Letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Mrs Mary Burnham
December 13, 1881
Cheyenne & Arapahoe
Agency Darlington I Territory
Dec 13th 1881
My Dear white Mother
I was
very much pleased to receive
your kind letter Some
time ago I am always
glad to hear from you
and thank you very much
that time I thought I would
have to write to you
and tell that you Send
the box. We came at
Darlington all right also
I am So glad to See
that Christmas box. Our Dear Mr Wicks wrote
to me and told us that
about Christmas box he
think best when coming
Christmas day and open
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& give all the children
and I think that is best.
Christmas day we Shall the
open & give the Indians
male and female. Some
day ago I took up your
letter and read to My
Dear poor Mother and My
friend all They very glad
to hear it afterwards My
Mother spoke to me She
Said I think that My Dear
loving white Sister Mrs Burnham
and what She Say to me
So far away out East.
I think I must obey her
and try hard to love him
our lord in My heathen heart
befor I never heard that
he is the Son of God Since
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I heard that Jesus was in the Beginning
I am great thinking about
him; how made of the heaven
and the earth, and light and
darkness, Snow, rain, Sun,
Stars, Moon, Beasts fowl
and the over all earth, and
over every Creeping thing that is
upon the earth. I think
that God So kind to us
I very much wondered God made of world
My Dear House Mother
I wish you a merry Christmas
and happy new Year. I
Suppose next week the Sisters
at House of the good Shepherd
They will very happy to tie
Cedar to trim the church
I hoping you will pleased
pretty Soon write to me
and tell us how is all your
family Perhaps the Same
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in Your good health now
I am got long very well
in my health I must close
write the pleased give my
kind regard to all Sisters
Good by from Your friend
and Son
David Pendleton
This Indian country not
yet winter Perhaps Soon
Snow flake maybe not
yet warm pleasant
