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Saran A. Steer, Waterford, Va., writes :—

The Freedmen were highly pleased with the “circular letter.’* One
old woman remarked, « She knew the people of the North were blessed
good people.” The clothing sent has been distributed among thirteen
families. One family was entirely destitute. I visited them in their
home, which was a miserable hut, and seemed to be destitute of all the
comforts of life; the children, five in number, were almost naked, a few
old rags being ali they had on them. I never beheld such poverty before,
and I gave them each a new suit of clothes, for which they were very
grateful indeed. They are coming to school now, since they have suffi-
cient clothing to cover them,

Frances A. Gausz, Herndon Station, Va., says :—

The Circular letter was received with real gratitude—many of them
shedding tears while I read it—all sending love to the kind friends who
are doing so much for them. I appointed the next First-day afternoon,
after I received it, to read it to them. My school-room would not hold
half who came to hear it, and I opened the door, so that those outside
might hear. But this did not satisfy them, and they requested me to dis-
miss those inside, and let those outside come in and read it again. I did
so, and even then some of the old women smuggled themselves in the
second time, to hear “the beautiful words’? once more. I have read it a
good many times since to some who cannot come to my home to hear it.
The box of clothing is doing much good. I find a place for everything
sent.

From Cornetta Hancocx.—We received the Circular letter sent by
thee, and read it to them in their church, and one of its greatest recom-
mendations is that the people seem to understand it. Thatis the great
trouble with the people of the far south,—it is so difficult to make them
fully understand what you say or read to them.

Saran E. Luoyp:—Tpe circular letter arrived last Fifth-day, and on
First-day afternoon about seventy-five people assembled at the meeting-
house to hear it read. At their request, it was read to them the second
time, and they all seemed very much pleased to hear that each of them
should have a printed copy. There are about fifty families to whom I
could give copies, and I think there is some one in each family who could ‘
read it. \ *

I now have forty six pupils—enough to keep me busy—although some
of them live so far from here, that they can come only in pleasant
weather. The specimens of writing are from my first class, but none of
them have been able to write in books since vacation, on account of our
having no desks. I am often surprised to find how little the children
forget while away from school, After vacation, nearly ry one was
ready to commence where he left off in the summer.