and everything is done to encourage the little fingers in their attempts
to guide the needle; and we feel that here, too, is a work being done
that will bring forth fruit in the homes.

The barrels of supplies, sent to us by friends in other States, have
enabled us to assist many needy ones. While packing these missionary
boxes, if you could only see "the other end of the line" you would feel
rewarded for your gifts. The kindness done for Christ's sake will not be
forgotten.

The country around Deer Lodge is sparsely settled. One can travel miles
without meeting any one. The people are somewhere--where, we are unable
to tell; yet when they have an opportunity to hear preaching you will
always find many people gathered in the schoolhouse where the "meeting"
is to be held. In traveling through the surrounding country you will see
many rough log houses, with only one room and often without windows, two
doors opposite each other, one door always kept open winter and summer.
A huge fire-place is in one end of the room. If you would have a view of
humanity in its simplicity, visit one of these mountain homes. You will
find everything of the most primitive kind. The hum of the
spinning-wheel and the heavy thud of the loom will greet your ears. In
one room you will very often see several beds, while the rest of the
furniture will consist of a few wooden chairs, a table and perhaps a
cupboard, and into this one room will be gathered the whole family, the
women with old shawls over their heads, sitting by the fire chewing
tobacco, or with the invariable snuff-stick in their mouth. But
everywhere you will be treated with kindness and invariable civility.
"Come and see us," they say; "we are mighty poor folks, but we will do
the best we can." These mountaineers take life in a slow and easy way;
you cannot make them "step to Yankee time."