ham, potatoes, canned fruit, sugar, and some gave money with which to buy whatever was needed.  Each one that gave something had her supper free.  The moving of the printing office furniture to Santee left a large empty room; and as this room joins the school-room, it was a very convenient place in which to have the supper.  A barrel of water was hauled; a woman hired to scrub the floor, and table and table-cloths were borrowed.  The trader very obligingly lent dishes out of his store.  Janet, Gertie and Esther were busy all the afternoon setting tables, and getting ready for the evening’s reception.  Towards evening the provisions came.  Each woman was then to take her place—­one to cut meat, one to cut pie and cake, another to wash dishes, and others to wait on the tables.  Angie Cordier and Janet Strieker, who have been away to school, were quite expert in waiting on tables, and some of the young gentlemen who have been away were quite expert in calling for this and that.  But none could equal the old man who had never spent a day of his life in school.  This old man had borrowed 50 cents to take himself and friend to supper.  He ate all that was given him, then called for potatoes.  His plate was filled again and again with potatoes—­and still he called for potatoes.

During the afternoon two young braves are riding around on their ponies.  They halt before the windows.  At last they gather up enough courage to ask if they can have supper and pay for it in the future.  They have no money now, but are going to work and get some money, then they will pay.  “No.  We do not sell on credit.”  Soon after dark, the school-room began to fill up with women and their babies.  A man comes with his little girl and mother-in-law, and borrows 50 cents to pay for the supper.  He would also have brought his wife, but she could not leave home.  Some eat their supper and leave.  Others are sitting in the school-room looking at pictures and talking a very little, but it is rather stiff.  The door opens and in walk the Doctor and Agency Clerk.  No more stiffness after this.  Those would be hard hearts indeed that would not thaw in the presence of these genial countenances.  Other white people come.  The Captain with his family take supper.  He also brings in some of the outsiders who are looking in at the windows, and pays for their suppers.  The Issue Clerk is quick to see the day-school children, who are peeping in at the window, and calls them in to give them their suppers.  The ladies from the Government Boarding School come, bringing some of the larger children with them.  These boys and girls, however, have earned money and pay for their own supper.

A lady from the store building passes around some tiny round blocks.  “What is it, candy?” “No.  Put it in your mouth,” “Gum!  Do you chew gum?” “No, but a gentleman who was visiting us a short time since left us a supply as his parting gift.”

When the fire is stirred with a long stick, one gentleman remarks that he admires that poker very much.  A few days afterwards a handsome new iron poker comes to the school-room.  The whole school give a vote of thanks to the donor of the poker.