on my visits, so few, alas! and far
between. Very many indeed were Mr Semmens' hardships. Their wandering
life made his work slow and at times discouraging. He had not at first
a knowledge of their language, and could not always get an interpreter.
However, as the love of Christ was the constraining motive, he
persevered, and great indeed was his success among them.

We will not here insert any of the many thrilling incidents of his
romantic pioneer work among them. We hope that from his fluent pen will
come his own record, which will be a very valuable addition to
missionary literature. Often did we, like the early ones sent out by
the Master in pairs, go together on some long and difficult exploring
tours. At many a camp-fire and in many a wigwam have we talked and
pleaded with the wandering Indians, and have besought them to be
reconciled to God. Hundreds of miles have we tramped on together, until
our limbs were cramped and our feet were bleeding; and then, in the cold
camp after supper and prayers, have we crowded in close together under
the same robes and tried to sleep. Will either of us ever forget the
trip in to District Meeting at Winnipeg, where on the great Lake we got
separated from the rest of our party, but by rapid travelling reached
the comfortable home and cordial welcome of our beloved Chairman, the
Reverend George Young, thus escaping the terrible blizzard in which so
many suffered? Then the return trip was equally exciting and perilous.
We left Winnipeg on the Saturday afternoon with our heavily loaded dog
sleds. At Mr Sifton's, near Selkirk, we were cordially welcomed, and
here we remained in quiet rest and joyous worship during the Sabbath
day. When the clock struck the hour of midnight, we exchanged our black
clothes for our leather suits. We harnessed up our dogs, and then,
after eating a midnight meal, we bade our host and hostess farewell, and
pushed out under the stars on our long journey to the far North. Mr
Semmens' journey would not be finished until he was six or seven hundred
miles nearer the North Pole.

Mr Sifton told me in after years, that they could only sit there and
weep as they thought of our starting off in the bitter cold and gloom of
that midnight hour on such a journey. Missionary work to them from that
hour took on itself additional interest, and ever after much greater, if
possible, was their love for those who for His sake were willing to
endure hardness in