The Whiskey Seller
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[1] The Whiskey Seller
[2] It may perhaps interest you to have some account of a woman
[3] who died in hospital at Kincolith last winter. Her father died
[4] when she was a child, and as she was of an independent and
[5] willful disposition neither her mother nor any of her relations
[6] took any care of her so that she was allowed to run wild. And
[7] had hardly clothes to cover her. When she was about fifteen years
[8] old, she left with a party of Nishkahs for Victoria and there
[9] spent some time among the debauched whites. On her return
[10] to Naas she brought with her the property she has there acquired,
[11] and on account of this property was at once taken into favour and
[12] made much of by her mother and relations, who incited her to
[13] squander in their Indian fashion all she had earned, in order that
[14] she might gain renown among her own people and increase
[15] the family pride. When she had lost all the property the
[16] thirst for more returned with all the greater vehemence and it
[17] was not long before she was again at Victoria. Here she was taken
[18] by a white man who finding that she was a woman in many
[19] respects superior to the general run of natives, wished to make
[20] her his lawful wife. Her mother however fearing that her hopes of
[21] gain would be frustrated and that her daughter would settle
[22] down at Victoria and forsake the customs of her people for those
[23] of the whites, determinately opposed their plans and at length
[24] persuaded her daughter to return again. Here her property was
[25] again soon consumed and unwilling to unite herself with an
[26] Indian she found herself and her baby who was now about a year
[27] old obliged to seek her former ways. This time she went to live with
[28] a white man, a notorious whiskey trader. He soon perceived
[29] that by trading liquor through her he could get a large number
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[1] of furs which it would be much more difficult for the Authorities to
[2] convict him of illegally trading liquor to Indians. He proved a
[3] very successful trade and he allowed her a good percentage so that
[4] in a few years she had amassed what among Indians is considered
[5] quite a fortune very nearly £150. In vain her mother and
[6] all her relations urged her to act with this property as she had
[7] done with what she had previously acquired. She steadfastly refused,
[8] and with such determination that there was quite a separation
[9] between her and them. At this time her second baby was born
[10] and for another year she continued her course fearless of interruption
[11] though the whiteman with whom she was living had been arrested
[12] and fined heavily. When her baby was about a year and a half
[13] old she came to Kincolith one day nominally to get shellfish,
[14] but in reality to watch for a schooner which she expected daily
[15] with a fresh supply of goods and liquor. On her arrival I sent
[16] for her. She was then in the zenith of her course, a very good looking
[17] intelligent young woman of about thirty with two nice little boys. The
[18] eldest a little over five. I first spoke to her of the sinfulness of her
[19] course, and the awful doom of the wicked. Her answer was bold
[20] and determined. “The white man” she said “had led her on and
[21] taught her in her present course, on him and him only
[22] must rest the blame.. She was only a tool in his hand”. I could not
[23] frighten her with threats of being arrested. She was only an Indian
[24] and the white chiefs would not succeed in taking her, she would
[25] go on as long as she liked and more to the same effect. In my
[26] answer I neither threatened nor reproached her. It is true you have
[27] escaped detection thus far and it is quite possible you may escape
[28] for a much longer period, but remember, I beseech you, that God
[29] above sees you now and has heard your words. Though you have
[30] been following your own desires and despising Him. His mercies
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[1] for you have been great. You are the mother of two fine little boys
[2] whom you are leading in the way to ruin, thus far on His infinite
[3] mercy he has spared you and them, but count not on another
[4] day remember that you cannot go on one day longer than He
[5] permits you, if you care not for yourself. Oh think of your little
[6] boys and turn from your evil way before it is too late. I then
[7] told her that while we permitted any one even the vilest to come
[8] among us if they come for good. She must go since she had
[9] not come for a good but rather an evil purpose. She said nothing
[10] but left the place almost immediately. Little did I think that within
[11] a few months, there would be a great change in this womans
[12] circumstances. Less than six months after this conversation I was
[13] informed that she was ill and wished to apply to me for medical aid,
[14] knowing as I did the many and varied schemes of the white man
[15] with whom she was living,for secretly introducing liquor among the
[16] Indians, I placed little faith in the information and refused to
[17] listen to this and two succeeding applications to be allowed to come.
[18] When however I learned that she really was seriously ill and was
[19] very anxious about her children’s welfare I raised no further objection.
[20] Our first interview was a touching scene. On entering the house I
[21] found her sitting on her bed. Her frame was much wasted, her cheek
[22] was tinted with the hectic flush and the proud sparkle of her eye
[23] was exchanged for the still brighter gleam which bespeaks the presence
[24] of consumption. She wore an anxious look, and while I was examining
[25] the state of her lungs and questioning her as to the causes &c
[26] she seemed almost indifferent. But when I was finished she asked
[27] me to hear what she had to say. In tones of deep emotion she
[28] told me that from the day I had spoken to her she had never
[29] {lay?} easy in her mind about her children, even before she had
[30] determined to leave them all her property but since then she had
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[1] also felt that it would be useless merely to leave it to them
[2] unless she also trained them in the use of it, and that the course
[3] she was leading them was the surest course to their ruin. “For a
[4] long time I have been in doubt” said she “At one time resolving to
[5] give up my evil ways, seek the right way and endeavour to lead
[6] them in it, at another she felt strong to go on as she was and
[7] this I was was in doubt, but since I have been laid low with sickness,
[8] my anxiety has been doubled, and now I have come here because here
[9] I believe my children will be taught in the way to happiness. You
[10] neither reproached nor threatened when I was proud and wilful, and
[11] now I feel sure, when you see this weak frame, these wasted hands
[12] and worn limbs you will not refuse to hear me. Pity me, Sir, pity
[13] me, not myself, for I a am a vile wretch who has been opposing
[14] your work for years, but pit these poor children, they have not
[15] injured you it is not their fault that they are in the position
[16] they are. Promise that you will not see them led back to the
[17] ways of my own people or taught the wicked ways of their fathers
[18] but that you will endeavour to lead them in the way of God
[19] and to shield them from the attacks of evil. If you will do this,
[20] a great burden will be lifted from my heart and my greatest
[21] earthly wish will be attained”. I need not follow her further but
[22] briefly state that I consented to become guardian of the children.
[23] From that day the anxious look left her face and though it became
[24] my duty shortly afterwards to tell her that I had no hope of her
[25] ultimate recovery or even that she would be long spared to her
[26] children it never again returned except it might be as a momentary
[27] shade, caused by some difficulty in arranging details. It pleased
[28] God to spare here for some months longer during this time she
[29] was subjected to a very great persecution from her mother and relations
[30] on account of her property which she contrary to Indian custom
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[1] had bequeathed to her children. They used every method, short of
[2] taking it by force to get possession of it but in vain. The
[3] white man too with whom she had been living, tempted her by
[4] promises of a speedy recovery and every delicacy she could want
[5] in vain. She never faltered. About a month before her death
[6] Archdeacon Woods visited the Mission. Previous to his arrival she had
[7] asked to be baptised, and had given me as her reason. Not that
[8] she put faith in the rite of baptism to save her for she knew
[9] that Jesus the son of God above could save her but that having
[10] brought her children and placed them under Christian teaching , she
[11] wished that when they grew up they might remember their mother
[12] not as Dack the Whiskey trader but as Jane who had forsaken
[13] the wicked ways and looked to Jesus to wash her sins away. The
[14] Archdeacon after having carefully examined her as to her knowledge of
[15] God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, baptised her by the name
[16] of Jane. She died about three weeks after. But where are the
[17] children – the eldest, little Charlie is is about seven is in the mission
[18] house under our own care. The younger Willie who is only a little
[19] more than three years is under the care of a Christian woman, the
[20] wife of one our our settlers. Thus we see that God can tame the
[21] hardest heart and conquer the proudest spirit.