Tanana leader., 1909-11-18
WRITER LETTER
 TO OLD TEACHER
(From the Douglas Island News.)

chO DSu1 hoo AoiuAh ASS"o'y
 There are many people who believe that the money spent by the United States government in the attempt to educate the native races of Alaska is practically wasted; that the natives would be better off if left to them selves and their own way of living.
 Mir. John Kilbuck, who has charge of the school for natives on Douglas Island, was for many years in the far North and taught the government schools at both Point Barrow and Wainwright. He recently received a letter from one of his former pupils at Wainwright, an Eskimo lad about 14 years of age. This lad has had the advantage of less than three terms of school, and yet his handwriting, spell ing, capitalization and punctuation will compare favora ably with that of the average white boy who has had much superior advantages.
 The only peculiarity about this letter is the composition. which shows that tho writer still thinks in his native language; yet it is not difficult to get his meaning. An extract from the let ter may preve interesting:
 WAINWRIGHT, ALASKA,
 July, ?, 1909.
 My Dear Teacher:-I got your letter at Icy Cape when 1 was whaling down there. I'm lazy now because I've been shot by Nehkaktoah at Icy Cape. The old squaws [squaw ducks] flew toward us and he took shotgun waiting for them, while l slept. When the old squaws flew far, he sat down in the aft of the canoe and was sleeping in the middle of a canoe, and his shotgun ! shot and shot me under my socket joint. I walked up very fast and the blood runs fast. couldn't breathe for ! it hurts me much. He took me on my hand and pray or yelled to God. In l his prayer, he said "God, I made sin for shooting Frank, make me happy"
 When he shot me he took his knife and threw it away from him. When saw the tears of him, running down his cheeks. I said, Don't be sorry, but try to remember God" Four fingers or five can be in the hole, where tho | shots are, but now one finger can go in. Some shots are inside the hole. MT. Sinclair used to wash it every day, but now he don't. Everybody down at Icy Cape were sorry. would like the picture of yourself. I will tell you about my parents. My mother almost cry when she heard me that am shot, and Maggie and Fannie. James went down to Icy Cape in one night, and came in a day to Wainwright. When Mabel heard me she cried in few minutes. When 1 arrived to Vain wright Levi was exhausted and then Mabel came with the tears on her cheeks, she said, Brother, I will not sing Nehkaktoah's songs." J. E. Sin clair wrote to Dr. Marsh what he had does with my wound. Dr. Marsh an swered him that he is doing we'll. am writing myself. I understood the words, how easy they are to talk with the white men. ..... I'll tell you who have daughters and sons. Mary Ann has a daughter with out having husband and Stevens wife has daughter, also Akatok. My mother has son, named Taft, Agrik- kaurak ami Bessie has daughter and Akadigek's wife has daughter. l hope you help Adam not to be sad for me. Please give or send me small Testament so can carry it if go somewhere. I want to teach the people. l My Testament is too big for me to carry. I want the Testament with pictures in. When Dr. Marsh was here his house burned up. It began to burn by the lamp. Please write me | if you can. Goodbye teacher.
 Your friend.