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a great deal of good. I love them because they brought the gospel. if it serve not for them we should have no education and should not know anything about the Savior. Please to give my best respect to your family and especially to your daughters and if any of them should write to Miss Ames I should be glad to receive few lines from any of them. From your young cherokee friend, Nancy Reece. Mrs Elizabeth Preston.

Brainerd C. N. June 20 1828 Dear Miss Abigail, As we often write to our teachers friends she has requested me to write a few lines to you. She wishes me to give you our idea of the customs of the Cherokees as she has not time. I am willing to do it because I think when christains know how much we need the means of knowledge, they will feel the importance of sending missionaries. The unenlightened parts of this nation assemble for dances around a fire. The one that goes before sings; a woman follows after having herself adorned with shells which make a rattling noise when she dances the others follow after dancing around a fire in a ring and keep up their amusements all night. In like manner the men dance the night before their ballplays. The next day when the two parties are collected at the ballground; the side that excells receives horces, kegs, guns, clothing, &c. from the other party. When they wish it to rain, they will send for a conjurer who will throw