11
nicely decorated with the toys and candies and some wax tapers
which were presented tous. The tree was lighted about seven
o'clock, and I think there were about one hundred persons pre-
sent—parents and friends of the scholars, and a great many
children who are not scholars. I distributed presents to about
60 children; I hardly knew where so many came from; many
of them said they were coming to school after New Year.

“There were no expression of dissatisfaction, but all were
pleased and grateful. Some of our white friends looked in a few
moments and expressed themselves much pleased with the
exercises, and the children were in a state of high glee; and I
have no doubt that it was the ‘ merriest Christmas’ they ever
spent, and they will not soon forget it. ;

‘“‘T hope to find a larger attendance when IJ return and com-
mence the New Year, earnestly hopeful for success and improve-
ment. Thanking you all heartily for your beneficence in my
own and the children’s name,” I remain, Xe.

Mr. Puieasant, S. C., 1st month, 1869,
Friends’ Association for the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen.

Dear Friends.—I have felt a desire to write you what of in-
terest has transpired in your school here ever since my return,
but until the holidays, time has not been offered. The short
days fly so quickly by that little is accomplished but the regular
school duties.

The school was opened on the 18th of Eleventh month, and
has been steadily increasing in size until the enrolment now
numbers one hundred and fifty-five. The children are making
steady progress in their studies, and very much has been their
reform in conduct. When I remember how much care the recess
used to be to me, for fear in their rude play or in anger they
would injure themselves, and how now they play so peaceably
and kindly together,—this is one way I note a great change.
Since the opening of school this term, but one child has had
even to be spoken to at recess. When they collect in one room
in the morning at the opening exercises, their deportment there
for the large number collected in a small space is remarkable,
so still and attentive to all that is said. On New Year’s day
we celebrated it as being their Emancipation day. One room
was cleared of all the desks and benches, and a large tree was
fixed in the middle. This year we darkened it and lighted the
tree, and the effect was very pleasing to the children. The
candy and small toys graced the tree, and the larger presents
were disposed upon three separate tables, where the children
could choose according to their rank in their class. They were
all assembled around the tree, and repeated the 23d and 100th