
Letter from David Pendleton Oakerhater to Mrs. Mary Burnham April 4, 1879
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Paris Hill N.Y.
Friday April 4th,1879
My Dear Mrs Burnham,
this day good day, very Happy day. I was very glad I laugh I am thinking about everything at Indian Territory now I feel well do
I find good road white people road very good road. I was feel Happy I am keeping this road. now everything Little I understand I am very glad I liked it very good and I thank you Mrs Burnham now my Dear Mrs Burnham now I tell you. Indian what do making about everything and road Indian my Dear people every body oh my people Indian very poor I sorry not know God not know Jesus not know Sunday not know everything
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not believe no have Church no have School no have good houses no have everything oh my people very poor all Indian people what do go. way out no wagons mens womens boys and girls all ride horseback womens take mind everything tie removing camp horseback by and by camp more womens make camp fire cook Indian womens everything make very hard work very feel bad no work Indian mens all long hair and paint face Indian man Some get two wife Some three wife Some four wife all the Same not good road white people road not So good road Some Indian not good man Some Chief Indian very good man Soldiers Indian Captain Chief all the Same head dress Shield and spear not afraid fight some kill not good road my Dear every body never mind I think by and by the
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same road I think I don't know I maybe so before I came to St Augustin1
I am much astonished I saw old Fort2
I sorry everything I not know my people Indian clothes I dress myself my long hair I love my long hair and I paint my face a long time my hair I never cut before my hair cut oh I sorry not very little
sorry I am thinking everything I looking white mans all hair cut nice hats boots Pants Shoes oh yes good
I think so my people Indian road all I throw away no more long hair no more
paint face and no more head dress Shield and spear oh I very poor everything I not know before Captain Pratt3
teaches all Indian that A.b.C.D.E. and one.two. three.four.five.Six I not know how I think what is that I think so because I not know white people
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all road good road I not know God Jesus and Sunday and every day Captain Pratt talke talke talke long what you say
I not know now I think good talke helps show
with me by and by little I well do white
ladys come teaches all Indian young men this all
names Miss Mathers Mrs Gibbs Mrs Cauper Gibbs Mrs Caruthus all very good ladys I liked it very much very kind to me I am glad every day I go to School I study very hard Bible Book Prayer Book I not good understand never mind I think so I liked it very good Study Bible Book some
I make nice polished sea beans and bow and arrows I am glad good many white people Come See Indian I Shake hands I am glad Some sea beans bow and arrows I buy I get money oh
very nice man Captain Pratt very kind to
me I am very glad. before I saw
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Mrs Pendleton4
I not know Capt. Pratt ask me ladys want shoot
this woman good woman two Daughters want shoot so. oh yes good I will do I teacher5
Captain Pratt what is your names ladys name Mrs Pendleton Daughters names Miss Mary and Miss Jennie oh yes I know. remember my bow I take good many white people come see I teacher white girls good Shoot I don't know what time stop shoot ladys give me fifty cent I am glad every Sunday I go to church I am very glad to See good many white people Some I know I shake hands I glad I come home nice time weather warm and pleasant a long time three years I stay here at St Augustine I never See snow all day warm day and very pleasant day before I soldiers very hard work I not
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much work I first Sergant every afternoon Captain Pratt come make soldiers I was to exercise and to double quick my arms tired every Monday night Captain Pratt good Prayer meeting I don't know by and by you came to St Augustine I never see you Captain Pratt tell so me this evening woman good woman Come want to see Indian oh yes good I think so I go down stairs I saw you I never see more I not know your name all the same good men good women and Captain come want to see Indian and I shake hands I am glad by and by Come Captain Pratt loud speak to day good day and. get a letter from washington now all old mens go home and all young mens again School so old mens all very Happy the same I am
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very glad tomorrow afternoon by Steam boat came to land Captain Pratt say all Indian men not good Sleep in the morning all get up very nice day I say I think after dinner already I go to land little while I sit down I am very glad I look at very soon big Steam boat came to land little while Stop all white people Come to see Indian go home I good Shake hand I not hear big noise talke talke good talke all my friends white people must say good bye now I am going not good waters my head sick I very tired Some men Sick head tired and vomit three days night twelve oclock I come to Hampton very nice Sunday
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morning I am glad I go to church little while I go to walk I saw Soldiers houses big gun and old fort Monday night big Steam boat came to land I go In the morning I came to Baltimore I am glad to See you I good shake hands I talk my brother I shake both hand this day good day must say good bye now I come down other cars I go with you before I saw Bishop I shake hand I am glad last Summer April 17th 1878 I come to Syracuse 6
I glad to see all your Sisters and Bishop family I shake hands. I am glad my dear white mother Mrs Burnham I know you very kind to me always I Shall be very Happy good many kind friends white people oh my heart very happy my dear Mr Mrs Wicks kind to me I am so glad every day Mr Wicks talk good talk I know I good keep my head my
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heart my dear Jesus every day every night I am glad I pray to God Jesus give me good head good heart good Speak good everything I think my heart all right now because I wish next Summer I think Strong very hard work God helps those who help themselves I must say good bye to you all God bless you and I hope you will very soon write to me
Very truly your form boy
David Pendleton
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