Just back from a trip to Grand Traverse Pierz tells Lefevere that he received the check for $150. He paid the teachers for the first quarter and sends Lefevere the receipts. Pierz spent what was left for his own needs. He expects to receive another check at the end of the second quarter to pay the expenses of the missions. In his last letter Pierz asked Lefevere to pay $2 to the doctor Kaminzky and $35.40 to Mr. Blum, but since Lefevere does not mention it in his letter of January 10, he again asks him to pay back the doctor and Mr. Blum with the money from his salary in case Lefevere forgot doing so. Pierz received the Ordo and the Almanack to his great pleasure and he thanks Lefevere for sending them to him. It is with great pleasure that Pierz considers the great progress made by the Catholic Religion in the United States. In his mission there is a great number of sick. At Grand Traverse 6 died this winter and some more are still sick. Pierz had to go to Grand Traverse to take care of the sick. He left Arbre Croche and walked 78 miles through a terrible blizzard. The first day was so cold that his feet froze and the nails fell off. On the way back to Arbre Croche Pierz found the same weather. Grand Traverse needs a priest. There were more than 200 confessions and a great number of communions. The Catholics of Grand Traverse are more devout than those at Arbre Croche. The pupils in the villages in the Bay are making appreciable progress and several of them, who began last summer learning the alphabet, are now able to read their catechism. The other children will be soon able to do so, too. As to the progress of the pupils in the Arbre Croche schools Pierz does not know, since he did not have the time to visit them. However, he can see 8 or 10 pupils entering the school and their teacher with her child on her back. Paul Itawigijig has several pupils in the afternoon. Pierz also supposes that they are learning, since they require many bokks to learn to read. He is not able to satisfy them with books because several have been stolen. As to the prayer-books they are gone. Father Igatius Mrak took a great quantity of then inspite Pierz and Pierz took to Grand Traverse what was left. Before his trip to Grand Traverse Pierz was in a good health and now he is tired and needs some rest. But at this time they are asking for him at Cheyboygan. When spring comes Pierz expects to realise his hopes. He repeats his demand to leave the mission and to go somewhere else to establish new missions among the pagans. He asks Lefevere to grant him his dismissal. Pierz says that in case Lefevere refuses, he asks him to send him a testimony of the work he has done for the last 12 years; after that he will leave for his own country. :: III-2-h A.L.S. French 3pp. 8vo.