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me,’ will not forget you ‘in that day waen He comes to make
up His jewels.’

‘Kind regards to all our good friends, and hope to hear from
you soon.”

From Helen A. Hurley,.Gum Spring, Va. March 31, 1869. |

“‘T have filled up this blank to the best of my knowledge;
hope it may prove satisfactory. My Sunday School is not what
I should like to have it, by any means; but having no help in
the work, I.am obliged to do the best I can, which best, I fear,
is poor enough. I should have given it up in despair long ere
this, did I not believe that One greater than man is ever near to
help; and can make even a weak instrument the medium through
which He accomplishes His purposes.”’

The accompanying letter from a devoted laborer among the
Freedmen, was received by a member of the Association.

Curistranspure, Monraomery County, Va., February 17th, 1869.

“My Dear Friend,—I write you by way of encouragement in
the great work in which, you are engaged, for the elevation of
the freed people. Truly our Heavenly Father has opened a
wide sphere for the kind, disinterested co-operation on the part
of the friends of this hitherto despised and oppressed race ; and
has committed into their hands the fearful responsibility of de-
ciding whether the future shall find the freedmen among the
ignorant, superstitious and debased portions of the community,
or, through the blessings of education and every good and kindly
influence thrown around them, raised to a position of honor, in-
tellectual refinement, and a power for good in the land.

‘Tt is, then, a question among the friends of the cause, not
as liow soon the work shall cease, or when it will be proper to
withdraw the hitherto liberal support given to it, but how to
make it more effective—and the enlistment of even larger num-
bers, including those who have not done their whole duty, in
giving a new impetus to the work, and a greater sacrifice of what- —
ever may be demanded for its successful accomplishment.

‘¢ With an experience of more than two years of direct effort
in the field, I can assure you that the work seems more than
ever important, and weighs upon my heart with greater force
and magnitude than I can readily express to you. Indeed, it
seems as if we had just begun to gather in the rich fruit of our
labor, while on every hand the seed is taking deep root, germi-
nating and expanding, and bids fair for an abundant harvest.
God be praised for this. But while we see these indications of
His willingness to bless feeble instrumentality in accomplishing