orts,
and we were much pleased with the state in which we found everything
connected with the Mission.

While we were at family prayers the first evening after our arrival,
there came up one of the most terrific thunderstorms we ever
experienced. The heavy Mission house, although built of logs, and well
mudded and clap-boarded, shook so much while we were on our knees that
several large pictures fell from the walls; one of which, tumbling on
Brother Stringfellow's head, put a very sudden termination to his
evening devotions.

Rossville Mission, Norway House, was commenced by the Reverend James
Evans in the year 1840. It has been, and still is, one of the most
successful Indian Missions in America. Here Mr Evans invented the
syllabic characters, by which an intelligent Indian can learn to read
the Word of God in ten days or two weeks. Earnestly desirous to devise
some method by which the wandering Indians could acquire the art of
reading in a more expeditious manner than by the use of the English
alphabet, he invented these characters, each of which stands for a
syllable. He carved his first type with his pocket-knife, and procured
the lead for the purpose from the tea-chests of the Hudson's Bay
Company's post. His first ink he made out of the soot from the chimney,
and his first paper was birch bark. Great was the excitement among the
Indians when he had perfected his invention, and had begun printing in
their own language. The conjurers, and other pagan Indians, were very
much alarmed, when, as they expressed it, they found the "bark of the
tree was beginning to talk."

The English Wesleyan Missionary Society was early impressed with the
advantage of this wonderful invention, and the great help it would be in
carrying on the blessed work. At great expense they sent out a printing
press, with a large quantity of type, which they had had specially cast.
Abundance of paper, and everything else essential, were furnished. For
years portions of the Word of God, and a goodly number of hymns
translated into the Cree language, were printed, and incalculable good
resulted.

Other missionary organisations at work in the country quickly saw the
advantage of using these syllabic characters, and were not slow to avail
themselves of them. While all lovers of Missions rejoice at this, it is
to be regretted that some, from whom better things might have been
expected, were anxious to take the credit of the invention, ins