Mt Idaho, Feb 10^th 1886
Rev. F.F. Ellinwood D.D.

Dear Sir
Miss McB had the accompanying package of letters made up, and ‘commentary’ written weeks ago, and would have sent them then only that she waited to ask Dr Ellinwood some things concerning our boys (of which he speaks, himself, in his letter of Jan 28^th, received three days ago) and a press of many duties, and a ‘spell’ of these troublesome eyes (brought on by the night work for and with her women, hindered until now.

And she must write very hastily now. She has so wearied Dr E with matters which should have come in (her) leisure days, last fall, before his visit to Synod and Mr Atkins. These fast flying days are very precious to our boys (and to their wives too) Spring is coming with its ‘work a field’ which they must attend to. Presbytery is coming which some of them D.V., will have to attend (I wish they all could do so – could they? They take such a long stride in advance with every such attendance.)

The winter has not been very severe. Their houses comfortable. Save that Parson has a touch of the sore eyes so prevalent on the Reserve (brought from Ind. Ter. they say) which interferes with his studies for the present. All have been kept in their usual health. God has kept from them the scarletine (or scarlet fever) which gave Miss McB such a fright when it was so near her eight little ones.

None of them have had to go hungry as yet, though they have to use the closest economy, and do without many things they need for their houses and which they hope to have another year, should God spare and bless us. They have adjusted themselves to their new conditions, and enjoy it as if ‘to the manor born’ (I think Mr Atkins would be glad to see how the ‘Indian Problem’ is solving itself at Mt. Idaho.) And, more than all they have made progress in their studies, as never before in the same time, which encourages them much. Freed from the harrassing and distractions on the Reservation; freed from ‘hangers on’, each family save James Hayes & brother – living separately – if only in one room. They have the long evenings for study, teaching their wives too (books) often after the little ones are asleep. They have learned the meaning of the words ‘home’ and ‘family’ (which are not in the Nez Perce) as never in their lives before.

The most of the women can read in English more or less, but save one, cannot translate much except M who has studied longer and is in advance of her husband in her studies. All the men here save two, are able to teach their wives in books. ‘You see’ said Miss McB to our boys [illegible] she has tried all other ways ‘You must help me teach your wives. ‘Pika’ (as they call her) will teach them all she can of other matters but you must help her with them in books. Study your own lessons aloud too, when practicable when the wife is busy with her needle, or with the baby in her lap, and she can learn much, by the ear in this way.’ Both husband and wife seem to enjoy this arrangement, and it helps to correct some things in the domestic relations, which as Dr Lowrie knows, troubled me much.

The first care of Miss McB with the wives, (along with the teachings about cleanliness of house &c&c) was to get the little ones out of the old slips into warm undergarments like white childrens. She cutting & preparing the mothers sewing. All have now patterns and can cut out themselves, in the future. D.V. Hattie Hayes (a born needlewoman as I suspected) has been taught by my skillful neighbor to cut and fit dresses, given patterns &c and the wives are now at work with Hattie’s help and instruction, on their first dresses (of their own making calico with basque and overskirt ‘like a white woman’s). The simple dresses they knew how to make were too little removed from the native dress. They slipped back into latter too readily. Does all this interest Dr. Ellinwood? I should not have given so much time and paper to it. To glance briefly at Dr Es questions beginning with the last, in order:

1^st The ‘boarding school for boys or girls or both at Kamiah:
From Church & S.S. studies there are 221 Kamiah children i.e. in the Kamiah valley and I suppose ‘Witihp (which is included with Kamiah). Of these, all, or nearly all over as far as 6 years of an age who can learn are at school in Lapwai, or Salem. Of those remaining in Kamiah valley & Witihp 86 are about 5 to 6 yrs of age. I think they nearly all now begin to L in their 7^th year, but the Kamians would be very glad indeed to have their children in school at Kamiah instead of among the blankets & long haired at Lapwai. The only difficulty Miss McB can see, is in the matter of supplies, which there as well as here must all come via Lewiston (save what might be raised by pupils or Ks).

Will the Board have the selecting & appointing of teachers (who hitherto have been principally perhaps among the family connections of the present Agent)? If the Board could place goodly, earnest, Christian teachers there, it would be a ‘good investment’ of labor & money I think (and she would be so glad of others besides the ungodly whites at K.) Otherwise, I’m afraid Miss McB has not much faith in Government schools as she has known them. Some of the wildest and worst young men perhaps the most of those in blankets & long hair whom Dr E may have seen at Lapwai have been pupils in the Gov school there. The religious element seems to have been not strong at least and Miss McB thinks there can be no lasting civilization without that.These are only Miss McB views, to which she will add her prayers that God will guide the Board.

2^nd Miss McB wrote to Mr Rankin of running expenses of school here not as sending in a ‘bill’ but simply reporting.
If Miss McBs experiment of the ‘New Carlisle’ at Mt Idaho had been a failure the expense of ‘testing’ would have fallen on her alone, no matter at what cost of privation to self. But now that up to today (D.V.) what tomorrow holds, only Our Father knows. (I can never forget those dreadful surprises.) God has given us success even beyond her dreams. To His Name be all the praise. The Church may (will soon have to) help her with the load. If she was rich she would not ask it, but her own resources could not ‘hold out’ long. She has not had one dollar of help, save the printing press money for the Boards house,– part of that money still in Dr Lindsley hands.

The rents are the heaviest item now. If she should retire with her boys when they go home to put in their crops as they must, she could drop the rent of the other two houses until we begin in the fall again D.V. (though there might be a difficulty in getting them again) saving, perhaps nearly $100.00 If she does not the house will need to be kept open for them, whenever they can come to study. She cannot see any farther than this now.

She might say in this connection that, some years ago her sister offered to return to the Board the $100 salary more than she expected when she came (or needed). The expense of both schools i.e. helps to pupils &c falling almost entirely on the Mens School. I think she would still willingly do this, her expense at Lapwai, being little more than personal and much less she being so much nearer the base of supplies than at Kamiah.

3^rd My pupils who are likely to become preachers are Christians, give promise & [missing]
Miss McBs first class (Robert & Mark Williams, Jimmy & Archie Lawyer, and James Hines) were put into her and by Rev G. Ainslie. Since then, she has chosen her own pupils, and only those who as far as she could know were Christians and keeping only those who promise of usefulness in the Church and all [illegible] with the view of working for the spread of the [illegible]

It is kept for the Masters use. There are plenty of other workers for other work. Even her two Elder pupils could be liscensed and set to work as Evangelists, if the need were pressing. But they are needed at Kamiah and do good work there besides their own work. The K Elders supply the K pulpit in the absence of Robert and or boys at pres. &c. the old Elder at Lakahts still coming when he can to Mt Idaho, as he did to Kamiah, to study his ‘preaching talks’ for the two week day prayer meetings at Lakahts, one of the K outstations between her and K. Miss McB believes in a trained Eldership for such people. Ignorant Elders often hinder the work. Years ago she would have taken the Spokan Elder Samuel into her school but that there was no means by which he could live at Kamiah. There is just a ‘glimpse’ of a ‘vision of men from other tribes sitting among our boys in the New Carlisle.

Of her present class, four have been under training in Church work for more than a year. Two of these, Robert Parsons and Moses Montieth, both very promising are ready for liscensure (as I wrote Mr Rankin) unless Parsons eyes should prevent. The other two are not so advanced. The need for the sending away of our minister boys - causing them to be sooner put in charge of religious services which they conduct acceptably. Robert Williams to whom under God Miss McB owes so much of her success, being her faithful unselfish helper with these four as he was with the 5 of her last class, (now ordained.) In her present class or 5 ‘chiefs’ i.e. 4 hereditary chiefs (Chiefs sons) some of them of older lineage than the Lawyers) and the last Head Chief of the Nez Perces (Felix Corbett) all of whom have had (have) to be bear, and borne (bear) their share of persecution unfalteringly like the rest. They, and all the Chiefs save Lawyers (A and Co) submitted quietly to the rule of the government when the Chieftainship was abolished in 1880.)

Miss McB likes to have our boys ordained ‘slowly’ but taken under the care of Presbytery as soon as they are ready for liscensure, in order that in the event of anything unforeseen happening, they would not be lost to the Church. Our boys are all Kamians (as are all those ordained, save two, whose wives are Kamians)

Mr D, living at Lapwai – 60 miles away sees little of our boys until he takes them before Presbytery for liscensure –after which they return to their studies with Miss McB until the are ordained or sent away to work. Robert (I believe, by the will of Presbytery) still directing their church work at K (Perhaps not every white minister would have guided more harmoniously and wisely the 5 licentiates working in his church at the same time.) The 11 weekly religious services still at Kamiah and its outstations, furnishing a good field from such training.

Her present class save the two pupil Elders are younger men than either of the other classes (save James Hayes – in the 2^nd). She wanted, as ‘pioneers’ (see ‘dreams in letter to Dr Lowrie) men who had been full grown heathen when the Gospel reached them, knew how a heathen felt, and how to reach them; knew too as the younger Nez Perces do not – that wonderful ‘sign language’ common to all the tribes between here and the Rocky Mts, and could tell the story of the cross in it, if need be; knew something of the ‘Chinook’ common to the tribes between here and the Pacific Coast, and who, in their old roving days knew much of the tribes between the Pacific & the Rockies. men whose children were grown up or in school so that they could move around more easily ‘breaking ground’. Our younger boys to follow in the changed conditions, which, we hope, awaits the race.

Only last week our boys were asking me if nothing had been done yet for the old allies of the Nez Perces – the Crow Indians (of whom they had so often heard some of my 2^nd class say "When we go to the Crows" &c&c) and for the Shoshone Indians, from whom a call had come to my 1^st class. "Come, and tell us about these things too." Has anything been done for those tribe? Or can be? And there are so many others, passing away in darkness, so many open doors, and Miss McB does so want our church with its opportunities to send them the ‘light’ of the Gospel. Perhaps the late onslaught of heathenism at Kamiah backed by the power of the Agent was meant as preparation for our boys. God knows. To turn (with a sigh, she is so weary and Goshom saith it’) for a brief glance at the last item in Dr. Es letters i.e. the Nez Perce version of the  6^th with the ‘strange variation of the son of a saintly old Presbyterian minister helping the heathen. She would let it pass with so much only that opinion held of the worker might enter into and hinder the work.

1st If Dr E will read the letter written to Mr Rankin the last of last Aug (or in Sept) he will find the whole story of Miss McBs connection of the ‘petition’ of the Nez P to the Ind Dept with as a reference if need be the name of L.P. Brown – who, I have been told was perhaps still is, one of the Agent’s bondmen and whom none stand higher in all this region. Mr Ds letter of Aug 1^st, two days after the shooting at the PicNic which caused the petition states that the letter to the Dept asking the removal of Misses McB had been sent to the Dept in July long before the ‘petition’ was thought of.

2^nd It seem so strange that Miss McB should have to meet ‘adverse to the Government" - a charge absurd as well as untrue both of her, and of her boys. Save James Reuben they are the only Nez Perces who understand, and intelligently obey the Gov of the U.S. (every principle of which is so opposed to the ‘haswalawit’ of the old heathen regime, forced back upon the people) and so adverse to every precept of the Gospel (or boys can scarcely preach a Gospel sermon without being running Counter to that haswalawit (the policy & tactics of the old heathen chiefs and reviving under another name for the present favorable conditions.

Robert preaches "Christ is exalted above all principalities & powers, neither is there salvation in any other." "No the government of The Earth’ is greater." "Come to Jesus." "He is trying to win the people from US." (Judge & police - they at least understand the issue.) "He is against ‘the government haswalawit." "Be kindly affectioned one to another, in honor preferring one another." "He is preaching not to honor the Judge & police." Dr E cannot understand this without understanding the old traditions. There is no word in the Nez Perce embodying anything like the idea of the ‘Government’ or civil officers of the U.S. Gov. The chiefs, only were to be honored [illegible] their will the only ‘law’

Feb 27^th

Dr Ellinwood sees how letters ‘get written’ even though the Board has had almost a monopoly of S.L. McB letters this winter (the Phila friends have had only a card). But indeed she could not help it. She has had the work and care of two women. And now, Dr Es letter of Feb. 12^th has come with its points of such interest to her. I think I think she will relegate ‘Sanbulla & Co’ to the Commentary if Dr E still cares to hear.

Yesterday, (friday) after school, the last of her pupils started for Kamiah, the Communion Services there which wives as well as husbands wish to attend beginning next week. And they would have had to go very soon, at all events. The whites are beginning to plough in the valleys all around. Our boys leaving so unexpectedly last fall may have work to do on their fences, cattle to look for and besides some of them had come to the end of their purses, and were beginning to go in debt (which they dread – as does their teacher) and will have to try to sell their produce left at Kamiah and some way try to raise money for their needs. Some of them expect to return for a little while after Communion (D.V.) but we can count I think that their days of uninterrupted study are past until their crops are planted.

Dr E knows her plan of returning with them to K. If she does not for the spring months we can have some idea now of the months of uninterrupted study in the New Carlisle. What they can study in and through the coming months will have to be tested (D.V.) They have left all their goods save what they need at K in their houses here which are still kept ‘open’ for them. For the past two years, Miss McB has taken Aug. & Sept for vacations months instead of July & Aug. They need Sept to take their produce to the distance markets &c.

From Oct 17 to or thorough March as the seasons may vary, will probably be their harvest time for gathering knowledge in the New Carlisle as it was at K only that they in the farming months could (did) come for their lesson early in the morning (about 6 O’clock and be accommodated more easily here than at K (where there are few houses on the same side of the river near the schools). And so far, experience has proved that this is the best place to study, and that raising their own grain and vegetables they can live here at not much greater expense to them than at K

I think Miss McB can say (with grateful thanks to God, who gave it to us) that this winters’experiment’ has been a success. Nothing now can take away that fact, or what it has brought our boys. Up to the last day there has not been a suspicion of a jar between them and their white neighbors. Our boys have proved themselves to be Men and are treated as such. "When you go back home" said ‘Pika’ to both her men and her women before starting "you must communicate whatever knowledge you have gained, not keep it for yourselves. Teach your people whatever of civilization you have learned here. You must not boss them, the Nez Perces are all my children, but teach them quietly & patiently, remembering that they are less wise only because they have not had your opportunities." And they promised that they would try to reach all they could (So that 12 teachers have gone down to Kamiah – if only each one a little.)

They go back, slowly, to serfdom. Indian men who by enlightening their people may help to do [illegible] at length with the need of Agency officials, and the annex environments of office are a lot wanted on an Indian Reservation (A speculation years ago on the ignorance of the people defeated by the civilizing of the people in money value by our boys is still remembered against Robert by Whitman & the Agent.)

The determination seems to be to force the Kamian back into the condition of the Lapwain, who at the rate in which they have retrograded during the past six years will need Agency offices for the next 20. Tom Hills trial too, is drawing near. His condition, if acting under orders it is said, will summarize what imperils the Agents. The U.S. Attorney it is said is to defend him. The Christian Kamians were nearly all at the Pic Nic are, of course, the principal witnesses, our boys among them. At the Court here last fall, Robert Williams, James Hayes & Caleb were putting up stoves &c and were summoned before the Grand Jury with other Kamians surely against Miss McB will, knowing that they would have to suffer for it most of all. After New Years came the order from Lapwai to hold Court at Kamiah every month. ‘Haswalwit’ quieted for a time has revived again. John Crea busily helping & watching Robert who the Indian say has the hanging of Tom Hill. His (Rs) word if he cannot be silenced will be tried, will have much weight with Jury. I do so wish the trial was over.

I think that a plea could well be put in to Mr Atkins for help for the school, if our boys could lead the people to civilization alone (which in order to permanent success must accompany evangelization).

I do hope he will help us. Save help in clothing, from missionary boxes, Miss McB thinks it wise that our boys should have the necessity of depending upon their own labor for support of self & family while studying which, while hard, has helped (is helping) to develop them into energetic self reliant men. Help one year, discontinued the next the - depending on it would be disastrous. If the Government would only help with something permanent as buildings &c. But Dr E knows best. This is only a suggestion.

Dr Ellinwood can tell Mr Atkins that Mt Idaho is one of the nicest little villages I ever knew; the County seat with only one saloon. (I have not seen, I think half a dozen drunk men in Mt Idaho.) The people mostly from the East & Oregon are principally stock raisers with ranches near, their families living in town, and County Officers. It is near enough to the Reserve for our boys to attend to their affairs from here while better gaining and imparting a knowledge of civilization & English does not separate them from their people, and the homes of their children. D.V.

So much for civilization. She is giving too much space to secondary matters.

To turn to the more important items in Dr Es last letter ‘our Nez Perce Minister Pupils. William Wheeler spent six months of last year in the Ind. School at Forest Grove for the sake of acquiring the English. Miss McB sent Robert Williams to Portland, some years ago for the same purpose. But he did not like Forest Grove, there was no other school there for him and he returned home in about a month.

Mr Deffenbaugh ‘coached’ Robert in English. I do not know if he coached any of the others on the way to or at Presbyter (He will report his work now with the two at Lapwai.) Save this, none of the Nez Perce ministers have ever attended another school, or had another teacher. Their names are:

1^st class begun 1874
James Hines – studied less than 3 years
Archie Lawyer – studied about 4 years in all
Robert Williams – began study 1874 and save one year when the school was at Lapwai has been studying ever since when his Church duties would (will) permit

2^nd class begun 1877
Silas Whitman – studied 5 ½ years
William Wheeler 5 years (+ 6 months at Forest Grove)
Enoch Pond – 5 years +
Peter Lindsley – 6 years +
James Hayes – still studying & helping Miss McB in the school room & Robert in the Kamiah church

That is as nearly as I can remember the terms of study of the Nez Perce ministers

When Miss McB opened her school at Kamiah in 1874, Father Spaulding was dead. There was no interpreter for the minister in the Gov. School there until our boys were raised up. Her first class had to take charge of religious services at K almost from the first, teaching their people on Sab what they had learned in school during the week. Their great need was a knowledge of Bible truths in their own tongue. The ‘Kings business required haste.’ There were few whites near then and no Presbytery (where they would need English) in Idaho then & Miss McB could take little time for the Eng speaking so difficult to the Nez Perce tongue.

When Mr Deffenbaugh came to Lapwai, he found no white minister on the Reserve. Father Montieth had been dead more than a year. Robert Williams was in charge of the Church at Kamiah, Mark Williams & Archie Lawyer on their way to, or in the Ind Ter. James Hines on his farm near North Fork. Her school at Lapwai (for two years after the war), her 2^nd class, in its 2^nd year in charge of religious services in the church at Lapwai, (and religious matters among the Nez Perces, in such stage that Mr D said he "would not remain longer than a few years." To remain longer he said "would be an imposition on the Board" which idea Miss McB combatted looking out on the heathen tribes around.

Miss McB had in her hopes her 2^nd class, as pioneers among the heathen wild tribes, where the Eng language was, and still is, little needed. I think that save two of the 1^st class, who stopped study before Misss McB had such command of the language the Nez Perce Ministers understand clearly, and can teach, essential Bible truths understand Church Government &c They do not yet need the Eng language for Gospel work in their own or other tribes - need more the language of the tribes to whom they go. But for the sake of meetings of Pres. &c their changing environment, and that of the race they need more English. (And to pursue their studies alone, they would still need the Nez Perce English Dict.

As to Miss McB ‘estimate’ of them.
If Dr Ellinwood has seen her letter to Dr Lindsley, last fall, with a copy of appeal to Mr Deffenbaugh he has seen her estimate of James Hines whom personally she rather likes. Personally too, Miss Mc B has nothing against Archie Lawyer, who has always demoted himself respectfully in her presence. Her estimate of his character is shewn in a letter to the Board dating from long before his ordination & after until now & in her ‘Appeal to the Home Board through the Lapwai. (missing)

He is showy, but superficial, superior to none of her boys save in craft & subtlety. There will never be another Archie Lawyer from Miss McBs hand. God knows Archies [missing] only knows his words & acts, as no other white person living knows them. If she only had any evidence from them that his heart was truly changed by Gods Spirit from what it was before the Gospel reached him, she could trust the grace of God to eradicate at length the power of his traditions, and his inheritance of blood & training. But his airs are still the same – the restoration of the old heathen regime using the ‘bible says so’ and his power as an ordained minister form this purpose. Using still the old heathen methods of accomplishing his aims. Protest, prophecy and appeal were tried in vain to prevent liscensure & ordination. She will only add. Please, please, keep Archie as far away as possible from the rest of our boys and the tribe among whom the Board purposes sending him – and for the sake of her school – if nothing more – please keep him away from Kamiah. Intrigue, haswalawit, everything has been tried to give the Kamiah pulpit where he could hinder or cut off the supply of future workers (D.V.) There only remains Presbytery & Synod. His presence at Synod, his success with southern Synod & with Mr D make me fear.

Silas Whitman was doing a good work before the return of Archie whose influence over him - never good - was much increased by naming him placed over him last winter. I think Silas has the root of the matter in him, has energy & can many of the elements of a good pastor, if he could be kept away from that influence from which he is in danger now.

Peter Lindsley has many of the characteristics of his great Namesake. I ask in this commentary that he stated he did not know that ‘Dr Ellinwood’ & ‘Dr Lowrie knew of his brief ‘slip’ of last summer (when led astray by the Lawyers) of which repented so bitterly. It would hurt him sorely, if he knew they knew of it. And may she ask that none of her boys as Silas may know what she writes about them to Dr E. Peter is the most gifted speaker of them all, full of zeal. She had hoped to have him (D.V.) among the Crow Indians among whom he once lived a year. But Miss Mc B dares not begin another sheet. This letter has been delayed to long now. She must be brief.

William Wheeler is a good man I think, with many of the elements of a good worker. I trust him. He & Peter Lindsley are well mated. I think William for the home work, Peter to reach out as he is doing among the Columbia River wild tribes.

Enoch Pond, is a thoroughly reliable man. I could trust Enoch anywhere, and with a thorough understanding of the Gospel. He & William, Peter fully repay MisB for all the labor spent upon them.

Miss McB has always kept her pupils as well as self uncovered to Dr Lowrie’s eyes.

Her estimate of Robert Williams is shewn all through her letters to the Board. She can only repeat that she counts him ample reward for her 12 years of isolation, and toil, and burden bearing among the Nez Perce, even if he stood alone. And she can say the same thing of James Hayes who is Roberts ‘son in the Lord’ as is Robert Parsons, Harry Hayes and the younger members of her present class. Miss McB could scarcely have accomplished her New Carlisle at Mt I without Roberts help at K. Kamiah being the field for the seed corn needs the best workers - Robert William & James Hayes.

They are the most advanced Nez Perces (save James Reuben who is not a Christian) Robert the Leader of the advance receiving the harder blows from those who no not want (or want these NP ) to advance but still pressing on. James Hayes at his side standing like a rock in the way of there return of his people to their old paths.The Kamiah Church still holds fast that which it has - pastor & people more deeply rooted and grounded in faith for what they has passed through. Pray much for them and all the Nez Perce. In the Master work
Respectfully Yours

S.L. McBeth

.Confession
In asking Mr Atkins for books last summer, Miss McB sent a little sketch of her school enclosing 2 letters of Mr John B. Montieth (her Agent for 6 years) i.e. his letter when the Dept closed her school with his last letter as Agent before his death. Her sister copying letters she keeping copies. She also encloses the last letter she can find of Father Montieth (Rev. Wm. J) written before the paralysis – from repeated strokes of which he died the following Aug. (Dr E could not have read in one day the 70 letters & notes from Father & son. Miss McB hopes to send soon to Phila or New York the deed for the ‘boards house’ here. The rest of the press money Dr. L writes lately is now payed in Bank of Portland.