have seen it. It
is like two moons flattened against the wall."

Of course this would never do, and so the missionary had to take him in
hand again and give him another lesson. This time he used his large
ball-like globe, swung on its axis in its frame, which was supported on
three feet. Patiently the minister showed him how the world was like a
great ball, round in every direction. Attentively the Indian listened,
and carefully examined the globe and the frame in which it hung.

"Yes," he said to his teacher, "I was wrong. I have it now. I will
explain it to the people."

When the first opportunity offered he was as good as his word, and so he
thus addressed them:

"Brothers, I seem to be hard to learn, but I have got it now. Yes, the
world is round every way. It is not flat even one way. It is round.
Yes, it is round, but then it stands upon three legs."

So another and even more thorough lesson was needed to knock those three
legs away.

As a general rule the Indians who were appointed to speak kept within
their own depths, and very sensible and appropriate were their
utterances.

Christmas Day and New Year's Day were great times of feasting and
gladness at the mission village among the Christian Indians. On
Christmas Day all the men, women, and children, arrayed in their very
best finery, called at the mission house, and were each treated to a
large cup of strong, well-sweetened tea, and a big bun. Then they went
to the fur-trading post, and there received the gratuities of tobacco
and other things. Many called at Sagasta-weekee, and were cordially
received. The boys were very much interested in them, and took great
pleasure in assisting Mrs Ross, as on this day it is expected that the
white people only will, pass the tea and cakes, and with their own hands
also give their Christmas gifts to the poor and needy. In such a land
there are many who require a great deal of just such help. After the
matters of hospitality had been attended to there were many sports on
the ice, and into these all who desired to enter were cordially
welcomed. The boys were in their glory in these sports, and gallantly
held their own against the lighter but more agile Indians. In the
evening all the trains that could be mustered were harnessed up, and
everybody who could get away went over to the mission church for the
Christmas services, which, on account of the elaborate musical
preparations, were held in the eve