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Page 16
Your true friend, ---- ----."
* * * * *
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
_Dear Children_:--The first morning I entered my school-room
South, such a mass of little dark faces as greeted me! At first it
seemed so strange to me, they all looked alike, but in a short time I
was able to pick out Simon, and Tommy, and Mollie, and Janie. Most of
them want to learn, and are quite tidy in their appearance. One of the
exercises they enjoy most is the singing. It would be hard to find a
colored boy or girl who does not sing, and many of them have very sweet
voices. They are able to sing the alto with very little practice. It
often surprises me to find how well they keep their parts. One day we
had a very severe shower, and it was so dark we could not see the
black-boards or see to work, so I let them sing for nearly an hour. All
over the building, if you could have visited the different rooms, you
would have enjoyed listening to them. One of their own pieces which
they like to sing, is "Roll, Jordan, roll." They pronounce it "Jurdon."
Many of the parents are working very hard to give their children an
education, and I am glad to say that the children themselves are glad
to learn. One little girl said, "I've got on a _terrible_ bad
looking shoe, and the big girls out doors were laughing at me
yesterday, but I thought I'd rather come to school with the bad shoe,
than stay away a day and not come at all. I pray every day that God
will help me to do right and be a good girl in school. Last night papa
was out of a job, and I prayed that he might get another one, and now
he's got another one." Then looking at her shoes, she said: "I'd rather
wear these ragged shoes than not to pay for my schooling at all."
And now, children, will you come with me for a little drive? We are
going in a phaeton with our good horse, Maud. We drive about a mile out
of the city, cross a little bridge, and finally drive through a
gateway. The ground is sandy, in some places so white that it almost
reminds one of snow. The trees are still green. Our attention is
attracted by a procession moving slowly forward. There is one carriage
and the friends, men and women, are walking. The words they are
chanting show it to be a funeral procession. Every one wears a green
badge, for most all the colored people belong to some order. Finally
they come to a stop and gather about the grave. The mourners break out
into a wail, and they begin to chant the words: "And must my trembling
spirit glide into a world unknown?" The chant I can never describe, for
there is no music in it, and we cannot distinguish any tune. Then the
minister preaches, and they begin another chant. Let us look around a
little. I am sure you are already interested and surprised at what you
see. Here is a group of three little graves; on one, we find three
dolls' heads, a quantity of shells, marbles, dishes and other toys with
which the children used to play. On another, is a tin kitchen, a bell,
a doll in a chair, a marble under a sugar-bowl cover, and part of a
tea-set. On another, that of a grown person, is a long pipe with a
paper of tobacco, medicine boxes with powders. A little further away we
find one on which is a tooth-brush, ten medicine bottles, two lamps, a
basket filled with sand, vases, tumblers, a toy boat made out of bark,
and pieces of glassware. Among other decorations we find a ball and
bat, pitchers, bits of colored glass, pill boxes, teapots, etc. But it
is already growing dark, and Maud is anxious to start; I think you have
seen enough to make you wonder at the curious customs, and I am sure
that you want to help them to know a better way.
One day a little girl said to her teacher: "I got religion last night."
Shall I tell you just here, something of what they mean by "getting
religion?" It means bad air, late hours, shouting, screaming, and
general excitement. Sometimes they sit for hours, and go night after
night saying over and over the same words. When they finally do "get
religion," they jump up and shout, and run about the church, falling
into the arms of those standing nearest. I think the children are
looking for some strange experience. They expect, from what they are
taught, to see some vision, or hear some voice. I try to show them the
simple way of salvation by just taking Jesus at his word.
And now let us turn to a brighter scene. One Sunday about a month ago,
our pastor preached a sermon, which led us to feel that the Lord was
especially near us, and that we had only to do our part to receive an
outpouring of God's Spirit. Some of us agreed to pray for this. Then we
began to pray for our scholars, and to invite them to our meetings. At
first only a few came, but more kept coming every night, and we kept
bringing in seats, until the mission room was so full we had to change
to the large hall up stairs. Every night some would rise for prayers,
and we would stay and talk with them quietly, and try to show them the
way to Jesus. I think there are about forty now, who have expressed a
desire to live a Christian life. Many of them are children and young
people. Four are boys in my Sabbath-school class. We have held prayer
meetings for this after school, and many are glad to come. About twenty
joined our Christian Endeavor Society as active members, at our last
consecration meeting.
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