Mt Idaho Jan 4^th 1886
Mr Wm Rankin

Dear Sir
Many thanks not only for the enclosure in your note of Sept 17^th (a check for $300.00 my salary up to Oct 1^st ) but more for the kind words of sympathy & trust – which came like a ‘cup of cold water to the thirsty.’ I sent, so lately, a long letter to Dr Ellinwood, telling of arrangements made for my school here, number of pupils &c and asking Dr E to please shew the letter, and its enclosures to Mr Rankin and Dr Lowrie. There is nothing new or different to report since then, save that the pupils I wrote him were to come after New Years are here now. Seven families of my pupils (7 men and their wives, 8 little ones) are living in Mt. Idaho today. Four of our boys study from the Reserve. We having no houseroom for their families here. (3 families i.e. in the house belonging to the Board 2 in each of the other houses.) The names of my pupils are:
Robert Parsons – a very promising young man (a son of Yutsinmalikans who is ready for licensure whenever Pres wants him)
Moses Montieth – ready for licensure
Caleb McAtee – 2 years a pupil
James Hayes (Rev) and his brother
Harry Hayes – a very promising pupil I took in the place of Andrew Moody, who went to Lapwai. One of the wives of those who study from the reserve accompanied her husband last monday and will only be here occasionally with her husband now in the rooms reserved for lodgers in the Boards house at present.
Luke Williams – my carpenter pupil a bright young man
Solomon Whitman – Elder pupilGeorge Enos – whom Miss McB elected in her heart years ago, taken now in the place of Peter Lindsley
Elliot Enos – George’s brother
Felix Corbett (Elder pupil & last ‘Head Chief of the Nez Perces’ can only be with us occasionally (i.e. Felix & Elliot - we having no house room for their families whom they cannot well care for from here)

Besides these (11) Robert Williams with Mr Ds approval will be with us (D.V.) a few days at a time, when practicable, without interfering with his duties as pastor at Kamiah. James Hayes helping him with the Kamiah church, and helping Miss McB in the school room here and continuing his own studies with her. Two other Kamiah men (and their wives were surely disappointed because we could not take them as pupils this year. Have been ‘piwaiyaysin’ (promised entrance) another year should God spare us, and them &.

The wives of my pupils (who must not stand still while their husbands advance) cause Miss McB the greatest perplexity & care. They have no one here with whom they can leave their little ones who must not be left alone. Miss McB tried the experiment of teaching the women with their husbands, but the little ones prevented study of either men or women. She tried having them come at 7 P.M & study until near dark, but she could not endure it after her days work with the men.

But details about them must wait. (Only this: Miss McB is teaching them, as she can, in books, has them at work now in their homes and little ones (Mr Rankin knows how Nez P homes have troubled her) was busy until nearly 10:0clock last night, cutting out ‘white folks’ garments (pattern &c) for them to make for their children. Made arrangements yesterday with a neighbor skillful with her needle to teach Harry Hayes (childless) wife Hattie how to cut out and make ‘white’ women garments. Hattie to teach the other wives. Miss McB paying the neighbor with some of her own clothing, she cannot afford to pay the money now. Save the printing press money for the house &c from the Phila friends all the expense of removing starting and carrying on the ‘New Carlisle’ at Mt Idaho has come (comes) out of Miss McB own limited purse (That precious little ‘Reserve’ fund which is rapidly melting away) The balance of the printing press money left after paying the $250 for the Boards house here was $26.50 which paid for one of the three stoves. Miss McB had to buy for our boys here (besides three of her stoves for them brought from Kamiah) and 6.00 in another for the two houses & stable) the rents for them, she pays $15.00 per month – and she had spent so much on her work at Kamiah $79.74 on building for Mens school when it was barely habitable. (She sent the bill, then reciepted to the Phila friends. After that came the [illegible] papering, partial painting, fire place, building enclosing, trees & fencing &c &c. Besides last year house near the school for James Hayes, lumber for Winter Quarters for boys, the last item we will not need and may be able to dispose of at K if it is decided to have the Winter Quarters of the school at Mt Idaho instead.

Jan 16^th

More & more the practicability and advantages of Winter Quarters at Mt Idaho, instead of at Kamiah is proved. (The longer it is tested.) I have never known our boys make such advance in the same time. They can almost feel themselves grow. And I think Mr Rankin does not know a happier ten, treated kindly, and with respect by their white neighbors, and freed from the hindrances to study on the Reserve. (Mr Rankin sees how letters get written but I cannot help it. If he has ever moved one family out of the county into the city with all arrangements & caring for them in their new conditions he will have a little idea of the caring for & and [illegible] matters for six families in far less familiar conditions to them. For days at a time she scarcely gets an uninterrupted meal. But it is a happy care of God gives her strength not like the care of last year.

Miss McB can only write up to today. What tomorrow, or coming weeks or months hold for us is in Gods Hand. So far, He has helped and prospered us. To His Name be all the praise. She wrote to Mr Rankin last summer her thought of transferring her school to Mt Idaho until there was protection for them on the Reservation (as there is now, from Territorial laws, thank God). We did not get school here opened until about the middle of nov and her thought now is as she wrote Dr Ellinwood, Winter Quarters at Mt Idaho, in the working months of spring and early summer, the school at Kamiah. If God should give her strength sufficient (she has been doing the work of two women, and she has never in her life been even one, strong women) and the Board should approve, she sees nothing in the way save her bread, which her sister baked, and she can not. But that may be provided for if God so wills.

I wrote Dr Ellinwood of Tom Hill having been indicted under the laws of the Territory of Idaho for the murder of Nine Pipes. He is now in the county jail awaiting his trial in the spring. (We may possibly have some light on other mysteries to Miss McB. In how much peril some of the other friends [illegible] (for complicity in the murder) will perhaps, be tested then. At all events, they are ‘walking softly’ now. Our boys had a very ‘happy Christmas’ at Kamiah they tell me. The Church there is quiet & prosperity at the present.

Will Mr Rankin please shew Dr Ellinwood & Dr Lowrie) this letter, read enclosed letter & copies, if he has time, then give them to Dr Ellinwood & Dr Lowrie) and if it would not be too much trouble might I have the letter of Mr J. B. Montieth again when all are through with them? I have had no answer to my ‘long letter to Dr Ellinwood yet, only a circular request of biographical sketches of native Christians for the Foreign Missionary whose sketches I would gladly write if I had time.

The Monthly Record comes to me (many thanks) but the Foreign Missionary I rarely see and I would like to see it. In reducing personal expenses to the lowest as I must, I had to drop some of my religious papers to my regret. Could Miss McB have a copy of The Foreign Missionary sent to her and her boys, if it is not asking too much? Forgive this hasty writing, with its many interruptions. Pray much for us all.
In the Masters work.
Yours truly,

S.L. McBeth