From Devil’s Lake three or four days’ hard travel across the prairies to the north-east, there came a word of cheer in the early summer. Some, especially one man who had been under missionary influence in the Southern part of our Territory, but apparently cared for none of these things, came to see us, and to sympathize with us in our loss (he had lost children), and to get what help he could from us in understanding his Bible, and teaching his friends to read. He went away with the urgent request that we come to Devil’s Lake and preach to them. Devil’s Lake is a Roman Catholic agency, and they do not preach to them in their own tongue. One thing is certain: if the sons are to talk English to us, we must preach in the Indian tongue to the fathers. * * * * * LAKE SUPERIOR AGENCY. I. L. MAHAN, AGENT, BAYFIELD, WIS. A Merciful Man, etc. I am glad to report the following, as one of quite a number of instances that have come within my own knowledge. Last fall, in obedience to the request of twelve of my Indians, I estimated for twelve cows and calves, but received only eight. In consequence of this failure, four of my people were disappointed, after having harvested, at their own expense, a sufficient amount of food to supply the cattle during the winter (by no means an easy undertaking for an Indian). The disappointed ones, however, took the ill luck philosophically, and made the best of the disappointment. They earnestly besought me to try again, and, if possible, get the cows and calves. I did try, and secured each of the four a good cow and calf, for which they each worked upon their own 80s in clearing, etc., under the direction of the Government farmer, thirty-eight days, and received each a cow and calf, and drove them to their houses. A few weeks after, a report came to me that Henry Buffalo was sadly neglecting his cow and calf; that he had secured each to a stake, driven in the ground for the purpose, and had taken his family on a visit to an adjoining settlement, a few miles away, leaving the cow and calf without food to eat or water to drink for days at a time. This, to me, seemed terrible treatment, and I set myself about an investigation, and found that, upon the occasion above referred to, the Indians in the vicinity had all gone to attend church service some miles distant, they having word of the coming of a favorite priest. Friends had advised the stake arrangement—the fences not being considered strong—and made preparations for Henry, in order to induce him to go. He started, but looking back, took pity upon the dumb brute, and returned and remained at home all day, feeding and watering his cow and calf, and using an evergreen brush to keep the flies off. The report was founded upon the fact that his house was locked up. Such care and sympathy is worthy of reward. An Industrious Builder.