6

year or so, a system of Free Schools will be inaugurated here,
and they will need help from some source until then.”’ |

From Cornelia Hancock, Mount Pleasant, S. C.—

“We found all the school property had been well taken care of
during our absence; and it took but a day or two to announce
to the children that school wouldre-open. The call was liberally
responded to by the attendance of about one hundred. By the
third day we could have received a visit from any of our friends,
and they would have found the same regular routine as here-
tofore. The force of the remark I made last year, that these
schools were the most easily re-organized of any I had ever been
in, was still more striking this year; the children even remem-
bered their numbers in their classes. I told them, that while
I was in the North, I had visited schools where the pupils re-
cited their whole lesson without being -asked a single question
by the teacher; and I asked them to make the effort to prepare
theirs in the same manner ; and two classes have accomplished -
it to my satisfaction.” |

From Mary A. Taylor, Mt. Pleasant, 8S. C.—
__ My school numbers about the same as it did before vacation.
Every morning, at nine o'clock, I am treated to the sight of forty
sable faces, presenting themselves as candidates for education.
The third morning after school opened, everything was going on
so naturally that I could hardly realize we had been out of
school at all; every lesson prepared from just where we left off
in the summer. I promoted nearly all my first class to Corne-
lia’s school, and took in some new ones. I think the inhabitants
here look more favorably on our schools than they have hereto-
fore done.”

From Sarah Ann Steer, Waterford, Va.—

‘I re-opened school on the first day of tenth month with thirty
pupils; which number has increased to thirty-eight. All seem
glad to get back to school again, and I am surprised they have
lost so little during vacation. In this interval the colored people
set themselves to work in good earnest to finish the house, which
is to serve the double purpose of a school-room and church.
They had it plastered, the entire expense of which was borne
-by one man. They then had a church festival, the proceeds of
_ which they devoted to putting in seats anda desk for me. I

have the prospect of a full school this winter, though very few
of my large pupils have ‘yet returned; several men have been
- working all summer, and saving up something for this winter, in
order to come to school.”