23
From Kate FE. Hall, Vienna, Va., Feb. 3d, 1869.

“T wish I might write something of my school that would in-
terest the friends who have done so much for these little freed-
men.

“‘T think sometimes that I am accomplishing wonders in my
little kingdom; my pupils seem to improve so fast; but then,
just when I feel most proud, I hear of some other school where
the children are making such rapid strides in the path of learn-
ing, that I grow discouraged, and think we are not getting along
a bit. How encouraged the teachers at Mt. Pleasant must be.
I believe that if I had been able to keep the same pupils I had
when I first came here, they might have amounted to something
by this time; but that seems almost impossible, Families will
come for a little while and occupy one of the cabins close at hand,
so that their children may have a few weeks schooling before
they are hired out, or while they have nothing to do. They
come and learn to read a little and write a little, and the next
thing I know they are gone; father, mother and all, and some-
body else comes to fill their places.

“Mary K. Brosius spent a part of one morning with me
lately ; she was surprised at seeing but one little girl, who came
when she was the teacher here. ‘There are few of the children,
though, who leave school before they can read tolerably well in
the First Reader, write little words and make all the figures.
With this little knowledge any of them, so minded, can improve
themselves.

‘‘ Thirteen of the pupils I now have came to me at Andrew’s
Chapel; they walk nearly five miles, are never late, and the
day must be terribly stormy indeed that prevents them from
being present. Two or three of them are very bright indeed,
but I have no prodigies.”

From Sallie EB. Lloyd, Woodlawn, 2d mo. 17th, 1869.

‘“‘T believe I have not written to thee since the arrival of the
barrels containing the Christmas presents for the school. 1 sup-
pose J. M. Wood gave thee an account of their proceedings
Christmas evening. He distributed the presents in my place, as
I was not able to be at the school house, a fact which I have not
yet ceased to regret. I commenced school again the ilth of 2d
month, with over forty scholars, and have had a large attendance
ever since ; it will probably be much less next month, as spring
work will soon oblige many of them to leave school. I am obliged
to call upon some of the more advanced ones every day for assist-
ance. I have been very much pleased with the manner in which
most of them manage the classes of which they have the charge.
There are several of the girls who would make good teachers,