The Child Left at Lake Sammamish

Boston, Feb. 11, 1895. To the Editor: About ten years ago a man and his wife, named Samuel Stewart, near Sammamish Lake, in the Snoqualmie Valley, wished to remove from there to another distant part, but were encumbered with a young child. Not knowing what to do with it, they gave it to two Indians known as Indian Clarence and Betsy, who brought her up until she is now a girl of 12 years. Neighboring farmers have asked them to give the child up so that she may get some education, but they will not, as she has reached an age when she can take care of the younger Indian children while the parents of the latter are away, and she has to do a large share of the work in the camp. If the work is not done she is not treated well, and when away from their place of abode she has to carry the papoose on her back. She is without shoes, stockings or hat. Can not something be done to bring this child to where she may get an education? Can not the county commissioners do something in this matter by a remuneration of the Indians for their trouble in raising the girl, or some other provision? If not either, what is to become of the child in a few years? Degradation is only to be looked forward to. The mother is dead and the last heard of the father he was up White River. J.C.