It was related of Mrs.Spaulding, who had a beautiful voice, and was a member of a church quartet or choir in a country town in New York, as a leading singer, that, just before leaving the place for her long horseback journey of more than two thousand miles, she sang in the church the hymn beginning-- "Yes, my native land, I love thee," in such an affecting manner as to silence the rest of the choir, and melt the congregation to tears: "Home, thy joys are passing lovely, Joys no stranger's heart can tell; Happy scenes and happy country, Can I bid you all farewell?
Can I leave thee, Far in heathen lands to dwell ?" This lady addressed the school, and spoke feelingly of the condition of the Indian race, and of the field for the teacher in the valleys of the Columbia.
Gretchen listened to the address with open heart.

There are moments of revelation when a knowledge of one's true calling in life comes to the soul.

Faith as a blind but true guide vanishes, and the eye sees.

Such was the hour to Gretchen.

She had often felt, when playing on the violin, that the inspiration that gave such influence to her music should be used in teaching the tribes that were so susceptible to its influence.