and we want to sit at your
feet, and learn of this new way."

Of course there was a good deal in his mind that was erroneous and I had
to explain myself literally and enlighten him, ere I could begin to
teach him the truths of the Gospel. However, I had won his heart, and
that was half of the battle. Now predisposed toward the truth, he and
his wife gladly accepted it. They became sincere and earnest
Christians, and were both made a blessing and a benediction to their
people.

There was a great hunter who had an only son. He had a number of
daughters, but they were as nothing in his sight in comparison with his
little boy. One day the child fell sick, and the medicine man of the
tribe was sent for in great haste, a famous old conjuror by the name of
Tapastanum. He had some knowledge of roots and herbs, but like the
other conjurors of his nation, pretended to depend upon his incantations
and conjurings to effect his cures. With a great deal of ceremony he
brought out his sacred medicine bag, his charms, and rattle and drum.
Then arraying himself in the most hideous manner possible, he began his
wild incantations. He howled and yelled, he shook his rattle and beat
his drum. All however was in vain. The child rapidly became worse as
the days passed. Seeing that there was no improvement, the father
became thoroughly alarmed and lost all faith in Tapastanum's power.
Fearing however to offend him, he gave him some presents of tea and
tobacco, and told him that he need not trouble himself to come again.
Up to this time he had refused to listen to the missionary's teachings.
He had been loud and almost persecuting in his opposition to the
preaching of the Gospel among his people, and had refused to come where
the friendly Indians gathered under the trees to hear the Word read and
explained.

Indian-like however, he had been most observant, and it had not escaped
his notice that some cures had been effected by the pale face that had
been too difficult for the native medicine men. So, when he saw his
little boy getting worse and worse, in spite of all the yells and antics
of the conjuror, so soon as he had dismissed him, he came for the
missionary, and in a tone very different from that which he had first
used, almost begged him to come and save his little boy.

"I will do the best I can," said the missionary, who was thankful for an
opportunity thus, perhaps, to win his friendship and to lead him to the
cross.