30 degrees Cen. of cold, of course by
kamatik" (dog sledge). I was well
wrapped up so that did not freeze so
very much, but the worst is always on
such trip that we cannot eat anything.
Before we started / made some meat
balls for the purpose TO use them during
the nine hours driving, but it was i'm
possible to make use Of them because
they were like stones and we could not
use them without fearing to loosen our
teeth. Happily [ had some biscuits
and to become more strengthened used
a littleschocolate. We were nearly.three
weeks away from home and in that
time weswere nearly every day on the
kamatik. Never less than five hours at
time, but generally from seven to
nine hours, and twice from eleven to
twelve hours. 1t was indeed sometimes
very exhausting especially one time when
we came to
Very Poor People
where we had for nearly two days nothing
to eat and the next day we had to travel
for about eleven hours having nothing
but dry biscuits. I did not feel so very
well that time.
Many of these settlers have only the OPP
portunity once year to hear the gospel
of God preached to them, that is when
the missionary is visiting them Many
are too far away from Hopedale ssto..come
and visit us, and some are too poor; or
at least the dogs food is too expensive.
My dear husband made this journey last
winter for the fifth time, that is only
towards the south. To the north he
has also been different times. In such
Journey the Sacrameltts are spent, mar
! riage performed, and meetings are kept
who growsup without having any school
are examined as to how much they have
improved since the last year. We felt this
year.very much again the need of hav-
ing a station among them. There are
children among them from 16 to II years
of age who cannot read at all. We have
now asked our society in London and
Berthelsdorf, if possible, to build sta
ton for them that they may have their
own minister and teacher We hope it
may be done, then we would not have to
travel any longer only in cases of need.
Every one who has to travel ruins his
health if he has to do it for long time
The settlers could then easily reach the
Mission Station or the missionary could
in one day get to the place where he
is wanted.
May I, dear madam, give you some in
stances? First about family having ten
children of ages ranging, from
to that place in the afternoon
about O'Clock, accompanied by four
other persons belonging to their rela-
tionship who Joined when we left their
homes. AS soon as we opened the door
of the. house we were in their dwelling
room. AT the first sight we saw that
great poverty governed here, even the
children looked consumed and clothed
in rags. The house was so bad that the
wind made its way through the many
gaps. After I had wrapped myself in
large shawl and placed myself beside the
big stove | was still freezing. Some
windows were broken. the opening filled
with rags. Ny dear husband asked why
they had not nailed a board on the
place instead of rags: they answered,
We have got none" But my husband
said "You could easily have made nail
of wood" which they promised to do.
We could.only get very little bread, be-
cause they had only one small piece /
gave the tea. My dear husband spent
the Sacramento, communion and bap-
tism in the evening in the hope we
would be able togo further the next day,
for we could not stay any longer here if
we would not starve. We had poor rest
ing place. 1t was not possible to undress
ourselves The whole time we felt