The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-28

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through the woods, and came to the
bank Of river. There was an Indian
on the other side, chopping wood. He
told us he had little girl dying in his
Wigwam. The Indian with me said
that the river was too high to ford,
but insisted and so we found way
to get across. When / arrived / found
that his wife had changed his mind
for him and they did not want me to
baptize anybody there. They had a
little baby, but that was to grow upl
and choose for itself. Well" | said,
the little maid here is now grown up,
SO | suppose she can choose for her
SELF Caught in his own trap he was
forced to let me ask her. So asked
her: Rosie, do you wish to be bap-
tized?" and / was glad to see her nod
her head anxiously. So | set to work
without delay and shortly afterWard
her soul was on its way heavenward.
The Indians devotion and apostolic
spirit is at times great, even wonder
full. Very often they travel around
with me for weeks at time, helping
me preach the Gospel, saying the
prayers aloud in Indian or else lead
ing in the hymns. For long time
one of my companions was an old
chief, by name of Joe Big Head. Some
times of sudden | would drive up to
his cabin and call him, well, Joe, get
on your coat, we have to take trip,
so ask your wife if you can go" ugh,
what has she got to say? I am the
boss" So he puts on his stiff hat and
good CD, clothes and literally girds
his loins for the trip, as he says,
against Satan. He certainly does
bawl him away on every occasion.
When we arrive at a center of any
kind, some old brave with a powerful
voice goes around the hills and with
d loud cry, tells the people to come to
the services. Though Brother Big
Head can count eighty winters, he
knows his prayers by heart and can
sing many of the hymns, which he
thunders out, with perhaps more force
than melody. After l am done with
my work ask some of them to give
an eXhortation and now is his turn to
give Satan a baWling out. Although
on account of their poverty, they are
not obliged to observe the Friday alb
stinence, still he would rather go all
day on bread and coffee than break
the law. When travelling with the.
priest, he goes to Holy Communion
every day, nor will he go to confess
sion the day before, but wait till i'm
mediately before Holy Mass. Having
no server for Mass, l. once asked him
if he knew how to ring the bell,
Why, of course, | am good hand at
that" soon found out that he was,
for could scarcely do thing but he
would ring the bell, and he missed
when he ought to have rung it most.
The other Indians always have great
fun whenever they, tell this story on
him. The people. who say the Indian
is taciturn and does not joke, have
certainly travelled little with them.
Like the Irish of old, the Indians
have a custom of wailing over the
dead. One day he said to me: Little
Owl (my Indian name), when I die /
want you to come to my grave and to
/ cry, Ha hoo hoo hoo Ha hoo hoo hoo,
misunderstanding qon, Ha hoo hoo
hoo!" Like good Irishman, I of
course promised. And if you die be-
fore, l will do the same by you," he
said.
Indian Catechists.
Many of the younger men who are
capable are given duties as catechists
and many of them are and have been
faithful companions for years, gladly
abandoning wife and family for weeks
at time to help the missionary in
his work. One of the most fervent of
these is. a quondam ghost dancer and
chief of the medicine men. His name
lis Black Elk. Ever since his CONVEX
sion he has been a fervent apostle and
The has gone around like second ST.
Paul, trying to convert his tribesmen
to Catholicity. He has made many
converts. At any time Of day or night
he has proved himself ready to get up
and go with the missionary. On any
occasion he can arise and deliver a
food of oratory. Though half blind
he has by some hook or crook learned
how to read and he knows his religion
thoroughly. On one occasion a
preacher asked him if he thought it
right to honor the Blessed Virgin.
The following dialogue took place.
Black Elk asked him:
Are the angels good people?"
i Yes
and st. Elizabeth, is she good?"
yes"
And the Holy Ghost?"
eyes"
i well, then, if all these honored her,
lwhy should not II"
i. For years he begged me to try and
lbuild a church for his people, instead
of the log cabin they were using. And
lyet most of these catechists are poor
Imen, receiving little or no pay. Many
\ are the converts that could be made,
Egreat the spiritual progress IL the
lmeans were at our command Wheth-
! er the priest is there or not, they must
hold lay services on Sunday, pray over
the sick, bury the dead, baptize in
ease of necessity, and do a host of
Eother things. When see SO much
zeal going around in rags, feel glad
to know that the lay apostolate is not
Tagging behind out here.
Il Needs of the Missions.