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Bancroft, Cumming Co., Neb.,

May 9th, 1885.

Mrs Goddard:

I write you a few lines to-day because I am in trouble over something I have heard.

On the 8th of May, Friday, the Agent called a counsel of the Omahas and he told us something which greatly frightened me. The Agent told us that the President had said that the certificates of allotment which were issued to us by Miss Fletcher's aid were good for nothing. We have rented our allotment to the white people to herd cattle in and the President says we had no right to do that and no right to receive ^[[the]] money for it. I have been working hard on my own land supposing it to be mine, and now it is worse than death to hear that I have no right to it. It is like being put to torture in the fire. It was like a stroke of lightening from a clear sky when I heard it, and I was [[strikethrough]] s [[/strikethrough]] called from plowing on my farm to hear the words. I write to ask you and your friends to help us and tell us what we can do. Please let us know and help us as soon as  you can.

Yours Truly,

Joseph La Flesche.

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