Mt. Idaho, Idaho Ter,
May 23^rd 1887

Mr. Wm Rankin
I did not know until Mr Deffenbaugh was here last thursday that Miss Mc B was expected to write to Mr Rankin as before - the changed ‘arrangements’ before remittances would be sent. The last ‘notice’ to her from the Portland Bank was dated Jan 6^th ’87 when a deposit of $100.00 had been made to her credit by Mr Rankin. She has heard nothing, direct, from the friends in New York, for much over a year (in Feb/86), has had no answer to her letters – not even an acknowledgement of reciept of deed for Boards house here. Even ‘The Church at Home and Abroad’ has stopped. Only ‘go forward’ alone with God under her Masters eye and with His help, doing ‘what she could’ (though the way felt very lonely sometimes, when she had time to look beyond her work.) But I think she can write ‘the Lord has been with us, and helped, and given, still success. To His Name be the praise.

Her school feels firmer, and the prospects brighter today than it did a year ago. (Up to today, what tomorrow may bring, God knows.) Today, our boys with the other Kamians are electing the ‘Pastor’ for the K. church – on whom under God depends so much for us too) She wrote last year, so fully of its plan, and work, which is still the same. The pupils too are the same, save that James Hayes had not been with us and she has a very ‘bright new pupil ‘ Mark Arthur (younger than Parsons. tho married). For part of the time six families resided here last winter. The wife of Parsons (the 7^th family) wishing to be near her mother until after New Years could not bring her infant through the storms and cold until this spring. Parsons and George, Enos (whose wife also could not come) rooming together, and ‘clubbing’ provisions with Harry Hayes and wife.)

Moses Montieths little daughter (delicate from her birth) died here before Christmas, and a son was born to him here after New Years. The health of pupils and wives has been good. A little sickness among the children yielded to prompt remedies. Our boys remained here this spring much later than last – up to the last day they could put in their crops, moving their families to Kamiah and coming and going themselves as last year. They had, I think made rapid progress, as have their wives, in the six months of their residence here on many things as in a year or more at Kamiah.

The work with the women is not Miss McB’s ‘work’ but outside and in addition to it with the help of help of helpful lady friends and neighbors here, save the ‘teaching talks.’ No experience of her life or taste has prepared her for it. But she is compelled in ‘self defense’ of her own work to try to advance the wives enough to be ‘helpsmeet’ and not ‘drawbacks’ to their husbands as some in the past. And though the double work taxed her sorely her women were such an encouragement to her and to their husbands. They advance as a family unit. Three of the women are now far enough advanced to lead the Spokane women in domestic matters (should the Spokane come D.V.) Last year winter Harry began to teach them a little in books, could have done more with a school room – which is in the ‘dream’. Our boys & wives still like Mt. I much. All feel that here is the "Ti-yi-ni-wash" (place of improving) & much better than at Kamiah.

Moses Montieth and Robert Parsons were liscenced to preach the Gospel, last month by the Presbytery which met in Union Or. They passed a very good examination say Rev. Boyd and Mr. D. I enclose this a very badly taken photo of Parsons. He is a son of Yut-sin-melikan the heathen Kamiah Chief who Dr. Ellinwood saw at Lapwai and in our troubles of that time had to bear, and bore bravely his share of persecution with the rest. Those persecutions ceased with the old administration, and the school at Mt I and Kamiah Christians have had such precious peace and rest under the new.

I do not know if the N.Y. friends know the decision of the Inspector who as at Lapwai about the time of change of administration that there was nothing in the way of Miss S.L. McBs return to the Reservation when ever she chose’ as she knew and waass not waiting for that to follow our boys to Kamiah for the farming months. (So the Inspector told here sister.) Miss S.L. McB knew nothing of his visit until he had gone. Her sister only wrote of the [letters] charges to Dept & Board which she saw (but S.L. McB – never) ‘Oh! Oh! What Dr. Ellinwood must have in his heart.’ Mr D and all the people now know from the revelations of the Agency Interpreter at that time that Archie was the root of the trouble to the school and Robert by ‘falsehoods without number! To the Agent and Mr D having left Archie at the Agents ear Lapwai during his six months absence East. So much hurt.

Only that with the interruptions of the two Presbyteries &c which she wished them to attend to learn, and the difficulty of crossing the swollen river from their scattered farms &c., the gain of their attendance over what they could learn can not, would not repay the removal to K (after the roads of this spring could permit wagons to K, and back again with harvest needed all their time. This year Harry pays the rent of the little house he occupies (as her ‘helper’ must needs) - McB being so burdened for other pupils) This summer she only pays rent for actual occupancy of pupils, instead of (as last) in absences too to ‘hold’ the house for the [illegible] One house which sheltered three families comfortably through the winters storms and for which she paid (still pays at the rate of $10. monthly. She could lease for five years for $200 if she could afford the money as she cannot. When Mr Rankin reads the enclosed copy of letter to Rev. T.M. Boyd he will see a ‘new departure’ (but old ‘dream’) of Miss Mc B

William Wheeler was here last week; came at the request of Samuel Boyd & Jacob (the Spokans of whom I speak in letter to Mr Boyd) to learn, definitely, about their coming to school in Mt Idaho and bring them word, next month, when he returns to Wellpinit for his goods – he being now chosen ‘pastor’ at North F.  Miss McB has the promise of four $50.00 Scholarships for next year (outside of all Societies and Bands.) Two of these will probably be permanent (D.V.)

On the strength of this, she sent word, by William, to Samuel & George to come to Mt. Idaho, with wives and little ones – God willing - next fall when they could (D.V.) enter school. Miss McB does not yet see clearly house, stove for Spokans but sent the word to them in faith that if God sends them He will open the way.  And now Mr D has ‘called a halt’ by telling her that her helper in the school room is discontinued by the Board’s discontinuing the ‘allowance’ of $200 to James Hayes (and this year to his substitute, his brother Harry) And now she does not know what to do.

Before Presbytery she wrote to Mr D in regard to this allowance (made through Pres. when James was ordained 2 or more years ago). Miss McB thought was to try with Gods help to train James to take up, and continue the work when if fell from her hands. His wife was the ‘drawback’ would not come to Mt. I. last fall. (James continued his own studies with her with James as her helper in the hope that the Boards would still be willing to grant it, even if changes should come to James; that being the only expense to the Board for school (or women either) outside of her salary; the scholarship from Westminister Pres. for Moses Montieth last year the only help from its funds.) Mr D told her, last week, that the ‘two ministers’ who were left over’ were to come to study and they were to be her ‘helpers’

James and Harry’s principal help in the school room (they continuing their own studies with her) was in leading in English reading, and training the full grown Nez Perce vocal organs in English sounds which are entirely wanting in the Nez Perce (an exhausting work) saving Miss McBs’ strength for translations, and other teaching. James and Robert are the only ones of ‘ministers’ who can do this; and James is chosen pastor of Umatilla and will make a good pastor I think, and we need Robert at Kamiah as does the Nez Perce Church.

Mr Rankin will see in her letter to Mr Boyd that none of the ‘pioneer’ ministers (William, Silas, Peter & Enoch) can help in this, or in teaching my present class. They have sufficient knowledge of the Gospel, and Bible truths to fit them to do good work as ‘pioneers’ but Harry, Parsons, and Moses (my three most advanced) are far in advance of them in other studies. They would only be additional labor to Miss McB - and expense (Unless the Board would furnish the additional houses, stoves &c needed for them. They could not even subsist on $100.00. ) These (the above) six, are the only ‘ministers’ for whose presence in the ministry Miss McB is accountable. The other two were put in her hands by Rev Ainslie and into the ministry through Mr D in spite of her protest (which she cannot learn of reaching Presbytery)

James Hines one of these two (now ‘leftover at North Fork unless he should be sent to the Spokans), Miss McB ‘dropped’ from school ten years because he was too old to learn. He was near or over the ‘dead line’ and had a weak throat when he was ordained. She likes him well enough and would not object to his presence in her school -where he could only be added labor. But cui bono? She would rather have a Crow or a Umatilla. She has no objection, personally to Archie Lawyer either (whose prepossessing appearance, manner and magnetism which have so helped him to work his aims thro the whites might have helped to make him a power for good, instead of evil to his people) He has always treated her respectfully. It is not a matter of personal feeling at all.

She thought, certainly, during the revelations last fall and winter of his many ‘speculations’ (of monies entrusted to him from their friends by Nez Perces here and in the Ind. Ter) while he was ‘pastor’ of Josephs band that, this month would have found him outside of the list of Nez Perce Ministers. Though those peculiarities embezzlements were so skillfully made and covered up, yet enough was proven by the people them selves to make some actions of the church needful for the sake of the Cause. (‘Pah-wit’ (thefts) - the Nez Perces call them. Mr D even tho not seeing far below the surface could scarce help hearing of some of them. Archie kept in the pulpit is not a good ‘object lesson to the people who knew.) His constant and untiring effort is to hinder or draw away pupils to lead astray of break down by the old heathen methods those who like Peter are or may be rivals. He would only enter my school to try to break it up again. But she cannot learn that Presbytery was even told of the matter. Mr D expecting to leave the Mission shortly. (But the Cause remains & other workers.)

Archie studied a shorter time that any save James Hines. In his travels &c he has ‘picked up’ English speaking as much as any of my pupils perhaps, and, from large practice in reaching his aims through the whites, is the best English letter writer of them all, perhaps. But he is far behind Harry, Moses & Parsons in books, and could teach them nothing save (as he has taught his teaching to some of the ministers so unwisely placed under his ‘teaching’ during Mr Ds six months absence East) what I pray they may never learn.

William Wheeler (the youngest of the ‘pioneers’ has Mr Ds permission and Miss McBeths to come and study as does Robert whenever his pastoral duties at North Fork will permit. And she will be glad to have him (He has done a good work at Wellpinit – Mr D says) But he can help nothing in the school, only add to her labor. In her perplexity about a ‘helper’ last week she suggested to Mr D (on impulse) that instead of going East he should preach to the whites here (there being no Pres. church nearer than Lewiston, and help in the school room to the amt of the $200 if the Board would grant it to him. Just as he was starting (he was here only one day) he said something about one work of teaching which Miss McB did not answer. If he could do the suggested work (see letter to Rev. Boyd) among the Crows &c in the summer helping in the school room in the winter (otherwise he does not think the gain to the school would justify. She will explain more fully, if needed. and desired – Only this now.

Still needing an interpreter in his own work, and understanding little of the grammatical construction of the Nez Perce, he could help little in translations while he understands enough of the spoken Nez Perce (an advantage in travelling with the ‘pioneers’ among the Crow.) Our boys talk to him in Nez Perce as they persist in doing to Miss McB too much hindering their acquiring English speaking. A teacher who did not understand a word of Nez Perce would be better for this and could help us much with pupils from other tribes.

Then in all our long, weary struggle (since J. B. Montieths death) we have had no help involving personal discomfort save in the one instance of Roberts trial, while ‘mistakes’ in matters which reached into the school, have caused as much useless and unnecessary trouble, and hindrance and have wasted strength needed for the work last (this) year God gave us to spend our strength on work alone. To Him be the praise. When we get the ‘Endowment’ of which the friend (Miss Juliet L. Axtell – a sister in law of J.P. Rumsey of Chicago) who is now in Santa Barbara Ca. gave the first $100 of the precious press money which bought the Boards house here) from and through whom comes the "Scholarship" is beginning to talk (far in advance of Miss McBs dream) we may hope for the ‘one work of a white minister strong and wise.’

Today Miss McB only petitions a continuance of the allowance, the withdrawal of which so hedges up her way that she cannot see a step in advance. Please will the friends in New York grant it? This letter (and copy of letter to Mr Boyd) is of course for Dr. Ellinwood, and Dr. Lowrie too if Mr Rankin will please be so kind as to give the letter to them when he has finished – if he finishes).  The letter to Mr Boyd was written before Mr Ds visit with no thought of its reaching the eye of the friends in New York. (She not knowing that the Board had left her and her boys ‘et-wi-tit’ (orphans). It was only a ‘forlorn hope’ to try to reach the Crows &c before Mr D left. The effort through the Board having been until now inside of Mr Ds ‘province’ with which, an appeal to it (the Board) might have seem like interference. But the subject matter of the letter belongs to the Board and it will help the friends in New York to better understand her petitions of ‘allowance’ for a ‘helper.’

I know how very busy and burdened those friends are with more important matters; But still, would they please at the earliest convenient moment after they recieve this send her an answer (if only ‘yes’ or ‘no’) to her petition for a continuance of the allowance for helpers she being at a halt (in the direction of Spokans) &c and arrangements for the coming year (should God spare and bless us) until she hears from them. We are at a halt until that answer comes (Harry need to know if his allowance stops etc.) Please will they not send it. Forgive the trouble she is giving the friends in New York. She would not if she could help it. And please forgive this ‘long letter’ & anything which may be amiss in it. Mr Rankins long suffering patience & kindness through so many years makes Miss McBs pen slip where it will forgetting his weariness when talking to him. May God guide him, and all the friends in the Board, in everything which relates to the Nez Perces, and the race to which they belong – prays
In the Master work
Yours truly,

S.L. McBeth