7

gloves, handkerchiefs, knives, scissors, &c. The funds of the
Association were not used for their purchase ; private contribu-
tions having been made for that special purpose.

The following extracts from letters show how highly they were
appreciated :

Sarah Ann Steers writes from Waterford, Va., under date of
Twelth month 30.

“T enclose my School Report for this month, and although I
have two more pupils on my list, the average attendance is less
than that of last month, owing to inclement weather. The win-
ter has been unusually severe, with a great deal of snow, which
prevented those coming regularly who have a long distance to
walk. The members of my Sewing Class have been very indus-
trious, and some of the girls have learned to sew very well. I
told them when I commenced school last fall, I wanted to have
all the sewing (twenty-two garments) finished by Christmas.
This the sixteen girls have accomplished ; only sewing one after-
noon in the week, until the last two weeks, when I found they
would not get through with it, and allowed them two afternoons.
I distributed these articles on Christmas eve, together with the
contents of the box sent by our Philadelphia Friends. The
children were delighted with them, and send many thanks to.
you for your kind remembrance of them.

“The books for the Library are a very welcome gift, as are
also those for the school, while the map is a perfect treasure.”

It was deemed best to close for the winter the First-day
school at this point, partly on account of the difficulty in getting
about during inclement weather. The teacher described the
closing exercises,’ which were held on Christmas day, as consist-
ing of “reading from the Testament, examination in the Cate-
chism, and reciting some very beautiful and appropriate Hymns
by the children. After they were through, they had a long
table set and spread with an abundance of cake and confec-
tionery, contributed by the parents and friends of the scholars.
All seemed to enjoy the day; and the older ones said to me—
how much more profitable it was to meet and spend their Christ-
mas in that way than to be idly strolling about, as they used to
do. I gave the Bibles, Testaments, &ec., to the teachers and
- pupils of the school.

‘*T hear favorable accounts of the Temperance Society—
nearly all of the colored people in this neighborhood belong to