My benches were almost crowded to-day in school, as I had so many children; married women come with the children; they are all very anxious and earnest to learn to read and write.  I ask you to pray, my dear friends, that there may be some good seed sown each day, that may spring up and bring forth fruit for His service.

Truly your Indian Friend,

JOSEPHINE E. BARNABY.

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MISS COLLINS.

Our friends will recollect Miss Collins’s visit to the East, and many will cherish a very pleasant remembrance of her addresses at Lake Mohonk and elsewhere.  We give below extracts from a letter received from her, presenting a vivid picture of her experience in crossing the Missouri River with the ice breaking up, the loss of her clothing, and her subsequent labors among her people at home.

I was so late in returning from the meetings at Oahe, though I hurried as fast as possible, that the river was frozen, detaining us nearly three weeks.  The ice broke, letting the wagon with all my winter supplies go down.  My trunks with all my clothing also went down.  It wholly ruined all the clothing which could not be washed.  My best dress was a frozen block of ice when I took it out—­can never be worn again, and, in fact, all my clothes were ice.  I was so thankful that no lives were lost that it hardly seems worth speaking of.  I find myself poorer, if not wiser.  I am worked down at present.  Have kept “open house” now for two weeks, and my head refuses to be worked any further.  Miss Emerson must wait for my letter.  After Christmas I can write.  I have so many patients, and so much work to take care of spoiled clothes and provisions, and to look out for winter supplies again, that I am not in a condition to write.

* * * * *

FOR THE CHILDREN.

A few weeks ago, I stood by my window watching the children gathering for school.  My attention was attracted to three girls coming up the street, one carrying a bundle done up in a handkerchief in one hand and books in the other, while the other two carried a trunk between them.  As they turned toward the house, I ran down to meet them; they came with smiles, saying they had come to school.  As I bade them welcome, my eyes filled with tears, and a prayer went up to God that he would bless those girls and make them a blessing.  Susan, Angeline and Emma have proved to be intelligent, pleasant girls and very appreciative.

I have had one hundred and seven girls in sewing, this quarter; they seem as interested in their work as ever.  Some of the older girls are doing well in cutting and basting.  We hope to have a class in dressmaking soon.  The little ones are very happy to have sewing days come.  I am often met with the question, “Is us going to sew to-day?” I meet these forty little ones in a large sunny room, (that is to be our parlor some day, I hope) for an hour and a half each week.  Their eyes brighten at the sight of the basins of water and the work basket.  They apply themselves as demurely as their elder sisters; they love to sing little sewing songs and hear stories while they ply the needle.