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the story better than her lips possibly could. You cannot begin to know
what a treat your nice candy was to them; some of them most likely had
never known the taste before. Indeed, all you sent was a rich offering
to them. We know you have had peaceful slumbers and happy hearts,
as rewards for the good deed, and our Heavenly Father will bless you.
Farewell. Lovingly, your friend, By eae

From Corne.ia Hancock, Mt. Pleasant, S. C.:—

We were enabled by the generosity of a friend to bring Christmas to
about two hundred little children. We had a large tree, reaching from
floor to ceiling, loaded with gifts of every description. The children all
assembled in one room around the tree, and sang several pretty pieces,
after which the work of distributing commenced, which to us was work,
and to them was joy unspeakable.

From Mary McBrips, at Vienna :—

One of the colored men supplied me with a tree, which I trimmed
with toys, &c. I added another pound of candy, made forty or fifty
little bags, and filled them; I also had three cakes given me. The ©
children were all invited to be present in the school-room at half-past
eleven o’clock on Christmas day, and they each had a piece of cake and a
bag of candy handed them from a waiter, also some taken from the tree.
They sang a Christmas carol, I made a short speech, and altogether we
had quite a happy time.”

From Saran A. STEER :—

In returning thanks on behalf of my colored people for these
acceptable and timely gifts, I cannot help wishing that those who sent
them could have the pleasure of distributing them, and receiving in per-
son the thanks of the grateful recipients.

The books, toys, &c., I shall give them on Christmas eve. There will
be no happier children in all Philadelphia than my little curly heads
when I give their presents to them. They can imagine the exclamations
of delight I shall hear, for these little boys and girls have never owned,
and few of them have ever seen, such treasures. The Circular Letter was
received by the Freedmen with real pleasure. I have been requested to
read it again and again by those who did not meet at the time I appointed

‘to read it, and all expressed to me their love to the kind friends who are
doing so much for them.

Waterford, Va.

From Frances E. GAUSE :—

Thy favors of the 4th and 2ist inst. have been received; also
the bale of clothing and barrel. I send thee the list of contents. Accept
my thanks for the papers.