| Show LOUISIANA conference BANKS of red river june ath 1897 we know that the communications from various missionary fields are interesting to many readers of the NEWS we include ourselves among those who are much interested in them As the louisiana conference has not been heard from for a long time and as we believe that not many less than thirty anxious mothers at this writing we number thirty here are watching your column of it we now have pleasure in writing your estimable sheet we will begin by stating that their sons abeau are alt 0 K in very deed since our last writing we until now have been laboring in what might be termed french america it is is pos sible to travel among people in south ern louisiana for days and not find one person who can speak the english language indeed they speak no lan guage it is only a dialect ol of the long lone forgotten french the people here are wont to call it a creole gumbo you might know without our statement that th at t such a field is not the most desirable while this field has not been very pr prolific in its yield it has afforded great opportunities port unities for work and th experience that has been rolled up here bauswe by us we are sure will redound when justice reigns supreme to our credit dad had we been hunting discouragement this would have been a splendid field in which to search for it followed close upon p ou our J every effort and very frequently y plead i for admission into 0 our ur b beings eings the breastwork of fortitude behind which the elders fought however was almost impassable and each time as the de signing thing presented itself to the fire or of indomitable will it was repulsed hape was the brightest thing upon which our gaze could rest so we looked I 1 steadfastly upon it it promised great rewards at the time we were quite sanguine but were unable to see wherein reith we were so be benefited we are abou through with them for a season and as some of the elders have already reach ed fairer fields we know by their weekly reports that their almost futile efforts among the french is as bread cast upon the waters and is is returning to them after 1 I many days A man of speed wears weights upon his bis feet until such time as he desires a maximum of momentum when he discards discard them and he i indeed a d eed runs the faster the weight of past experience peri ence no longer hangs heavily upon us and we hope for an increase of speed with which we will be enabled to run with patience the race that is set before us and we hope to run it with marked success elder cornwall joseph A and john wood have just completed a canvass of baton rouge we travel without purse or scrip here athirst at first the privilege of canvassing the city was denied thern them until a license of would be forthcoming they have a cent but they believed god put works with their faith and after persistent effort and the seventh call upon the heretofore unmoved mayor and alderman succeeded in ga gaining ining conse consent ritto to canvass the city wh which ic h they did thus does the lord bless the humble efforts of his servants the people here are very much concerned over high water it is still rising the corn cornand and cane crops have been planted and much of it is up and looking gree cotton will be planted soon spring epting is out in her best new gown gowa and nature smiles S L SWENSON R E CALDWELL |
