10

‘‘The colored people, it seems to me, have got used to living al-
most upon nothing, and I often think their ability to do so will be
against their becoming energetic. However, I cannot in truth say
the children are not energetic. They are marvels of perseverance
to me. They are willing to come to day school five hours; then sew
in the sewing-school untii nearly dark, and after that walk into the
country. And this too, without the dinner basket that generally ac-
campanies the children of our Northern country schools. I have one
very decided objection to living in the South, and that is, one must
be such a constant witness to the struggles of these people with all
manner of injustice, and there are so few people that are their friends:

‘Their ignorance and their long habit of submitting makes them
bear rather than rebel, They work on the plantation for fifty cents
per day, and that they are obliged to deal out at plantation stores,
and they certainly do not get forty cents for what they expect
fifty. This is what we are trying to establish for their benefit in the
sewing-school, a store at which they can receive justice ; but it is very
up-hill work, for the planters will not pay them in money with which
they can purchase where they choose but compel them to buy with
tickets they issue in their (the planters’) store; so they have here a
sort of half-freedom still,

** T ask for aid for this store, that we may at least be able to bene-
fit our school children. The Boston Association, through Abbie
Francis, have most of the year paid a small salary to a colored woman
who has instructed the children in sewing.

‘The school-room has been rendered more comfortable and com-
plete by contributions from the friends of our present teacher, Abbie
D. Monro, Samuel Willetts, Gideon Frost and James Willetts have
each given funds to the school.

‘‘Tam much indebted to two Philadelphia Friends especially,
who have enabled me to keep life in the sewing-school, by timely do-
nations of money.

“Through the influence of Mary Beans, goods have also been sent |
to the sewing-school. At Christmas time a number of friends kindly
furnished the materials for making the children a good Christmas
tree.

‘* For all these means of elevating and encouraging these people
that have been put at my disposal, I feel thankful to friends separately
- and collectively, and in conclusion would recommend that schools al-
ready commenced and influenced by you should be kept in operation,
so as to permanently secure the good already done, rather than new
fields opened. I have less faith now than last year that the State
Governments will act conscientiously toward the colored people in