Letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Mrs. Mary Burnham
July 30, 1881
Cheyenne & Arapahoes
Agency Darlington
July 30, 1881
My Dear Mother1
I have received
your letter I think I am
greatly pleased to see
by your very kind letter
last few day ago and
thank to you very much
but I will try to write
to you and tell that
about all box some time
you send us all around
gives the Indian people
I take and open box what
I have take myself but
tell about you I know
that My Dear boy I take myself Two coats
Page 2
two Pants one little Shirt
Nomee overcoat one dress
one drawers Shoes other kind
Shoe and little play wagons
that all I take up Stairs
and put in my room
after I go way down to
when
live My Brother Little
Medicine and tell him about
that box he was very glad
and go harness the horses
big wagon and we go
down to Cheyenne School
house with his wife his girl
about 16 years old I do not
go every Where I Stay with
wait for him in Indian
Camp and look up very
often In the afternoon
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I saw about two half miles
of top the Hill Come back
Soon Come house is tent
the Indian people Come to see
what we have get Something
and all Shows us Mr Wicks
give him my brother Little
Medicine Two Shirts and
coat is wife Three night
Shirts one lady dress
and is girl Two night
Shirts one drawer about
that 16 years old and
that little girl Two dress
one year half old and
My Dear Mother get Two
night Shirts one drawer
one lady coat that is
all right get Some thing
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My family you Send us
Two School boys I give
Shirts and three girls
I give each one aprons
My Cousin one School girl
lady coat to Small I give
her My folk all very glad
to get very nice present
My brother Little Medicine
he will Say thank you
My kind friend our
Mission at New York
he is full glad our heart
to get nice coat and Shirt
My Mother greatly glad
to have lady Coat She try
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dress three time I think
very much pleased
My Dear white Mother I do not
know that all thing with
box who give this Some thing
School boys on the Indian you will not put names
Mr Wicks told me he Say
Mrs Burnham Say all around
give Indian people and
John is folk I know that
other box not open Some
time Send Kiowa Agency
I hope you will pleased
soon write to me and tell
me about that box and
So after I understand
Page 6
all. My loving Mother Mrs
Burnham Spoke to me at
Syracuse You Say that
about My Dear poor Mother
will Baptize with water and
Sign of the Cross in head
Some time Since I come
home this Indian Country
very often Set by me and
tell about what You Say
she was very glad to hear
you and God but Spoke
to me She Say all right
My Dear white Sister Mrs
Burnham I am very old
never mind I think So
Perhaps God want me
to do So and you want
me too I think I am
Page 7
very glad you to do so
and make Christian Indian
old woman and throw
all My heathen way after
time Perhaps that he is the
Son of God keep me Alway
when we go die Some time
with him in heaven oh
I wish very much. My
Mother that words Send
to you
My Dear House Mother
Since I come home at the
west John is brother name
riding or the sky many
time Spoke to me he Say
My brother Shave head2
when
go paradise he give me
money about $6.00 must
Page 8
Send to me Mrs Burnham
this man he think about
you Mrs Burnham keep
herself money not Send to
me I do not think My
Dear loving mother Mrs B
keep herself that money
You do not know how
House Mother very kind
your brother Shave head great
many lost money he will
not stop talk talk about
that money I think he
will don't care is brother
die and wish best money
My loving Mother please excuse
me that man Send this word
to you I must close write
good bye Dear Mother and
End [Top of page 5]
all your
friend with
much love
to them
from your
Son Indian
David Pendleton
