. They both refused, being unwilling to have
her go so far away and also to lose the small help which the little
money Maimie earned by doing extra work at school brought to them.
Both the uncle and aunt are members of our church and our prayers that
Christian principle might triumph in this case and make these two an
example to the rest were answered, for soon "Hand" and his wife
"Alice" cheerfully went to the Agent and told him of their previous
unwillingness but also of their present decision that they were glad
to have Maimie go away and learn more of God's ways so that she might
better teach and lead her people.

John, one of the boys, has met with much bitter opposition from his
people who are under the influence of the Catholic priest at the
Agency. They have forced him into the Government school, which is of a
grade entirely below his present attainments, and he is much
discouraged, but we still trust that God's plan for our boys and
girls, into whose souls he has put these aspirations, will be worked
out in His own time and way.

Our church members who are as yet but "babes in Christ" have had
numerous testings this year, which, while they have been times of
severe trial to us as well as to them, have been but passing clouds,
which have only for a time hid from them the "Guiding Hand," and which
has made them all the more strong and distinct as members of Christ's
body.

There have been disappointments in the past year; a few of those from
whom we hoped much have become careless and indifferent. But more have
grown in spiritual strength and are manifesting the new spirit of
godliness in their lives in many practical ways; in neater personal
appearance, in better houses and cleaner homes, and in much more
industrious attention to their farm work. The Christian women nearly
all ride on the seat of their wagons beside their husbands and not
squatted down behind in the old way which indicated their inferiority
and degradation.

Our church and women's missionary organization have cheerfully
contributed from exceedingly scanty means to all the branches of our
Congregational work. While our school on account of the reduced
appropriations has been reduced to forty-two pupils, our further
outstation among the Mandan people, which for two years has been
closed, has this fall been reopened, and one of the lady missionaries
is already living among them in her little log house. Shall I speak of
the needs of our school