“This land which lies about us was once the property of my people; you have now possession of it and have made yourselves homes and are rearing your families on the land which formerly belonged to my forefathers. I have no complaint to make of this fact, for it is perhaps better as it is. Our desire is to become like the white man; to learn to cultivate the land and to make a living from it; to learn to read and to write and to transact business; to learn the principles of government and become citizens; to acquire title to 160 acres for each member of our tribe. We have faith in the Great Spirit and in the Great Father at Washington, and believe that in time your people will teach my people to be like you; the negro’s skin is darker than ours, and you have made a man of him; we ask the Government to do us the same justice.” * * * * * FORT YATES, DAKOTA. FROM MISS M. C. COLLINS. What are we going to do? This is a question coming to us continually. The A. M. A. doubtless is in a happy mood and smiling condition, now that it has strengthened our forces by two new men—one, Rev. Mr. Cross, 300 miles below here, and one, Rev. Mr. Reed, 32 miles from here at the Agency. It is a good thing—a great deal better than not to have sent anyone. But now, think of it: An Agency containing 6,000 souls, scattered in villages of from twenty to fifty families in a village, and the settlements from five to ten miles apart. I could put a hundred Bibles in as many homes now among Catholics and wholly heathen families where one, at least could read it who has learned in some school of ours or the Presbyterians. I could give out a thousand Dakota Primers, or First Readers, into as many homes where they are anxious to read in their own tongue. There is no law against a Dakota’s owning a Dakota Bible, nor reading a Dakota primer in his own home. We could establish ten schools where Sabbath services could be held, at once. We could so reach a great many homes and hasten the civilization and Christianization of these Indians by many years. I go long distances into Catholic houses as well as others, to administer to the sick. Last night I had a Government teacher (a Catholic) and his sick wife, whom I have been treating, and their two children, here all night. I have been riding sixteen miles to treat her, and then riding home, the man always coming for me and bringing me back.