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I arranged the Christmas gifts for the children on a Christmas tree.
They assembled at my boarding-house in the morning, and I made the
presentations. The Christmas tree was a great curiosity to the children,
and when they beheld their beautiful presents hanging upon the branches,
their sable faces fairly shone with delight.

It gives me joy to act as your agent in the good work, and to see the
hearts of the oppressed race made glad by the kindness shown by their
friends in the North.

I asked them, «Who put it into the hearts of these good people to send
them so many nice gifts?” They answered, « God.”

There were two children that came after their Christmas gifts very
poorly clad; I dressed them in a new suit of clothes, and they went their
way rejoicing. I have heard of several families that are in a very desti-
tute condition, that live some two or three miles distant; I have sent them
word I have clothing for them.

It is impossible for me to get around among them, as the roads are very
bad. My men are working at the school-house this week. They expect
to have it ready for me by next Second-day.

Iam heartily weary of my long vacation, Expect I will have a very
large school, this winter.

Herndon, Fairfax County, Va.

From Martua Wriaut, at Lewensville, Va. :—

I have two pupils whom I think would make good teachers in a few
months. I think it would have done your hearts good, could you have
seen the radiant faces of my pupils when they stepped forward and took
from my hands the proffered Christmas presents. Many thanks for the
clothing.

The opportunities for profitable industry which have grown
out of the more peaceable and settled condition of the Southern
communities have been so productive of thrift and comparative
comfort among the Freedmen as to call for much less assistance
in the way of food and clothing than in the trying years imme- —
diately following the war. We have found the part-worn gar-
ments donated by our friends, both in the city and in the coun-
try, to be sufficient, with the goods on hand from last year, to
meet the demands upon us in this direction.

We have, however, felt it right to respond to the appeals from
our teachers for suitable garden seeds, to enable the Freedmen to
cultivate the plots of ground at their disposal to advantage. In
this we have been aided by donations from Friends; a liberal
donation of 2100 packages of assorted seeds, well adapted for