Rev. F.F. Ellinwood D.D.

Dear Sir
I would not trouble Dr. Ellinwood today after the long letter to and through Mr Rankin only for a promise. Do you remember Yutsinmilikan, a Kamiah Indian, whom you saw at Lapwai, and who Dr Ellinwood understood to state that Miss McB had ‘used influence in getting a petition circulated for the removal of Mr Montieth?’ Yutsin says that if Dr Ellinwood was told that the ‘interpreter interpreted falsely, or Charlie did’ as he did not say it but that he told Dr E that he, Kipkapelikan, Jimmy Lawyer, John Crea & the Agent had caused the removal of Miss McB outside the Reservation.’ So much to recall Yutsin to Dr. E, only. The story does not matter now, save to those who told it.

Yutsin has been importuning Miss McB for months past to enter her school. He is a heathen. "Why should I put power into your hands" I said "as I put it into the hands of the Lawyers to use in trying to destroy you people, perhaps your own son." (Parson) "You know the root of this trouble, you and the Lawyers trying to restore the old ways." Which he did not deny. "Let me study the new way of civilization" he said "and if I see it is best, perhaps I will choose it" &c. at first; finally after a time "I want to walk in the new way. Absent now is the doubting your boys." i.e. he believes now that they teach the truth and probably by this time recognized the defeat of heathenism.

At his importunity I promised to lay his case before Dr Ellinwood and to teach him out of school when I had time and strength when he should be in Mt I for a day as I have been doing. (I take only professing Christians as pupils in school (perhaps the greater number come to me just out of their blanket.)

The last time he was here I said "You have ‘entrapped’ me like a ‘Chief’ I forgot that you are not legally married to the mother of your children. You did not marry her because you hoped to bring back the old heathen regime and take a new wife. That is one reason why you tried to restore the old ways. Is not that true?" He laughed "Yes. But the old ways have passed away forever." "I am ashamed to tell Dr Ellinwood that you are not married." "I will marry her; you tell Dr. Ellinwood. But I do not name when I will do it for fear of disappointment." Even if he does marry her what then? The time before the last, Kipkapelikan came with him, pleading to study too. I do not trust Kip. There is an honesty about Yutsin which I always liked.

If it had not been for the hindering influence of the Lawyers I think he would have been a Christian long ago. I think they recognize in their defeat and that of their co-workers the Lawyers even with the help of the Agent and ungodly whites, the lost power of heathenism (over Kamiah) and the growing power of church and school, and wish to place themselves within the range of worldly advancement. And yet, if they should be sincere, and Miss McB should push them back… Will Dr E. please tell me what he thinks?

If Dr E could see the package of letters and ‘Commentary’ on the letter rack before me, ready, since spring to send to Dr E when his answer to my long letter reached me, he would realize the ‘weariness’ his not answering the letter saved him. The ‘package’

[the rest of the letter is missing]