Letters-1839, January

Belle Greene, in a series of extracts from letters, along with memories of conversations with her mother, Mary Todd Greene, relates Mary’s experiences coming to teach at the Indian Manual Labor Schools.

   “The new house”—the two-story brick that stands on the south side of the road, and faces north, at the Mission station south of Westport–was erected while mother was teaching; and the move was made from “the old place”—some distance away—to the present site either in the fall of ‘39 or the spring of ’40. Of this I am certain—for this reason: Mother was ill with the fever while the Mission was yet at “the old place”, and I fine a receipt from “Dr. J. Dummer for professional service—two visits…..$25.00, and this paper is dated “Oct. 1839; and moreover my brother and sister were born Sep. 1840 in “the new house” the building south of Westport.

[Belle Greene.]

   Such Extracts from letters as have reference to the Shawnee Mission. (By way of explanation of the St. Louis episode alluded to in the letter I will state that I do not remember having heard my mother say what the amount of her traveling expenses from Philadelphia to Shawnee Mission or whether the New York Conference Board of Missions made provision therefor; but I have frequently heard her say that before starting on her journey she borrowed of and gave her note to Mrs. Shurlock for $75.00 for traveling expenses; and by being water-bound in Wheeling for five weeks an unexpected draft was made upon her funds so that when she reached St. Louis she found herself a stranger alone in a strange land and without means to proceed on her way.)

[Belle Greene.]

   Mrs. Catharine Shurlock writes:— Philadelphia, Jan. 14, 1839.— My very dear Miss Todd: We have been looking with longing eyes for a letter from you. I received one from you at Wheeling and one from St, Louis… I had no idea of your remaining five weeks in Wheeling or I should have written…. But when your letter came from St, Louis we all praised God and wept for joy and were struck with admiration at the goodness of God, and his wonderful care over you. O, our dear sister, how my heart (or rather all our hearts) swelled with love and sympathy…when we read that your money failed you and that you had to trudge alone through the mud…. In imagination I have gone over that ground scores of times and have stood with you at the door of the stranger preacher and have heard you tell him that you were a missionary on your way to Mr. Johnson’s station at Shawnee Mission but could not go forward for want of means…. At thought of it now—of all your encountered—the tears blind my eyes…. And who could but adore and wonder at the kindness of our dear Redeemer when we see how soon the mountain became a plain—to see how Bro. Johnson had anticipated all your wants and made provision for them… Surely God sent you… just where help was assured… No one ever went on a mission more in the order of God than you! There was no self-accommodation, no changing of climate for health… it was, the leaving all things in obedience to the call of God….

   The day you left we stood and looked and prayed as long as we could see your handkerchief waving then with slow pace we moved toward the carriages, came home and had a solemn day of it. We shall never forget the day while memory holds her seat….

(The friends who composed the little company, who bade her “God speed” were Mr. and Mrs. Shurlock, Miss Mary Weaver, Rev. David Terry and wife and Rev. E.S. Janes, afterward Bishop and Rev.—Mathias. —Belle.)

Jan 15, 1839

    …The above was written last evening… Mr. Young gave me a letter while I was at dinner…I read the post-mark, “Westport,”…no more dinner for me. I read it aloud. We all rejoiced again…We love you my sister…because you are our friend… because you love our Lord and Saviour and because you have forsaken all—your home and your friends—to aid in spreading light and truth among those noble-minded men and women of the forest. Surely these are of the tribes of Abraham…we are glad you corroborate Bro. Lee’s statements relative to sister Johnson. He spoke in the highest terms of Brother and Sister Johnson and of the Mission generally; and wept when speaking of your experience in St. Louis; and said yours was “the true missionary spirit—resolute, persevering end trustful”… A load is removed from our hearts now that we know that you are arrived safe, were cordially received at the Mission station and that you are so pleased with your situation and with all concerned… God bless you and make you useful and give you favor among that people… I assure you that we are not a little pleased that you are at Brother Johnson’s station… Brother Janes says he is the best missionary he ever saw…and is willing to answer any questions relative to his mission. Brother Lee is very unwlling to answer questions about the Mission and has published an article in the Christian Advocate on the subject of being questioned so much. Brother Lee said when he was there a Presbyterian lady was teaching in the Indian Manual Labor School, I hope you have the school Brother Johnson designed you should have. He is a wise man and will do what is right…God prosper you and give you grace to go in and out among that people…and I feel that he will—I feel Sister Todd that your walk and conversation will be what becometh the gospel.

[Copy of extracts of letters sent by Belle Greene, MSS. Dept. K.S.H.S.]