Lapwai, Idaho Terr. March 14, 1873 [This letter is misdated it should be March 14, 1874]
Rev. John C. Lowrie. D.D.

Dear Sir
Your very welcome letter of Feb. 16^th reached me last week – crossing on its way here, most probably, a note, enclosing two Post Office orders for $50.00 each and a letter which I sent shortly afterwards. I hope both orders and letter have reached Dr. Lowrie in safety.

Dr. L’s letter came to me like a ‘cordial’ – it did me good. And now I am going to avail myself of his kind permission to talk to him ‘freely’ come to him with something of the same feeling with which I would go to my dear pastor whom he knew and loved were he still upon the Earth. May I not?

I will not trouble him with the disappointments which met me here or the personal trials which have come to me – He has to listen to so much of that and the ‘grace & strength sufficient’ has been given I trust. Today, I only purpose talking about that part of ‘self’ which relates to my work – And first about my health.

It may surprise Dr Lowrie, but it is true that I cannot today, remember a month of consecutive days in my life, or since I was quite young in which I enjoyed perfect health, perfect freedom from suffering. There may have been such a time but I cannot recall it now. (I inherit that ‘thorn in the flesh’ as did my dear Mother, and yet she lived and worked until she was near seventy) I was far from strong when among the Choctaws and yet, I think that if Dr Lowrie knew of and remembers those days, he will know that the work of a strong women fell to my lot there. So - in the eight or nine years of labor in St. Louis afterwards.

Dr Lowrie may have known such persons as S.L. McB plodding on, while so many fall around them who seemed to have so much stronger hold on life, laid down and died. He knows a little of my life work, I think and I may say to him that I think it has been the work of a strong woman – I say this without one feeling of self pride – as if I have done it, because in, and of myself, I am nothing and can do nothing and no credit is due to me. Whatever faculties or qualities in me the Master used and guided and strengthened for his service were His own gifts to me and to His blessed name alone belongs all the praise.

Mr. Ainslie knew all about my health from the first, and that was the strong inducement he held out to me (he knew my deep interest in the Indian) the benefit of the climate. And it has benefitted me, I think. My general health is much better than when I came, and, although the work has been much harder than I expected (I came to be an assistant, you know and yet, until the last few weeks had to do what has heretofore been the work of two persons in the school room.) Still, God has so helped me that I have only missed one day from the school room and save that one day have not neglected a class because of sickness.

Dear Sir, I would not have come here if I had not felt knowing myself that I could with Gods help & the strength He only can give – that I could do the work. If He does not give the needed strength or I feel that someone else can do more and better I will not stand one day in the way of that other, in the Lords’ work. Whenever I feel that my strength is not sufficient for my duties I promise I will tell Dr Lowrie so frankly and ask him to release me. Will this do?

In my last letter I told Dr Lowrie what I had been doing in the Nez Perce language with Mr Whitmans help. I enjoy such work and my University experience comes to my aid in it very much. And I was in a measure, compelled to begin it, but for my work & because I can only learn a language through understanding it or rather I must know something of its principles or I cannot remember it. There is no book such as Dr Lowrie speaks of nothing printed in the language save a few hymns, and the Gospel of Matthew by Mr Spaulding – I found only about 80 words (N.P.) written down (by the Rev. Mr Montieth) here and the first thing that struck me as a hindrance in the work, was the lack of some such book. I spoke to Mr A when I came but he could not attend to it, and as I needed it very much, in my own work, and saw no other way I began it myself. Dr Lowrie spoke of an alphabet he thought could be adapted to it. Would he please tell me where & how I could get it? The vowel sounds are the same in the Nez P as in the Choctaw – the diphthongs similar & some of the same consonants wanting in both. The consonant sounds of b, c, d, f, g, q, r & are abundant in N.P. But enough of this. As I acquire Nez Perce words I have been teaching, verbs by blackboard with their English definitions to my pupils at least such as come into their lessons & daily intercourse with them & found that it facilitates their studies very much & helped my influence with them.

I love my Nez Perce boys & girls & I think they make as good progress as could be expected with this great obstacle in the way (i.e. their want of knowledge of the English!) They are[missing] than could be expected indeed considering the manner of their raising. I have become deeply interested in the people particularly the women (I have seen more of them & my work lies more among them perhaps is the reason). The Nez Perces are, I think, morally superior to the Choctaws when the missionaries first went among them, and not inferior intellectually, I think. In the people themselves I can see no obstacle to the progress of the Gospel, and its attendant civilization – i.e. Gods spirit accompanies & blesses the work – and the works are given grace from God and cooperation among ourselves, and such a baptism of the Spirit as will, lead us to throw away ‘mine’ & ‘thine’ and think only of what is "Christs". Pray that such a baptism may be give me.

This letter has been several days in progress – picked up at intervals (as you can judge) and I must (D.V.) send it by tomorrows mail. (We mail letters to Lewiston when we can.) Mr Ainslie started for Kamiah yesterday and will see if a room can be found for me in my work there. I hope the way will be open if God pleases. Not because I prefer it, or cannot work as well here as there, probably but Mr Coyner is exceedingly anxious to have his daughter in my position here – and, the Master knows what is best for me – and always does it. I leave all such matters with Him always. I can trust Him.

In my last I told Dr. Lowrie of my ‘Mothers Meeting’ &c with the native women. If Dr Lowrie has answered that letter before this reaches him, I will not ask an answer to this – although I should like one so much. I know how very many cares and duties burden him – must burden him heavily, and I would not willingly add to the load – no matter how much his letters comfort & help.

Yours truly,

S.L. McBeth