ld be multiplied many times. Truly "the tender
mercies of the wicked are cruel."

In delightful contrast to these sad sights among the degraded savages
around us, were the kindly ways and happy homes of our converted
Indians. Among them a woman occupied her true position, and was well
and lovingly treated. The aged and infirm, who but for the Gospel would
have been dealt with as Moo-koo-woo-soo dealt with his mother, had the
warmest place in the little home and the daintiest morsel on the table.
I have seen the sexton of the church throw wide open the door of the
sanctuary, that two stalwart young men might easily enter, carrying in
their arms their invalid mother, who had expressed a desire to come to
the house of God. Tenderly they supported her until the service ended,
and then they lovingly carried her home again. But for the Gospel's
blessed influences on their haughty natures they would have died ere
doing such a thing for a woman, even though she were their own mother.

Life for the women was not now all slavery. They had their happy hours,
and knew well how to enjoy them. Nothing, however, seemed so to delight
them as to be gliding about in the glorious summer time in their light
canoes. And sometimes, combining pleasure with profit, many a duck was
shot by these young Indian maidens.

This changed feeling towards the aged and afflicted ones we have seen
manifested in a very expressive and blessed way at the great annual New
Year's Feast. It was customary for the Indians, long before they became
Christians, to have a great feast at the beginning of the New Year. In
the old times, the principal article of food at these horrid feasts was
dogs, the eating of which was accompanied by many revolting ceremonies.
The missionaries, instead of abolishing the feast, turned it into a
religious festival. I carried out the methods of my worthy predecessors
at Norway House, and so we had a feast every New Year's Day.

The Crees call this day "Ooche-me-gou Kesigow," which literally means
"the kissing day," as on this day the men claim the right to kiss every
woman they meet; and, strange to say, every woman expects to be kissed.
It used to amuse me very much to see thirty or forty Indians, dressed up
in their finest apparel, come quietly marching into the Mission House,
and gravely kiss Mrs Young on her cheek. When I used to rally her over
this strange phase of unexpected missionary experience, she would
laughin