Ehnamani, pastor of the Santee church—­a fine old man, whose history in connection with the Minnesota massacre of ’62, and whose conversion and present work are well known—­was once asked, “Do you ever have the least regret that the old life is gone—­do you ever have any longing for the war and for the dance?” His face grew stern and hard as he answered, “Regret it!  No, indeed!  I cannot think of one good thing that I ever did in that life, and I cannot bear to remember it.”  Few are there yet like Ehnamani, though many are fast overtaking him, and a grand number of Christian workers would you see could they be gathered before you!

Many are the Indian hearts given back to God their Creator.  Many are the Indian homes consecrated to the Wakantanka.  Many are the Indian lives devoted to His service.  And yet there are facts—­there are overwhelming facts, sad enough to break the great, throbbing Christian heart of this country—­facts that should make us cover our heads with shame.

Out of 40,000 Sioux Indians, there are 35,000 still in heathenism.  There are sixty-six tribes on the Western prairies for whom nothing is yet done.  There are 40,000 Indians of school age; but when every school is packed to its utmost only 12,000 can be accommodated.  This includes Government schools, Roman Catholic schools, and all; so that those under mission teachers would be far less a number than 12,000.

And this is where the Indian work stands to-day.  How can the A.M.A. do its share in this great work, or how can the work already begun be carried on, unless money is turned liberally into its treasury?

Shall the cry for help, coming 1,500 miles across the country, strike against a hard wall of indifference and be thrown back to mock the red man and to bid him wait yet longer?

* * * * *

THE DAKOTA MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Its annual meeting was held in connection with the Dakota Conference, at the Santee Agency and in the dining-room of the Normal and Training School.  There were two hundred Indian sisters present, besides the white lady teachers.  They represented six mission stations and twice as many churches, each church having a wide awake woman’s missionary society.  After a hymn, the President, Mrs. Tasinasawin, led in prayer and read the first three verses of the 21st chapter of Luke, following it with a few words about that widow’s mite, saying that it was not the amount given, but the spirit in which it was given.  That was the important thing.  The Indian women are able to give but little, but if they give willingly, as to the Lord, He will bless it.  The minutes were then read, and a new president and secretary elected.  Two candidates were put in nomination for each office.  As the roll was called each woman arose and voted viva voce.  Mrs. Brascaw was elected president, and Miss Mary C. Collins, secretary.  I was delighted to see the cheery way in which these sisters-in-red did their voting.  There were several sallies of laughter.