The fact that the bark could "talk" was to them most wonderful. Portions of the Gospels were first printed, and then some of the beautiful hymns. The story of this invention reached the Wesleyan home Society. Generous help was afforded. A good supply of these types was cast in London, and, with a good press and all the essential requisites, including a large quantity of paper, was sent out to that Mission, and for years it was the great point from which considerable portions of the Word of God were scattered among the wandering tribes, conferring unnumbered blessings upon them. In later years the noble British and Foreign Bible Society has taken charge of the work; and now, thanks to their generosity, the Indians have the blessed Word scattered among them, and thousands can read its glorious truths. All the Churches having Missions in that great land have availed themselves, more or less, of Mr. Evans' invention. To suit other tribes speaking different languages, the characters have been modified or have had additions to them, to correspond with sounds in those languages which were not in the Cree. Even in Greenland the Moravian missionaries are now using Evans' Syllabic Characters with great success Esquimaux.* among the When Lord Dufferin was Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, hearing that a couple of missionaries from the Indian tribes were in Ottawa, where he resided, he sent a courteous request for us to call upon him. With two or three friends Mr. Crosby, our successful and energetic missionary from British Columbia, and I, obeyed the summons. The interview was a very pleasant and profitable one. Lord Dufferin questioned Mr. Crosby about British Columbia and his work, and was pleased to hear of his great success. After a bright and earnest conversation with me in reference to the Indians of the North-West Territories, in which his Excellency expressed his solicitude for the welfare and happiness of the aboriginal tribes of red men, he made some inquiries in reference to missionary work among them, and seemed much pleased with the answers I was able to give. In mentioning the help I had in my work, I showed him my Cree Indian Testament printed in Evans' Syllabic Characters, and explained the invention to him. At once his curiosity was excited, and, jumping up, he hurried off for pen and ink, and got me to write out the whole alphabet for him; and then, with the glee and vivacity for which his *The Methodist Book and Publishing House, Toronto, is now printing an edition of the "Pilgrim's Progress" in these characters.-ED. lordship was so noted, he constituted me his teacher, and commenced at once to master them. As their simplicity, and yet wonderful adaptation for their designed work, became evident to him-for in a short time he was able to read a portion of the Lord's Prayer-Lord Dufferin was much excited, and, getting up from his chair and holding up the Testament in his hand, exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Young, what a blessing to humanity the man was who invented that alphabet!" Then he added, "I profess to be a kind of a literary man myself, and try to keep posted up in my reading of what is going on, but I never heard of this before. The fact is, the nation has given many a man a title and a pension, and then a resting-place and a monument in Westminster Abbey, who never did half so much for his fellow-creatures." Like an apostle Paul in primitive times, or like a Coke or Asbury in the early years of this century, so trav elled James Evans. When we say he travelled thousand of miles each year on his almost semi-continental journeys, we must remember that these were not performed by -coach or railroad, or even with horse and carriage, or in the saddle or sailing vessel, but by canoe and dog-train. How much of hardship and suffering that means, we are thankful but few of our readers will ever know. There are a few of us who do know something of these things, and this fellowship of his suffering knits our hearts in loving memory to him who excelled us all, and the fragrance of whose name and unselfish devotion to his work met us almost everywhere, although years had passed away since James Evans had entered into his rest. "He being dead yet speaketh." The Christian Indians had been taught by their faithful missionaries the Fourth Commandment, and they kept it well. Although far from their homes and their beloved sanctuary, they respected the day. When they camped on Saturday night, all the necessary preparations were made for a quiet, restful Sabbath. All the wood that would be needed to cook the day's supplies was secured, and food that required cooking was prepared. Guns were stowed away, and although sometimes ducks or other game would come near, they were not disturbed. Generally two religi ous services were held and enjoyed. The testaments and hymnbooks were well used throughout the day, and an atmosphere of "Paradise Regained" seemed to pervade the place. At first, long years ago, the Hudson's Bay Company's officials bitterly opposed the observance of the Sabbath by their boatmen and tripmen; but the missionaries were true and firm, and although persecution for a time abounded, eventually right and truth prevailed, and our Christian Indians were left to keep the day without molestation. And, as has always been found to be the case in such instances, there was no loss, but rather gain. Our Christian Indians, who rested the Sabbath day, were never behindhand. On the long trips into the interior or down to York Factory or Hudson Bay, these Indian canoe brigades used to make better time, have better health, and bring up their boats and cargoes in better shape, than the Catholic half-breeds or pagan Indians, who pushed on without any day of rest. Years of studying this question, judging from the standpoint of the work accomplished and its effects upon man's physical constitution, apart altogether from its moral and religious aspect, most conclusively taught me that the institution of the one day in seven as a day of rest is for man's highest good. So destitute are these wild north lands of roads that there are really no distinct words in the languages of these northern tribes to represent land vehicles. In translating such words as "waggon" or "chariot" into the Cree language, a word similar to that for "dog sled" had to be used. So numerous are the lakes and rivers that roads are unnecessary to the Indian in the summer time. With his light birch canoe he can go almost everywhere he desires. If obstructions block up his passage, all he has to do is to put his little canoe on his head, and a short run will take him across the portage, or around the cataracts or falls, or over the height of land to some other lake or stream, where he quickly embarks and continues his journey. All summer travelling is done along the water routes. Naturally the various trading-posts and Indian villages or encampments are located on the edges of the lakes or rivers, or very near them, so as to be most conveniently reached in this way. So short are the summers that there are only about five months of open water to be depended upon in these high latitudes. During the other seven months the dog sled is the only conveyance for purposes of travelling. So rough and wild is the country that we know of no vehicle that could take its place, and no animals that could do the work of the dogs. The trail to Nelson is through one of the finest fur-producing regions of the North-West. Here the wandering Indian hunters. make their living by trapping such animals as the black and silver foxes, as well as the more common varieties of that animal. Here are to be found otters, minks, martens, beavers, ermines, bears, wolves, and many other kinds of the fur-bearing animals. Here the black bears are very numerous. On one canoe trip one summer we saw no less than seven of them, one of which we shot and lived on for several days. Here come the adventurous fur traders to purchase these valuable skins, and great fortunes have been made in the business. If, merely to make money and get rich, men are willing to put up with the hardships and privations of the country, what a disgrace to us if, for their souls' sake, we are afraid to follow in those hunters' trail, or, if need be, show them the way, that we may go with the glad story of a Saviour's love! "We are toiling through the darkness, but our eyes behold the light He will come in glorious majesty to sweep away all wrong; He will heal the broken-hearted and will make His people strong; "He is calling on His people to be faithful, prompt, and brave, "Let us fight against the evils with our faces towards the light; UNDER THE POTTER'S HAND. BY E. O. WERDEN. "We are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."-ISA. Ixiv. 8. "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"- Rom. ix. 21. THE Potter is putting His foot to the wheel; 'Tis turning swiftly round and round; And heavy upon me His hand I feel, Where too much of earth He has found. Yet slack not the speed of Thy treading, my Lord, The losses of earth sustained at Thy hand, If perfectly patterned at last may I stand, As nought then I'll count the throes I now feel; |