stefansson-wrangel-09-30-003-005

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5

it seems to me, like a child of 8 or 10 years of age. We will
watch her and take good care of her. Not knowing what she may do
in the future, I am setting down these facts, as is Crawford, and
he is keeping the notes to show to Mr. Stefansson. She seems to
he brooding but we cannot find out the reason.”

September 30th: "Our seamstress kept Crawford awake
all last night asking for protection, saying that she was afraid of
the ’other men.' Every time she sees one of us sharpening his
knife she asks if the knife is to he used to ’kill her with. ’ We
are more of the opinion than ever that she is slightly touched.
Too bad we did not know it in Nome. She surely wouldnot he here.

On October 1st, "Our seamstress had a spell or two about
us killing her hut this evening she seems to he all right. Have
tried coaxing but find that firmness is better." October 2nd, "The
seamstress has had a few spells to-day, saying she will never see
Nome again and a good many foolish things. At this moment she is
busy sewing. Hope she keeps it up."

October 3rd, "The woman has had several crying spells
to-day and tells us that she was warned in Nome by a fortune teller
who told her to be careful of fire and knives. We all have a great
deal of use for knives and she, seeing ususe them and believing
the fiction told her by the fortune teller, is frightened stiff.
A few minutes ago she asked me to get my rifle ready and whenshe
sleeps to kill her. In the next breath she asks usto save her
life andnot let anyone harm her. This happens half a dozentimes
a day. . . . . . We treat her as nice as can be. One minute her
spells look like sham and the next minute real."

On October 4th Knight says that "The woman has a spell
of crying now and then but is better than the last few days. She
is working a little at winter boots." On October 5th, "The woman
is working some and rather quiet now. Thank Heaven!" On October
7th, "The woman asked Crawford for a religious book yesterday and
I gave her my grandfather’s prayer book. We pointed out several
passages in the book to her showing that everybody should be kind
and work faithfully, and now she is kind and faithful and sews
continually."

The most serious difficulties with Ada Blackjack were
in late October and in November. On the 20th of October, "Our
seamstress has practically quit work and will not give us any
reason. Crawford, who is the only one of us who has any influence
with her, told her to-day that if she did not finish the skin she
has been scraping at [softening as a preliminary to sewing] for
the last day or two by to-night that she would be put on bread
and water. That accelerated her a bit but at bedtime to-night the
skin isnot finished. We will try theSing Sing fare on her
to-morrow. "

On October 27th, "The seamstress isnot doingmuch work
and it is nearly impossible to get her to do as much as she does.
She will not talk and tell us the reason and at the present time
it looks as though we would have to make our own cl othing.

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