not need it. People there are never hungry, never suffer from thirst, never know sickness, but they live in a state of complete happiness which is always the same-and will never change."

This was the turning-point; for when I had further explained how free we would be in heaven from the ills and aches which beset us here, he exclaimed: “O Black Gown, tell me what I must do to save my soul-show me the way to heaven!"

Some others were anxious to know if I had ever been in heaven and gazed upon the Great Spirit. I replied to them that I had never seen the Great Spirit nor had I ever been in heaven, but that I hoped to go there after I had shown the Crows the way to enjoy the same happiness.

They wanted to know my history and in what part of the world I was born. So I told them that the world was something like a squash, and when the sun leaves one portion it goes to visit the other, where there is land and water as in the upper portionthat they lived on the top of the squash while my country was underneath.

This was so puzzling to them that I had to revolve a bucket of water with great rapidity to show them in a slight degree how the waters of the earth are kept in position. I would have liked you to see the expression on their faces when they witnessed the experiment. It was one of complete happiness-so novel was it to these poor untutored children of the forest.

Iron Bull is a man fond of dignities and attention. He informed us when we arrived that he was a great Indian-a wonderful warrior-a powerful chief and the greatest man living. To indicate his office, he saluted us by raising his hand to his forehead and extending it in the form of a plume.

We then said that we also were held in esteem by our own people—that we did not like war but peace and brotherly love;— that on certain days the white men came to the temple we guarded, and listened with deep attention to the words we uttered.

Iron Bull soon sent a message through the camp that I was a great chief among the whites, and that the Crows should regard it as a high honor to have me among them.

The opening of the Northern Pacific brought an invitation from the Agent to the Indians to go to the Yellowstone, sixteen miles distant. It was accepted with the greatest enthusiasm and Father

Barcelo and I were left to guard the camp in their absence. When they returned it was very delightful to listen to the glowing reports of the strange marvels they had seen-how they had danced and feasted and, above all, how Iron Bull, his wife and twelve young men, had been carried as far as Helena by the wonderful

steam-horse.

"Many white men," said Iron Bull, "came to watch us eating and I always made a big sign of the Cross before beginning my meals."

It was soon after this that there was danger of war between the Crows and the Piegans, owing to the fact that the latter had stolen some horses from our camp. But in the pursuit two Crows were wounded and the Piegans managed to get away successfully, so that this impending war was fortunately averted.

V.-THE MEDICINE-MAN.

It is a well-known fact that the Indians are much given to superstition. This was a formidable obstacle to our success.

To form an idea of the "Minnatsi," you must picture to yourself, near every Crow lodge, three sticks arranged in the form of a pyramid upon which rests a blanket or buffalo robe containing "medicine" or superstitious objects. To this bundle is attached a shield made of buffalo hide and capable of resisting the sharpest This combination is the Minnatsi, and was the object of so much veneration that I felt bound to speak against it.

arrow.

I told the Indians that the Great Spirit had given to men seven powerful remedies for the ills of the soul, and that the white men called these medicines "Sacraments." If they wished to have the sacraments they would have to destroy the Minnatsi, because they were attributing to it a power which it could not possibly have. In a few brief but telling words, the doctrine of the Church on superstition was given to them and to my intense joy orders were given by the chiefs to take away the Minnatsi from the lodges of the men who had been present at my discourse—it being a custom with them to leave untouched all the possessions of absent warriors.

The next task was to try to persuade the medicine-man to give up a large serpent he possessed, which, he claimed, worked wonderful cures. This serpent was made of rags, and when

anyone was ill there was a lengthy ceremonial performance, of which the serpent, incantations, and dances were the principal features. Sometimes, it is true, potions made from herbs were administered to the sick, but this was the exception, not the rule.

Accordingly I had a long talk with the medicine-man during which I showed him the absurdity of deceiving the people any longer, since it would be the easiest thing in the world to expose his fraud. I told him that his medicines were very beneficial and likely to do much good, but that I greatly desired to burn the rag serpent, as it was an object of superstitious worship and was the occasion of the people committing many sins.

The request was such a bold one that the medicine-man was overpowered and seemed to doubt my being in earnest. I went to much trouble to convince him that I was perfectly serious and spoke at length of the choice blessings the Great Spirit would lavish upon him, if he would only give up his infamous practices. In a few moments I could exclaim like Cæsar of old: "Veni, vidi, vici"-for the rag serpent was no more, only a few charred remains were left to tell of its existence.

While speaking of the medicine-man I must bear witness to the wonderful knowledge many of these have of wild herbs and roots. They are intimately acquainted with their curative and their poisonous qualities, and if they know how to cure a friend they know equally well how to poison an enemy.

Iron Bull, however, has adopted a peculiar course of hygiene for himself. Every morning, as soon as he has risen, he rushes to the river, dives once and then swallows as much water as his stomach will hold. The result is what might be expected-a severe fit of vomiting follows, after which the chief enjoys a hearty breakfast.

VI.-GOOD WORK AT LAST.

The condition of the old women among the Indians is beyond description. They have to perform all the menial offices of camp life and endure the most brutal treatment, while the men pass their time smoking or lounging in the sun. These poor creatures are ready to embrace Christianity, for they have heard that the Christians hold women in honor and do not treat them as slaves and the lowest of creation. They attended the prayers with

fidelity and listened with eyes wide open to the story of heaven where there is no sorrow, no pain, no fever, no tears, but everlasting joy abounds and the old are clad in the freshness and vigor of youth.

In the midst of my labors I heard that the time for the distribution of annuities was at hand. This meant a general dispersion of the Indians for about six months, and I saw the necessity of doing effective work before we parted.

The chief had received my instructions so readily and had carried them into execution so perfectly that I felt he was a fit subject for the sacrament of baptism. His wife was already in the Church, leading a fervent life and doing much good in the camp. So I had a lengthy conference with Iron Bull, during which I briefly repeated the instructions I had given and urged him to consider the vanity of human things in comparison with those which are eternal.

At the end Iron Bull earnestly implored me to wash his soul in the saving waters of baptism and make him a member of the Catholic Church of Christ. This sacred ceremony took place on the 14th of September, 1883, when many others joined the chief in his good purpose. The Christian name of Iron Bull is Joseph, that of his wife, Mary. If our labors continue to be as successful as they have been the Crows will be transformed into Christian doves and we shall possess one of the most fervent Christian communities in existence. That this grace and favor may be granted us by the sweet Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the pleading of His Immaculate Mother, is the earnest prayer of your devoted servant in Christ,

P. P. PRANDO, S. J.,

Missionary to the Crows.

Contributions to the missions described in our pages may be sent to the MESSENGER office, which charges itself with forwarding them to their destination.

For the Holy Childhood:

S. M. Bryson, Lancaster, Pa. (“to have a heathen bap

tized with my mother's name-Phoebe Ann"),

$5.00

A DEATHBED CONVERSION.

OUR LADY IN VIRGINIA FIFTY YEARS AGO.

(From a time-worn and yellowed paper-evidently the manuscript of some address to a Sodality of the Blessed Virgin-we take the following narration of what was then a recent conversion of note in Alexandria, Virginia. Its interest is not past with the fifty years since it took place.)

As is

HE subject of these remarks was born a Catholic and baptized by the venerable Father Francis. often the case with those who are allured by pleasure or led by evil example, he forsook the haven of truth, and before arriving at manhood he had made shipwreck of both morals and faith. He became a professed infidel.

A man of strong though uncultivated mind, he made himself master of everything that could avail him in the defence of his wretched principles. Such a man and such a mind must always gain, as was the fact in this instance, a fatal sway over the young men who come within the sphere of his influence. This was the more extensive as he was disposed to disseminate principles which unfortunately meet with too ready a reception from our corrupt nature. Error and sin go hand in hand.

A gentleman described in my presence a scene which occurred within his own knowledge, and which exhibits most vividly the character of this person. One of his disciples, stricken down by disease, was on the bed of death. The friends of the unfortunate man sought to win him from his error. With this object they secured the aid of an Episcopalian clergyman. He repaired to the couch of the dying man, and to the best of his ability, no doubt, labored to effect his conversion. Hearing of this the infidel, spurred on by pride of opinion and love of display, determined to meet face to face with the minister and to urge the claims of his own system. He entered the room of the doubting, anxious youth. The preacher aghast could not retreat. Confronted by the dreaded antagonist,

'Francis Neale, S. J., Brother of the second Archbishop of Baltimore.