8

work in which my heart has been truly interested, and to which I
could not have given my time except through your benevolence.”

Witu1aM F. Powett, a colored man, residing at Leesburg,
in a letter written to a member of the Association, says:—

‘Your Association has accomplished a great work, by being in-
strumental in founding a school here, for those who were once
enslaved. ‘Too much praise cannot be given to Caroline Thomas, for
her self-sacrificing and arduous labor in behalf of those who had been
denied the blessing of an education. We are only continuing the
good work your Society began.”

CorRNELIA Hancock writes from South Carolina:—

“Thinking there may be some among you who still feel an interest
in this far-off school, I will note what of interest has transpired since
our return.

‘The school was opened the First of Eleventh month, and con-
tinued until the Holidays. New Year’s, or ‘Hmancipation Day,’ was
selected for our anniversary. This seems to me a more fitting time
and a more important anniversary than Christmas. Our new school-
house was found exceedingly convenient for the occasion, as we could
have the grown people too. They repeated the 23d Psalm and sung
two hymns, when the work of distributing was commenced, the gene-

rosity of individuals supplying the materials.* They choose their

presents according to their standing in their classes, which we ascer-
tain by keeping a record of marks.

‘As such anniversaries come round, I always try to note the pro-
gress of civilization among these children. In raising any community
from the depths of degradation that slavery produces, we cannot
eXpect them to abandon all their old habits, and adopt the customs of
cultivated people in a day; so I try to look for changes to take place
in years.

“ And surely great changes have taken place with these children.
No one ought to feel discouraged in looking forward to their future,

although they have yet no elevating or educating home influences, »

which will of course operate much against them in this generation.
They have the lessons of extreme poverty and much oppression yet
to suffer.

“The depressed state of business in the South, makes it very hard
for them to get employment at remunerative rates; and the dense ig-
norance existing in the grown people’s minds makes it extremely
difficult for them to settle upon any business that requires forethought

 

* It may be well once more to remark, that the funds of the Association
are never encroached on for these celebrations.

*