Letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Little Medicine dated 7 October 1878

Letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Little Medicine October 7, 1878
	House of the Good Shepherd Syracuse, N.Y. Oct 7 1878 My Dear brother Little Medicine —I was very glad. Many kind friends. White people good to me. I am very happy. My good friends all white people. Every day I am very glad. I like to be a good man. Many good white people. big church house. Bishop baptised me. Christian name give me. I am very well. Dear Jesus. God gives me good head, good heart, good speak. good everything. Every day my heart so glad. A long time my name Making Medicine. Now my Xn ¹ name David Pendleton. Every day I am very well. My heart so glad. Oh I hope just the same you all will be very soon. Make nice moccasins. I want nice moccasins you give me. Dear House Mother.² Very ¹"Xn" is used as an abbreviation for "Christian." X, the Greek letter pronounced "Chi," is the first letter of "Christ" when it is written in Greek. ²A reference to Mrs Mary Burnham.
	Page 2 nice woman. House Mother very kind & good to me. I am so glad Many kind friends. White people Every day I am very happy. I stay a long time three years no see my Mother brother Cousin Sisters all my Indian friends, not forget you. I love you all. O my dear wife I not forget. I love you. I think my boy well. Long walk. Stay happy. I think so. Dear John D Miles well. I sent two dollars to you. I hope you well. All Mother brothers. You John D Miles tell this mother brothers every day. I am very well. My heart happy. I write you this letter very nice day – good bye Yr friend David Pendleton

Letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Little Medicine
October 7, 1878

Page 1 of letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Little Medicine dated 7 October 1878

House of the Good Shepherd
Syracuse, N.Y. Oct 7 1878

My Dear brother Little Medicine

—I was
very glad. Many kind friends. White people
good to me. I am very happy. My good
friends all white people. Every day I am
very glad. I like to be a good man.
Many good white people. big church house.
Bishop baptised me. Christian name
give me. I am very well. Dear Jesus.
God gives me good head, good heart,
good speak. good everything. Every day
my heart so glad. A long time my
name Making Medicine. Now my
Xn ¹ name David Pendleton. Every
day I am very well. My heart so
glad. Oh I hope just the same
you all will be very soon.

Make nice moccasins.
I want nice moccasins you give
me. Dear House Mother.² Very

¹"Xn" is used as an abbreviation for "Christian." X, the Greek letter pronounced "Chi," is the first letter of "Christ" when it is written in Greek.

²A reference to Mrs Mary Burnham.

Page 2 of letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Little Medicine dated 7 October 1878

Page 2

nice woman. House Mother very
kind & good to me. I am so glad
Many kind friends. White people
Every day I am very happy. I stay
a long time three years no see
my Mother brother Cousin Sisters
all my Indian friends, not forget
you. I love you all. O my dear
wife I not forget. I love you.
I think my boy well. Long walk.
Stay happy. I think so. Dear John
D Miles well. I sent two dollars
to you. I hope you well. All
Mother brothers. You John D Miles
tell this mother brothers every day.
I am very well. My heart happy.
I write you this letter

very nice day – good bye
Yr friend

David Pendleton

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