y tax
upon our limited means.

Often the women themselves were the first to insist on a change from the
old polygamous style, which, they were quick to see very soon after the
Gospel was proclaimed to them, was antagonistic to its teachings.

There was one most thrilling case that moved our hearts, and yet caused
us to rejoice, for it showed us the depth of the religious convictions
which impelled them to have the matter set right, even though one must
be cast out and exposed to the ridicule of her heathen friends, and to
the loss of a fairly good-natured husband, considering his pagan
surroundings.

Two women came to our Mission House, and asked to have a talk with my
good wife and myself. After talking about different things, at length
they told us, with much trepidation, that they had attended our
services, and had a great desire in their hearts to become Christians.
We found they were the two wives of an Indian whose wigwam had been
pitched in our vicinity a few weeks before. These women and others had
quietly come to our services at the church, and their hearts and
consciences had been touched by the truth.

We had had some experiences on these lines, and so with entire strangers
we had learned to be a little cautious. In that country, as well as in
civilised lands, it is sometimes a dangerous matter to interfere in the
domestic affairs of other people. So we questioned them closely, and
found that they were resolved to have the matter settled. I asked them
if they had spoken to their husband about it, and they answered in the
affirmative; also that he had left it to them to settle which should go,
as he likewise had begun to think they ought to live as the Christian
Indians did. We asked them what they wanted us to do, and they said
that they had decided that they would leave the matter to the Missionary
and his wife, and whichever we thought ought to leave, would go away,
and try to get her own living.

They returned to their wigwam, and with the consent of their husband
made an equal division of the few things which constituted their
possessions, such as nets, traps, blankets, kettles, and axes. Then,
accompanied by their children, they came again to our house, and sat
down apart from each other, and patiently awaited our decision. My wife
and I deeply felt the responsibility of deciding; yet, as it had come to
us because of the awakening of their hearts to desire a better life, we
could not do oth