Mark Arthur

The Buffalo Country (montana) in the olden time was the common hunting ground for many of the western tribes. The battle ground it might have been called in the days when ten scalps made a Chief, these trophies dangled from the belt of the brave as proof of his valor.

For years after the Gospel came among the Nez Perce, many of the wild ones still kept up the old ways, spending years among other tribes. One of these roving mothers was making her way to Nez Perce land for a visit among friends traveling over the rough Lo Lo Trail with her little boy seven or eight years old riding behind her on her pony They were overtaken by some renegade N.P. hurrying home to get into the fight then going on on Kamas Prairie between General Howards Soldiers and Josephs. These travelers went on together and found the Christians of the Kamiah vally camped around their Church A good place they thought for protection While the Mother and boy were there the a battle was fought up the river Joseph and company fled passing through the Kamiah vally on the other side of the river making for the Lo Lo Trail to cross the Bitter Root mountain while this was going one Gen. Howards command came to the Christians cross over to the other Side The little boy had been presented in camp with A pony of his very own. All was on the move but to the Surprise of Many the Mother followed with all haste the fleeing Josephs. Showing plainly on which side her heart was. The little boy whipped up his pony to keep pace with the Mother who soon overtook the Josephs. On and on they went over the rough road. into Montana making a bee line for King George’s Land Canada. When they reached Bear Paw Mountains they thought they would take a good rest there much needed for their ponies as well as themselves. None pursued or pursuing will forget the hardships of that Journey One morning about daylight the mother wakened the boy to go get the horses. Be quick. but one of them had strayed some distance And when near the camp they heard firing from a little eminance they could See the camp was surrounded by U S. Soldiers. The little boy and Mother were Separated. She was a captive many who were on the outside of the camp like the boy at once Jumped upon their ponies and fled the frey on his pony after them. While this company of escaped ones were camping on the Cypress Hills some friendly Sioux came to them there gave them food to show their hearts were good to them. And then led them to Sitting Bulls camp. Where they remained through the Winter, the Sioux were very kind to them but too poor to help them much. Seven tents of Nez Perce. there. then Six tents went back to the Cypress Hills And then on to the Flat Head country only one tent full remaining the little boy was one of them that winter he cannot forget they nearly starved. had little else to eat but rabbits and they not abundant he would have to rest many times when Sent after the hobbled horses so weak was he. In the Spring he with the friends of that tent followed the others to the Flat head country. The streams were much swolen to cross the deep ones. Such as the Milk river then A raft was made there of by placing sticks between buffalo robes the women and little ones placed on the raft. which was hitched to horses and so pulled over. How the little fellow pled for a place on the raft there. but was denied had to grasp his ponys neck plunge in an swim his horse Just as the men did crying as he went in to the cold stream. If My Mother were here I would be on that raft too. The Mother was far enough away a captive in Indian Ter. Was it chance when traveling along in Montana they met a band of Flat Heads. With a Nez Perce woman among them. Who took the boy to her Flat Head home. Oh no. Neither was it chance when he A long time after this while hunting with his Flat Head friends they were met by a band of Nez Perce. who guided him back to his own people. Clearly the Lord was caring for guiding this boy back And gave him a Seat in the S. S. of the 1^st Kamiah Church. His pleasant, boyish face won our hearts. And when the Christ-mas time came A Bible with his Indian name in it was placed upon the tree for him. As he grasped it his speaking eyes showed his thanks for the gift. He could not read a word in it then but from that time his longing to know what was in it grew upon him. He was given a place in the Mission School of Mt Idaho it was but a beginning for his teacher was soone called to lay down the work she loved so well. When the Rondthaler Cottage was built on the Mission ground at Lapwai, he and his nice little wife were the first to occupy one of its rooms. Three years ago he was ordained called and enstalled paster over the important Lapwai church where he is at this time The little parsonage across the Lapwai is a model of neatness He and his household are good illustrations of the power of the Gospel. This is a hurried tracing of the Lords dealings with the Rev. Mark K Arthur.