Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/204

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their improvements, in reading, spelling, and singing. They indeed sang melodiously. After this, three of the boys said their pieces as follow: By John Hager, aged about 10 years.

My name is John, I have no house,
I have no father, I have no friend,
My mother is dead. I get very cold,
One day in Kingston, My blanket torn,
I get very hungry, I get into a box,
I have no bread, And stay there all night.

Then Mr. Armstrong find and take me out of the box, and sent me by steamboat to York, to the Credit school. There I learn to read in the New Testament. I sometimes rather wild boy, but I love my book and christian friends who sent me to school. Thanks to a kind Providence that prepared a box for a poor Indian boy, and from the box sent me to school.

By Allan Salt. — "My name is Allan Salt. I am 8 years old. I was born in the wigwam, and lived in the woods till two years ago, when my father and mother began to pray. My mother is dead. She prayed when she was dying. My father lives and sends me to school at Grape Island, where 60 children are learning to read the Good Book. My christian friends, in the wigwam I was cold and hungry. Now we have plenty to eat, and live in good houses like our white friends. The good people in Belleville they help to build them. We thank them very much for all they do for poor Indians, and we pray Kezhamunedoo to reward them an hundred fold in this life, and in the world to come — life everlasting.

By Benjamin Mitchel. — My christian friends, I am a poor Indian boy. I go to school at Grape Island. Six moons there I read in the Testament. I love my books. I love my school teachers. I love the good men — Makakdawekoonayaigs, (ministers.) They tell poor Indians the way to heaven, and now many Indians sing and pray. My christian friends, one thing make my hearts very sorry, many of our Indian fathers died before they heard of Jesus Christ.


O had our Indian fathers known,
  What Prophets told of Christ and heaven!
For them we drop a tear and mourn,
  But weep for joy our sins forgiven.