ATLANTA, GA.
Students’ Reports of Summer Work.
MRS. T. N. CHASE.
School has opened with larger numbers than for several years. Our graduates seem to be doing much toward recommending the school. The first Sabbath afternoon of each new school-year is given up to reports from our students, who have been teaching through our summer vacation of three months. Nothing in all our school work interests me so much as these reports. The only alloy in my enjoyment is that thousands of Northern friends, whose hearts would be equally cheered by them, cannot enjoy them too.
Those who attend meetings of the A. B. C. F. M., and are thrilled with the reports of returned missionaries, know something of our pleasure. Yet, I suspect ours is greater, for these missionaries are of our own training, many of them led to Jesus in our own school, and the fields reported are the benighted spots of our native land.
I will copy a few jottings, hastily taken at the time. The first one says: “I have the same old story to report, except a few new things. Have taught in Monroe Co. for four summers. The first year no white people visited the school; the second two came; the third year four; this year thirty or forty. All think highly of Atlanta University, and the Commissioner begged me to supply the county with teachers from this school. People are not willing to sell land. Colored people doing well as they can; anxious to get up higher and want teachers to help them up.”
Another says: “I had a half hour of Bible study each morning. Devoted part of Friday afternoons to talks against tobacco and whiskey. All the Sunday-school material the people had was a catechism and some papers left locked up by the last Atlanta teacher and not used since. Only four colored people own land. Landowners seem to ask such a price as they know never can be paid. Some bargain for land, and then pay enormous interest. One man pays one hundred and fifty dollars a year interest—all he can save. I advised them to save their money till they got enough to pay cash for their land. Met several white young men, professing Christians, and had pleasant talks with them. Closed school a little before it was time to return, and picked cotton in the meantime.”
One of our girls, who graduates this year, says: “The people seem poorer than last year; crops failed. The land is poor, and they pay high rent for it. But the children are advancing in knowledge each year. The school is well classified. Had an exhibition at close. Did not spend much time on it, but had them learn their parts well. Several white visitors attended it. One of the gentlemen talked well to the people on morals. He went around and told the people I was very smart. I was told another one said I could read and write better than any white woman in the county.”
Another girl said: “The white people did not want teachers from Atlanta, because they took the money out of the county. They kept me, however, and wanted the people to watch me. When I closed they urged me to stay till Christmas.”
One of our youngest teachers said: “I reached the place in which I was to teach on ‘Big Meeting’ day, and the people were very angry to see me, for a daughter of the most prominent colored man of the place had been teaching there some years, and wished to continue. She was very incompetent, and the Commissioner had sent for me. The father electioneered for his daughter at the ‘big meeting,’ told them she would wait on them for their pay; she would be there if there was but one scholar; she’d always look after her chickens, etc.; but the Commissioner said to them: ‘This young man can write the best hand in the county, and you’d better take him.’ So, after offering to teach for a very little from the patrons, I got the school. A white man had given the people some land if they would build a church. They did so, but used it during the week for school. This made the donor of the land angry, as he did not wish them to have a school. The year before he and his wife went to the building, drove off the teacher, and then he nailed up the door on the inside, while his wife stood on guard with his gun. This summer, when my school was nearly through, the building was burned. It was very plain who did it. So, for the little while, we all went to a cotton-gin house. We laid some shingles down for a floor, and hauled some logs in for seats. A paper laid over the gin served for my desk. We had our closing exercises under a bush arbor. One day I asked the children, ‘How many drink whiskey?’ Twenty or thirty held up their hands and said ‘pa and ma drink it, and give it to me.’”
Another says: “I see great improvement in old people and children. Good many own land and are still buying. One man owns two hundred acres. Another bought some land for eight hundred dollars, and paid half last year, and is in a fair way to pay the rest this year. I did not ask a boy or girl to quit whiskey or tobacco, but I preached temperance by example and quiet conversation. There is harmony between the races. They visit each other’s churches. The bell of a white church tolled for a colored woman. This year I had my first exhibition, because I thought they better learn to read and write first, then exhibit after they had something to show. Prepared the children after school. All the white people attended.”
Another said: “The morals of the people are fearful. They don’t expect teachers to teach morality. Every example set before our people is one that has been contaminated by slavery. If I see any one making for this place I feel something will be done for him. Every Atlanta student I see, I feel, ‘There goes one that will liberate our people from the monster, Immorality.’ Asked the barkeeper if he sold much to ministers and church members. He replied, ‘Most who buy are church members.’ Then he said, ‘Do you see that man with a big locket on his watch chain? He owes me six dollars for whiskey.’ He was the prominent minister of the place. Still there is much progress in temperance. There is an increasing kindly feeling between the rich and poor. I heard the editor of the Macon Telegraph talk to the colored people. He said the Atlanta University was doing more for the State than the white State University at Athens, and that the recitations were better.”
Another, whose health would not allow him to teach, and who stayed here at the Home to work on the farm, said: “Above all, we want God with us all the time, from this day on. Once, during the summer, I had for a moment such a conception of God, that I felt if it continued five minutes I could not live.” These words fell upon my ears like the experiences of a Finney, because they were from one who has no patience with “dream religion,” and whose godly life here for six years has been a constant inspiration to us.
Another said: “People are roused to the subject of education. Children complain if kept at home. The people can buy land easily. Treated well by white men. Most of the whiskey drunk is by white people. Every man in the county knows of Atlanta University. At the closing exercises, a man begged all to save money enough to go up to the College Commencement. He’d been once, and should go next year, if he had to walk.”
All told of the Sunday-school work; some gave experiences in begging money, hauling lumber, and putting up school and church buildings, and most closed by saying, “I hope I did some good.” One sweet girl said it in this way: “I left the results with the Great Reaper, hoping in due time He will gather His sheaves.”
These reports help much in removing prejudices and narrow, one-sided views of the South. While one sees the people retrograding and the whites overbearing, another has a bright view on the other side.
This great number and variety of yearly reports impress us most, however, with the magnitude of our work, and the great need we have of your prayers, that this may be a pure fountain whom whence healing streams only shall flow.