VISIT TO TOPEKA.
BY GEN. O. O. HOWARD.
On last Sabbath, at 3 P.M., by the invitation of your missionary at Topeka, Rev. Mr. Markham, I visited the Tennessee Mission and participated in the exercises of the occasion. I found a large meeting room filled with young people, with a sprinkling of older heads.
I had seen some thirty girls, with perhaps half as many boys, over at the S. S. Convention Park. They had stood behind me on the platform Sunday morning and backed me up with their inimitable melodious songs of Zion. The large multitude of people—perhaps a thousand—were touched by their enthusiasm, where a little of art has not robbed nature of her best effects. So here again I find the same bright, happy faces and more of them.
Many of the regular school exercises were set aside for my address. They sang “Hold the Fort,” and others of Sankey’s collection, with spirit. The young lady who teaches them, Miss Gerrish, is remarkably faithful, full of tact and good sense. Your missionary himself interested me a good deal. I saw him first at the young men’s rooms at a prayer meeting. He gave a little personal experience, showing how a child comes to the Master’s arms. Professor Stearns, of Washburn College, spoke highly of his disinterested work at the mission. He has worked great changes for good. The people, for the most part, own their houses and lots. Some houses are very neat. One soldier’s wife said: “Yes, this little stone house is mine. My husband is a common working man. Yes, we have paid for the house. It is little, but, you know, there is nothing like home, if ’tis only so small!” Her husband had been through the war near me. On Sunday, every child was well dressed, and generally the blacks had as good clothing as the whites. I urged these good people, who are struggling up into respectable ways of living and moderate prosperity, to stand up for the Lord, that He may bless them more and more.
WHAT THE STRAWBERRY-BED DID.
Rev. A. Connet, of McLeansville, N.C., tells the story. Last year we canned 12 gallons, and the people stared. This year we have canned 20 gallons, sold $11.39 worth and have had all we wanted to use for the last 35 days. A white neighbor whom we feasted in the patch, and whose children were also fed on berries, said, “You have astonished the natives.” Ours are the only cultivated strawberries in this neighborhood. Now for the fruit. 1st, a new industry. Example is contagious. A number, some white and some colored, have spoken to us for plants. 2nd, the strawberry-bed is helping to bridge the social chasm. Some of our white neighbor ladies called on us in strawberry time. 3d, the children have just come in with a basket of cherries and a lot of dewberries given them by the man whom we feasted in the patch.