"In the afternoon is an English service, and then one wholly conducted by the natives themselves. No evening meetings are held, as these people that rise with the birds are not far behind them in going to their rest. On Monday the business is finished, and the farewells are said. And on Tuesday morning the various delegations start for their distant homes. "We have no space to speak of the meeting of the mission proper. It was held at Mr. Williamson's house during the evenings. Nearly all its members were present,--a delightful reunion it was to them and us,--and many questions of serious interest were amply discussed. "We dare not trust our pen to write about these noble men and women as we would. The results of their labors abundantly testify for them, and their record is on high. May they receive an hundredfold for their work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." CHAPTER XIX. 1873-1874.--The American Board at Minneapolis.--The _Nidus_ of the Dakota Mission.--Large Indian Delegation.--Ehnamane and Mazakootemane.--"Then and Now."--The Woman's Meeting.--Nina Foster Riggs and Lizzie Bishop--Miss Bishop's Work and Early Death.--Manual Labor Boarding-School at Sisseton.--Building Dedicated.--M. N. Adams, Agent.--School Opened.--Mrs. Armor and Mrs. Morris.--"My Darling in God's Garden."--Visit to Fort Berthold.--Mandans, Rees, and Hidatsa.--Dr. W. Matthews' Hidatsa Grammar.--Beliefs.--Missionary Interest in Berthold.--Down the Missouri.--Annual Meeting at Santee.--Normal School.--Dakotas Build a Church at Ascension.--Journey to the Ojibwas with E. P. Wheeler.--Leech Lake and Red Lake,--On the Gitche Gumme.--"The Stoneys."--Visit to Odanah.--Hope for Ojibwas. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was to hold its annual meeting in the autumn of 1873 in the city of Minneapolis. That was almost the identical spot where our mission had been commenced, nearly forty years before. And it was comparatively near to the centre of our present work. These were reasons why we should make a special effort to bring the Dakota mission, on this occasion, prominently before this great Christian gathering. Our churches on the Sisseton reservation were only a little more than 200 miles away. Taking advantage of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, it would only be a three-days journey. Accordingly, I applied to my friend Gen. Geo. L. Becker of St. Paul, who was then president of the road, to send me half-fares for a dozen Dakota men. He generously responded, and sent me up a free pass down for that number.