Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-21
NORTHERN CHEYENNE INDIANS
Children Of the Tribe Return for Their Va.
cation From st. Peters Mission.

cation From st. Peters Mission.
One of the most pathetic scenes we
have witnessed for long time occurred
last week at the depot when a dozen or
fifteen Indian chi1den arrived from
their years schooling at ST.. Peters
some 60 odd miles north of Helena.
Long before the trains arrival the old
squaws, who had come sixty or seven
ty miles on this occasion, stood on the
depot platform scanning the western
horizon for glimpse of the train that
would bring back their beloved off
spring. When the train stopped
and the children stepped on to the plat.
form the fond handclasps, the cooings,
the kissings and caressings between
the squaws and their babies in their
teens would melt the heart of man of
stone demonstrating that the mater
nal instinct is just as strong in the
heart of the Indian as in any white
woman for her child. These Indians
belonged to the North Cheyennes and
the children were chaperoned by their
teacher, yelled Sister of Charity.
The little girls wore white sailor straw
hats, white collars, pink neckties and
shirt waists, belts and skirts of ordi-
nary dress goods and were very bright
showing the results of schooling. The
boys were dressed like ordinary bows.
tipped their hats to you if you spoke to
them and conducted themselves as per-
feet little gentleman. One of the no.
ticeable features of the scene was the
devotion and esteem which the children
held for their teacher being equa1ed
only by the loving tenderness and
solicitude of the Sister for her young
charges. The squaws had camped a
mile or so down the track and it is
said the little girls went into our stores
and bought plates, knives and forks so
that their teacher who accompanied
them to their camp would not have to
eat in the old fashioned Indian way.
Many people argue that it is useless to
educate the Indians that they soon fall
back into their old ways with shawls
on their backs, paint on their faces
and lice in the hair, and that educa-
cloves labor lost You might aswell
argue that it is useless to eat because
tomorrow you will be empty again.
Only by constant effort through years
4
white or yellow, be brought to higher
planes. We understand that this Sister
of'Charity is educating these Indian
children out of her own time and purse
in addition to her duties as teacher in
the Catholic school at st. Peters.
Talk about genuine Christianity.
When a cultured woman of gentle
birth deliberately gives up the comforts
of home, the pleasures of society, the
joys of maternity and consecrating
her life to the uplifting of the human
family even to the extent of sleeping on
the ground with Indians in their tents
regardless of ScorChing sun and
drenchng rains it is type of noble
Christian womanhood you don't meet
every day. God bless these dear
angels of mercy, the Roman Catholic
sisterhood, each and every one of them.
They are doing more in their own
gentle quiet way to capture the
world for Christi than many who pose
as saints peddling holiness for hire
reminding us of the old monks who in
defiance of hardships and despite all
dangers carried the cross around the
world as advance guard of civilization.