NS, BY REVEREND EGERTON RYERSON YOUNG.

PREFACE.

This is not a continuous narrative of missionary work as are some of the
author's books. It is a collection of distinct chapters, some of which
are written expressly for this volume, others of which, having in whole
or in part seen the light in other form, are now, at the request of
friends, and thanks to the courtesy of the publishers, here gathered.

Romantic missionary work among the red Indians will soon be a thing of
the past. Civilisation is reaching this people, and the iron horse
rushes and shrieks where the Indian trail was once the only pathway.
The picturesque garb is fast disappearing, and store clothes, often too
soon transformed into rags anything but picturesque, have robbed, the
Indian of the interest that once clung to him.

These wanderings on the fast disappearing trail, speak of successes
rather than failures; not but that there were many of the latter, as
well as long waiting after the seed time for the harvest, but because it
is so much more pleasant and helpful to look on the bright side of life,
and talk of victory rather than defeat.

So in the hope that this book will be helpful and encouraging to the
friends and supporters of missions, who have become such an innumerable
company, and that His name may be glorified thereby, we send it on its
way.

E.R.Y. _Toronto_.

CHAPTER ONE.

ON THE PRAIRIE TRAIL.

We struck the prairie trail at Saint Paul in 1868.

We, that is my young wife and I in company with some other missionaries
and teachers, were to travel many hundreds of miles upon it, in order
that we might reach the wigwam haunts of the Indians in the northern
part of the Hudson Bay Territories, to whom we had been appointed to
carry the glorious Gospel of the Son of God.

We were to follow up the work begun by men of sublime faith and heroic
courage, and to carry it still farther into more remote regions where as
yet the sweet story of a Saviour's love had never been heard. We had
confidence enough in God to belief that if fur-traders could travel
along these trails, and live in those lonely remote regions for from the
blessings of civilisation, and in order to make money by trading with
the Indians put up with the hardships and privations incident to such a
life, we could make equal sacrifices for Christ's sake, to carry the
Glad Tidings of His great love to those who had never heard the wondrous
Story.

After about