"--BEREN'S RIVER MISSION BEGUN--
TIMOTHY BEAR--PERILS ON THE ICE.

Very diversified were our duties among these Indians. Not only were
there those that in all places are associated with ministerial or
pastoral work, but there were also many others, peculiar to this kind of
missionary toil. Following closely on the acceptance of the spiritual
blessings of the Gospel came the desire for temporal progress and
development. Christianity must ever precede a real and genuine
civilisation. To reverse this order of proceedings has always resulted
in humiliating failure among the North American Indians.

Sir Francis Bond Head, one of the early Governors of Canada, took a
great interest in the Indians. He zealously endeavoured to improve
them, and honestly worked for their advancement. He gathered together a
large number of them at one of their settlements, and held a great
council with them. Oxen were killed, and flour and tea and tobacco were
provided in large quantities. The Indians feasted and smoked, and
listened attentively to this great man who represented the Queen, and
who, having also supplied them with food for the great feast, was worthy
of all attention.

The Governor told them that the great object of his coming to see them,
and thus feasting them, was to show his kindness to them, and interest
in their welfare. Then, with much emphasis he told them how the game
was disappearing, and the fish also would soon not be so plentiful, and,
unless they settled down and cultivated the soil, they would suffer from
hunger, and perhaps starve to death. He got them to promise that they
would begin this new way of life. As they were feeling very comfortable
while feasting on his bounties, they were in the humour of promising
everything he desired. Very much delighted at their docility, he said
he would send them axes to clear more of their land, and oxen and
ploughs to prepare it for seed; and when all was ready he would send
them seed grain. Great were their rejoicings at these words, and with
stately ceremony the council broke up.

In a few days along came the ploughs, oxen, and axes. It was in the
pleasant springtime, but instead of going to work and ploughing up what
land there was cleared in their village, and beginning with their axes
to get more ready, they held a council among themselves. These were
their conclusions: "These axes are bright and shine like glass. If we
use them to cut down trees, they w