Lapwai August 27 1879
Rev. Dr. J.C. Lowrie
Dear Sir
Your letter of Aug 2nd reached me a short time since and would have been answered sooner but I have been so hindered principally by visits from the people who desire to see me after my absence in Portland. Yesterday, I had devoted to writing a long letter to Dr Lowrie but ‘Billy’ Roberts father and our good Elder from Kamiah spent nearly the whole day with me returning to K this morning. Robert has been very ill, but is better.
Mr Deffenbaugh spent last Sab. at K. and will doubtless give you a Report of his visit. Billy sends a long message to Dr Lowrie of thanks for his care and kindness to the Nez Perces. He says he is afraid the ‘titakash’ the chief men of our church will think he has a ‘dumb heart’ or is against them because he cannot write and tell them how grateful he is for what they have done and are doing for his people. If he could write in Eng. He would ‘shew them his heart.’ So that they might know. As he cannot write he wants me to thank them for him and tell them he would like to see them on Earth, if not, he will, he hopes to see them in heaven.’ And he asked me with tears in his eyes to ask Dr Lowrie to send Mark back to him. He is afraid for his soul among the heathen and their temptations – if Marks wife was with him he says he would be willing to have him stay fifteen years’ or even die there – but he is afraid, both for Marks young wife here, and Mark there. And indeed, I think the separating my boys from their wives was very unwise.
But it was about the ‘printing press’ rather than the Nez Perces I wanted to talk today. I want to tell Dr L. the ‘story’ of the press and let him & the Phila friends decide. I send an answer to Mrs Fishburns note in the same mail with this.
Four years ago, at least in the first year with my class at Kamiah, if I remember rightly, I wrote to Dr Lowrie of my want of a small printing press to strike off the Eng. words with their Nez P. translations as we dig them out, that my pupils might take them home, and so their learning Eng. be facilitated. And, the school could use them (there was so much ‘parrot-like’ repeating there) &c &c. I had and have only one M.S.S. Dictionary which I need all the time myself in my work. The Smithsonian Institute offered to print the Dic. & Gram. when completed but that may probably not be for a long time yet. I want it as perfect as possible. I had 9000 Eng. words copied when in Portland this summer and I do not think that is half of the words (N.P) I have or can get. Then the correcting could be done here & save the expense & delay of sending proof sheets back and forth from Idaho to Washington. To go back, when I went to Portland the summer after I wrote to Dr Lowrie I found such a press as I wanted - a rotary power press self inking (worked by a treadle) second hand but almost as good as new which I could have purchased for $60.00. Dr Lindsley who knows a great deal about printing gave me lessons in type setting and managing the press until he thought I could do it. I wanted to buy the press and take it home with me then. (How many times I wished and wish I had one) But Dr Lindsley thought it too small. It ought to be large enough for a small paper &c. He had then some missionary money in his hands from a Sabbath School in the East, and thought he could raise more and buy a larger press.
So, I deposited $60.00 of my own in to buy the press and bought an Organ for my
school, and the Nez P. church when I am done with it. Dr. L appealed again to
that same S.S., I too, writing them, at his request and they (& the church connected
with them) raised money for the press to the amt of about $200.00 which Dr. L said would
be sufficient without taking my deposit. Dr L has many cares which probably was the reason
of the delay in the purchase from time to time. From the first I had destined Mark for the
press and when Archie & Robert & James went to Presbytery in May 1877 I sent Mark
with them paying his expenses there ($30.00). Mr Thompson (Rev.) of Olympia who had my
boys in charge promising to place Mark in a printing office in O. and care for him there.
While my boys were in Portland the ‘Nez P. war broke out’ and through some
misagreement of Mr. T. Mark returned home with the others.
Dr L took $100.00 of the press money to pay the expenses of my boys from Portland to Lapwai. The balance, if any, he doubtless put to a good use in the Masters work somewhere. He did not tell me of it and I did not like to ask him. The press is still the best thing I think for Marks very active brain and deft hands. I do not know how else to employ them to the best use – if he returns home as he probably will before Christmas (D.V.) It is the very thing for him. I doubt if the ministry is for the present, at least.
I still felt (& feel) the want of the press in so many ways in the last two years. But the little note to the Phila ladies last winter was the first effort in its direction since I returned after the war. Mrs Perkins some months ago wrote me that a lady wished to give a printing press to the Nez Perce Mission, and she asked for some information on the subject which I gladly sent her and again there was a silence. On my return from Portland a few weeks ago, I found awaiting me, a letter from Mrs Jacobs of Chicago saying that Miss Axtell and the S.S. of the 6th Pres’n Church there had donated $125.00 for a press for the Nez P. mission that she (Mrs J) had corresponded with the Phila ladies and she asked for some ‘picture photos’ which I sent her at once, with notes of thanks. This was the first word I had heard from or written to the Chicago friends on the subject. Then, a day or two before Dr Lowries last letter, came a note from Mrs Fishburn, stating that $150.00 had been raised for the press, and asking for directions. I have answered her myself and told her I would write to Dr. L on the subject, sending the letters in the same mail (D.V.) and leaving the decision prayerfully with him &c the & under God.
Let me tell Dr Lowrie another little story
‘While I ‘ran away’ from Joseph to Portland two years ago (the second time I had ‘run from hostiles’) I started for my home with my beloved second Mother, Mrs Mary Easton Sibley, (Linderwood). St. Charles, Mo. who had been so long pleading with me to come to her. I intended to wait in Portland long enough to try to recover my Nez Perce books, which Gen. Howard had promised to try to get for me at Kamiah and send to me in P. Dr. Lowrie knows how Dr Lindlsey detained me in Portland wishing me to return to the Nez Perce. He knew the story of my waiting, and retiring by appointment from the Board the ‘test’ by which I had asked the Master to shew me His will). I started on the boat with Mrs Sibleys last letter in my pocket, unread for fear my heart should fail me at the last moment for I loved her dearly. Last summer God sent for Mrs Sibley, and she died feeling that I cared more for the Nez Perces than I did for her, and feeling hurt with me. (I know this because she dropped my name out of her will, where I saw it more than ten years ago.)
I said in Portland "I do not understand this dispensation. Why I should thus be stopped in my work. Perhaps the Master means that I may now rest awhile in my pleasant home, and comfort the declining years of one who has loved me as a daughter for many years. I did not know from whose Hand this ‘driving away’ from my work comes. If it is from the Master, I will gladly go home. But if it is the work of Satan, I’m gong back just to spite him"
And now, dear Sir, I do not know from whose Hand comes the hindrances to the long longed for printing press. If from the Master, if He sees it is best, we should not have it, I will try cheerfully (as I can) to submit. But, if Satan is afraid it would do some mischief to his cause, and so, is trying to hinder, why, I want the press ‘just to spite him’ (I hate him).
I promise Dr Lowrie that it shall not interfere with more important matters (work) if
it comes. And, I shall not be the least ‘angry’ if it be denied us only
I’m afraid I shall not understand it. I have written to Mrs Fishburn as I
have because if the press is a tantalus cup I would rather not put my own hand up to push
it from my lips. And in this way too, I can best ‘test’ it. I will leave the
matter entirely with Dr Lowrie and the Phila. Friends only praying earnestly that God
will preside in their councils and control their decisions and so shew me His will through
them, if it please Him.
I am writing this very hastily as I must. And if there is any word in it that is not right, I hope Dr Lowrie will forgive it
I have written to the Phila friends about the house at Kamiah but have not heard from them on the subject since my return from Portland where I spent more than two weeks.) My pupils are busy with their farm work, but will soon have their harvest in, I think
This not knowing about the house at K leaves us that we do not know what preparations to make for the winter. But I have told my pupils that they must come to me here as soon as they are through their work (D.V.) and we can (D.V. study while waiting. Doubtless God will open up the way for what He wants done. My sister writes me that she will (D.V.) start for Idaho the 2nd week of Sept.
Roberts illness (the chills a very severe attack & general prostration), was I’m afraid, brought on by overwork, and helped on I’m afraid by want of nourishing food & suitable clothing. Last Sabbath was the first money raised (contributed) for him by his people and Mr D thinks that the will perhaps not raise more than $50.00 for him this year. Mr D thinks too, that he will still need help from the Board if he can have it. But he will doubtless write to Dr L on the subject.
This is not an answer to Dr Ls note or a ‘Report’ only a talk about the press. I will D.V) write again, as soon as I can. Shall I not have a few lines at least in answer if Dr L. is not too busy and too tired? So that I may know what to expect.
Praying that the Master may work out His own will and His own greatest glory and the best good of this people, in this matters and all others I am
Truly yours
S.L. McBeth
Lapwai August 27 1879
Rev. Dr. J.C. Lowrie
Dear Sir
Your letter of Aug 2nd reached me a short time since and would have been
answered sooner but I have been so hindered principally by visits from the people who
desire to see me after my absence in Portland. Yesterday, I had devoted to writing a long
letter to Dr Lowrie but ‘Billy’ Roberts father and our good Elder from Kamiah
spent nearly the whole day with me returning to K this morning. Robert has been very ill,
but is better.
Mr Deffenbaugh spent last Sab. at K. and will doubtless give you a Report of his visit. Billy sends a long message to Dr Lowrie of thanks for his care and kindness to the Nez Perces. He says he is afraid the ‘titakash’ the chief men of our church will think he has a ‘dumb heart’ or is against them because he cannot write and tell them how grateful he is for what they have done and are doing for his people. If he could write in Eng. He would ‘shew them his heart.’ So that they might know. As he cannot write he wants me to thank them for him and tell them he would like to see them on Earth, if not, he will, he hopes to see them in heaven.’ And he asked me with tears in his eyes to ask Dr Lowrie to send Mark back to him. He is afraid for his soul among the heathen and their temptations – if Marks wife was with him he says he would be willing to have him stay fifteen years’ or even die there – but he is afraid, both for Marks young wife here, and Mark there. And indeed, I think the separating my boys from their wives was very unwise.
But it was about the ‘printing press’ rather than the Nez Perces I wanted to talk today. I want to tell Dr L. the ‘story’ of the press and let him & the Phila friends decide. I send an answer to Mrs Fishburns note in the same mail with this.
Four years ago, at least in the first year with my class at Kamiah, if I remember rightly, I wrote to Dr Lowrie of my want of a small printing press to strike off the Eng. words with their Nez P. translations as we dig them out, that my pupils might take them home, and so their learning Eng. be facilitated. And, the school could use them (there was so much ‘parrot-like’ repeating there) &c &c. I had and have only one M.S.S. Dictionary which I need all the time myself in my work. The Smithsonian Institute offered to print the Dic. & Gram. when completed but that may probably not be for a long time yet. I want it as perfect as possible. I had 9000 Eng. words copied when in Portland this summer and I do not think that is half of the words (N.P) I have or can get. Then the correcting could be done here & save the expense & delay of sending proof sheets back and forth from Idaho to Washington. To go back, when I went to Portland the summer after I wrote to Dr Lowrie I found such a press as I wanted - a rotary power press self inking (worked by a treadle) second hand but almost as good as new which I could have purchased for $60.00. Dr Lindsley who knows a great deal about printing gave me lessons in type setting and managing the press until he thought I could do it. I wanted to buy the press and take it home with me then. (How many times I wished and wish I had one) But Dr Lindsley thought it too small. It ought to be large enough for a small paper &c. He had then some missionary money in his hands from a Sabbath School in the East, and thought he could raise more and buy a larger press.
So, I deposited $60.00 of my own in to buy the press and bought an Organ for my
school, and the Nez P. church when I am done with it. Dr. L appealed again to
that same S.S., I too, writing them, at his request and they (& the church connected
with them) raised money for the press to the amt of about $200.00 which Dr. L said would
be sufficient without taking my deposit. Dr L has many cares which probably was the reason
of the delay in the purchase from time to time. From the first I had destined Mark for the
press and when Archie & Robert & James went to Presbytery in May 1877 I sent Mark
with them paying his expenses there ($30.00). Mr Thompson (Rev.) of Olympia who had my
boys in charge promising to place Mark in a printing office in O. and care for him there.
While my boys were in Portland the ‘Nez P. war broke out’ and through some
misagreement of Mr. T. Mark returned home with the others.
Dr L took $100.00 of the press money to pay the expenses of my boys from Portland to Lapwai. The balance, if any, he doubtless put to a good use in the Masters work somewhere. He did not tell me of it and I did not like to ask him. The press is still the best thing I think for Marks very active brain and deft hands. I do not know how else to employ them to the best use – if he returns home as he probably will before Christmas (D.V.) It is the very thing for him. I doubt if the ministry is for the present, at least.
I still felt (& feel) the want of the press in so many ways in the last two years. But the little note to the Phila ladies last winter was the first effort in its direction since I returned after the war. Mrs Perkins some months ago wrote me that a lady wished to give a printing press to the Nez Perce Mission, and she asked for some information on the subject which I gladly sent her and again there was a silence. On my return from Portland a few weeks ago, I found awaiting me, a letter from Mrs Jacobs of Chicago saying that Miss Axtell and the S.S. of the 6th Pres’n Church there had donated $125.00 for a press for the Nez P. mission that she (Mrs J) had corresponded with the Phila ladies and she asked for some ‘picture photos’ which I sent her at once, with notes of thanks. This was the first word I had heard from or written to the Chicago friends on the subject. Then, a day or two before Dr Lowries last letter, came a note from Mrs Fishburn, stating that $150.00 had been raised for the press, and asking for directions. I have answered her myself and told her I would write to Dr. L on the subject, sending the letters in the same mail (D.V.) and leaving the decision prayerfully with him &c the & under God.
Let me tell Dr Lowrie another little story
‘While I ‘ran away’ from Joseph to Portland two years ago (the second time I had ‘run from hostiles’) I started for my home with my beloved second Mother, Mrs Mary Easton Sibley, (Linderwood). St. Charles, Mo. who had been so long pleading with me to come to her. I intended to wait in Portland long enough to try to recover my Nez Perce books, which Gen. Howard had promised to try to get for me at Kamiah and send to me in P. Dr. Lowrie knows how Dr Lindlsey detained me in Portland wishing me to return to the Nez Perce. He knew the story of my waiting, and retiring by appointment from the Board the ‘test’ by which I had asked the Master to shew me His will). I started on the boat with Mrs Sibleys last letter in my pocket, unread for fear my heart should fail me at the last moment for I loved her dearly. Last summer God sent for Mrs Sibley, and she died feeling that I cared more for the Nez Perces than I did for her, and feeling hurt with me. (I know this because she dropped my name out of her will, where I saw it more than ten years ago.)
I said in Portland "I do not understand this dispensation. Why I should thus be stopped in my work. Perhaps the Master means that I may now rest awhile in my pleasant home, and comfort the declining years of one who has loved me as a daughter for many years. I did not know from whose Hand this ‘driving away’ from my work comes. If it is from the Master, I will gladly go home. But if it is the work of Satan, I’m gong back just to spite him"
And now, dear Sir, I do not know from whose Hand comes the hindrances to the long longed for printing press. If from the Master, if He sees it is best, we should not have it, I will try cheerfully (as I can) to submit. But, if Satan is afraid it would do some mischief to his cause, and so, is trying to hinder, why, I want the press ‘just to spite him’ (I hate him).
I promise Dr Lowrie that it shall not interfere with more important matters (work) if
it comes. And, I shall not be the least ‘angry’ if it be denied us only
I’m afraid I shall not understand it. I have written to Mrs Fishburn as I
have because if the press is a tantalus cup I would rather not put my own hand up to push
it from my lips. And in this way too, I can best ‘test’ it. I will leave the
matter entirely with Dr Lowrie and the Phila. Friends only praying earnestly that God
will preside in their councils and control their decisions and so shew me His will through
them, if it please Him.
I am writing this very hastily as I must. And if there is any word in it that is not right, I hope Dr Lowrie will forgive it. I have written to the Phila friends about the house at Kamiah but have not heard from them on the subject since my return from Portland where I spent more than two weeks.) My pupils are busy with their farm work, but will soon have their harvest in, I think
This not knowing about the house at K leaves us that we do not know what preparations to make for the winter. But I have told my pupils that they must come to me here as soon as they are through their work (D.V.) and we can (D.V. study while waiting. Doubtless God will open up the way for what He wants done. My sister writes me that she will (D.V.) start for Idaho the 2nd week of Sept.
Roberts illness (the chills a very severe attack & general prostration), was I’m afraid, brought on by overwork, and helped on I’m afraid by want of nourishing food & suitable clothing. Last Sabbath was the first money raised (contributed) for him by his people and Mr D thinks that the will perhaps not raise more than $50.00 for him this year. Mr D thinks too, that he will still need help from the Board if he can have it. But he will doubtless write to Dr L on the subject.
This is not an answer to Dr Ls note or a ‘Report’ only a talk about the press. I will D.V) write again, as soon as I can. Shall I not have a few lines at least in answer if Dr L. is not too busy and too tired? So that I may know what to expect.
Praying that the Master may work out His own will and His own greatest glory and
the best good of this people, in this matters and all others I am
Truly yours
S.L. McBeth