At Berens River, our method of procedure among our sick was something
like this. Early in the morning, large pots partly filled with water
were hung over a good fire. Into them were put several pounds of the
good fresh beef or mutton which we had brought from civilisation. When
well boiled, several pounds of rice were stirred in and the whole left
to boil until cooked into a rich nourishing soup. Then nourishing flat
cakes were made in abundance. While this breakfast for the sick was
being prepared, the missionary, with his assistants, was busily engaged
in making the rounds of the sick. Their various wants were attended to,
medicine was given, and every thing that could be, was cheerfully done
for their comfort. Then, the missionary's wife, with her helpers,
followed with kettles of warm soup, bread and tea. Meals of this
nourishing food were given to, and much relished by, the afflicted ones.
There were some such severe cases, that at times it looked as though it
would be impossible to save them; but with heaven's blessing on our
efforts, we were successful in bringing about the recovery of every case
under our immediate care. While doing everything that we could for
their physical recovery, we had grand opportunities for imparting
religious instruction. Sweet hymns, translated into their own language,
were sung, and the exceeding great and precious promises of the blessed
Book, were often read and explained at every bedside. Their fear of
this strange new disease left them, and they became patient and hopeful.
The result was, that while among the pagan Indians at Oomeme River
there were many deaths, not one of our Christian Indians died.
When the last case was cured and the disease had disappeared, we took
stock of our supplies. We found that all of that extra dog-train of
food, together with a large quantity of flour and other things, had been
used up in feeding our poor sick people. Not one-tenth of the whole had
come to our own table; and so we had once again to fall back upon our
native food. Fish was again our diet twenty-one times a week. But, we
had the great joy and satisfaction of knowing that, in all human
probability, we had saved the lives of many of our people; and had found
such a place in their hearts, that our future efforts to evangelise or
to help along in the blessed life, would be very much more effective.
CHAPTER NINE.
A LESSON NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
When I was a small boy, my father was stationed on a large mission in
the back woods of Canada. The hardy emigrants from the Old World were
crowding into that new country, and every year additional thousands of
acres of grain were growing, where shortly before the dark primeval
forests, which had stood for centuries, held possession.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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