Many of these settlers have only the opportunity once a year to hear the gospel of God preached to them, that is when the missionary is visiting them.  Many are too far away from Hopedale to come and visit us, and some are too poor; or at least the dogs’ food is too expensive.  My dear husband made this journey last winter for the fifth time, that is only towards the south.  To the north he has also been different times.  In such a journey the Sacraments are spent, marriage performed, and meetings are kept as many as possible.  The poor children who grow up without having any school are examined as to how much they have improved since the last year.  We felt this year very much again the need of having a station among them.  There are children among them from 16 to 17 years of age who cannot read at all.  We have now asked our society in London and Berthelsdorf, if possible, to build a station for them that they may have their own minister and teacher.  We hope it may be done, then we would not have to travel any longer only in cases of need.  Every one who has to travel ruins his health if he has to do it for a long time.  The settlers could then easily reach the Mission Station or the missionary could in one day get to the place where he is wanted.

[Hungry children] May I, dear madam, give you some instances?  First about a family having ten children of ages ranging from two to eighteen years.  We came to that place in the afternoon about 5 o’clock accompanied by four other persons belonging to their relationship who joined when we left their homes.  As soon as we opened the door of the house we were in the dwelling room.  At the first sight we saw that great poverty governed here, even the children looked consumed and clothed in rags.  The house was so bad that the wind made its way through the many gaps.  After I had wrapped myself in a large shawl and placed myself beside the big stove I was still freezing.  Some windows were broken, the opening filled with rags.  My dear husband asked why they had not nailed a board on the place instead of rags; they answered, “We have got none.”  But my husband said “You could easily have made a nail of wood,” which they promised to do.  We could only get a very little bread, because they had only one small piece.  I gave the tea.  My dear husband spent the Sacrament, communion and baptism in the evening in the hope we would be able to go further the next day, for we could not stay any longer here if we would not starve.  We had a poor resting place.  It was not possible to undress ourselves.  The whole time we felt the snow on our faces and the wind through the many gaps.  We froze very much although the fire was kept on during the night.  Not very far from us Mr. and Mrs. Tacque were resting, and we heard how the one said to the other, “I hope Mr. and Mrs. Hansen can go further to-morrow, for we have nothing to eat.”  That was indeed a very sad prospect, for we heard too well the snow storm was howling outside and there