Lapwai, Nov. 21^st 1878
Rev. J.C. Lowrie D.D.

Dear Sir
Mr Deffenbaugh brought your letter of Nov 6^th to me last Wednesday evening when he came over to have one of those long ‘conferences’ of which Dr Lowrie speaks in regard to Church matters at Kamiah and Robert, and Miss McB. The next morning he and Robert started to Kamiah, where he expected to administer the Sabbath – returning to Lapwai by the way of North Fork, where James Hines is located preaching there (D.V.) tonight, and reaching here (D.V.) tomorrow P.M. (Kamiah is 60 miles from here, over the mountains – North Fork about 30 miles distant from both here and Kamiah in an ‘out of the way place’). This is Mr Ds first visit to both and he will doubtless report to you, himself. It is such a comfort and a rest of heart to shake off some of the burden of church matters – of course to the extent of my power he has whatever assistance Miss McB can give him. He has begun the study of the language is with us nearly every morning in the school room following us in the translations &c.

Robert did not go to the Indian Ter. but his brother, Mark Williams was appointed in his place. Mark was the brightest, and, in some things the most advanced of my first class of pupils – so that his going ‘cripples’ us much as to interpreter at Kamiah &c. Mr Montieth, with Archie Lawyer, Mark W. & James Reuben accompany the prisoners of this summer to join Joseph in the Ind. Ter. Mr M hoped to spend yesterday with them in St. Louis and I wrote to the friends there to make the best possible use of ‘my boys’ in furthering the interests of Indian missions. Mr M expected to take our boys to Washington, and possibly to New York. If to the latter, Dr L. will doubtless see, and ‘use’ them perhaps, for the mission cause. I wish the Phila ladies could see them too.

James Hines was too old when he began to study, and besides is needed at North Fork. Robert is the man, almost the only helper left Mr D. now. Hence the nescessity of pushing on my last class as it was impossible to push on 12. The [illegible] was a good testing time shewing, perhaps, which of the pupils had the least moral stamina (or least of the grace of God, perhaps) The two ‘backboneless’ pupils I did not invite to return this fall. I am afraid labor spent on them would be labor lost. One device of the Jesuits last year was to try to tempt my men with their women. God kept any from falling, but in the unsettled vacation time they succeeded so far with one of my young unmarried pupils that he took to wife one of their women who was far from good and I dropped him from the list. I feared their entrapping his friend, my youngest pupil and told that youngest to remain with his parents at Kamiah this year and if we lived and he remained upright he could come back to me in another year. D.V. He is only about 17 years old although nearly six feet tall – has been in the boarding schools and was in advance of the others. So, if Robert does not return from Kamiah to study (there is no preacher there now when he is absent) that leaves me only seven pupils. Mr D says I should not have more than six. What does Dr Lowrie say? It is important too I think that the wives of my pupils should be advanced, with their husbands as much as is possible that they may not be drawbacks and for their own good. "so here a little and there a little" I wish I had time and strength to do more. But I spent the full time with my pupils less hurried, and with longer & deeper ‘explanations’ and they enjoy it so much more and are so much more profited by it I think – than last year.

Now for a little ‘business’. Both of Mr Rankins checks are still in my hands. The first, for $439.00 ($300.00 salary; 39:00 travelling expenses from Portland, $100.00 for the four pupils whose photos I sent to Dr L) is still fastened in my clothing where I fastened it – early last summer (remembering my Kamiah experience ready for flight from hostile Spokane or Snake at any hour). The second check, for $225 (i.e. $150.00 salary - $75.00 for licenciates) came while we were still in doubt as to what the hostiles might bring the Nez Perce mission, so I kept it too to await results. I will (D.V.) send both to the Bank soon. I did not know that I ought to have sent them before.

When I was an ‘employee’ of the Government, with a larger salary, and with Government ‘rations’ I deposited in the 1^st National Bank of Portland – our nearest Bank and kept a ‘Bank book’ as the most convenient way, here. From this fund I have drawn for the expenses of the past year, and cashed the monies sent my pupils by the Board, giving them the money. There returned (cancelled) checks (for more than a year now) returned to me a few weeks ago, amount to $746.08

This sum includes all the monies included in Mr Rankins checks and expenses for School room, and scholars. Then too many of my household goods are at Kamiah and needed to be replaced on commencing housekeeping here. I reported to Dr Lowrie my disposal of the first gift of the Board to my pupils. I told him too that as soon as the salary check came I gave to Robert $25.00 for his much needed saddle. Archie returned to Kamiah early in the spring and so was able to put in his crops earlier than Robert and to attend to things. But he preached faithfully in the church there and took his turn with Robert supplying the church here through the time of the harvest months and deserved the money so I gave $25.00 to him. Mark was unexpectedly appointed in his brother Roberts stead little more than a week before he started to the Ind Ter. He has not and could not himself care in that time for clothing needed for travel and essential to his health in a change of climate, so I gave $25.00 to him.

Robert I had to keep here until vacation for sake of the church here and his studies. He could only put in his crops, leaving them to take care of themselves so could only raise sufficient food – if that. The long illness of his wife was another drawback. When he came here a short time since his clothes were nearly worn out. His sick wife too, needed some comforts so I gave another $25.00 to him. When he had made his purchases ($25.00 does not go very far in a Lewiston store) I found that he had only his thin lined coat for every day wear this winter. His well worn Sunday coat would not last long if worn both week day and Sabbath. So I gave him $10.00more and sent him back to purchase a warm common coat for the sake of the health and strength needed in his work for the Master.

I have taken up so much of this letter with ‘business’ that I have not space for the printing press and ‘girls school’ and besides I want to have a talk with Mr D about them. Only this: I want the press every day and if Mr D does not yet feel the want of it I think he soon will. I am sorry for the Nez Perce women "nobody teaches us" they say and I will be so most heartily glad if anything can be done for this most important part of the tribe (if we look at them only in their relation to the Earthly advancement of their tribe, even ) I hope (D.V.) to write more fully on these two points to you. Meantime I am Respectfully yours

S.L. McBeth
Please shall I not have an answer to this letter and my report.