CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN THE BLACK BELT.
BY C. E. L.
One hundred and twenty-five happy black faces with eager eyes and glistening white teeth; one hundred and twenty-five little boys and girls marching into the schoolroom to go forth as Junior Endeavorers; thus began our society this morning.
How anxious we were to have the very best one of our number for president, and to choose wisely the lookout committee and the prayer-meeting committee! For a whole week we had been thinking just whom we would choose. The neatest and most careful writer was chosen secretary, the best singers were placed on the music committee, those whose mothers have beautiful gardens were placed on the flower committee; five of the very cheeriest of all these cheerful boys and girls make up the sunshine committee. Perhaps these children do not yet understand clearly the duties of the various officers, but the organization means something to them, and they are very careful not to do things unworthy of Christian Endeavorers.
This society is the outgrowth of the Wednesday morning prayer-meeting. The meeting this morning was unusually interesting. Our topic, "For what are you thankful?" we took from the Golden Rule. We did find many things to be thankful for, so many, in fact, that the privileges we do not enjoy seemed to sink into insignificance.
Do you think you would be thankful if you had to share a home no larger than a small bedroom with eleven or twelve brothers and sisters? Could you give thanks if you had only one suit of clothes and that very ragged; or if you had to walk four or five miles to school and carry[pg 174] your pockets full of sweet potatoes to roast in the ashes for your dinner?
Yet we can thank God for health and sunshine and flowers and school and Junior Endeavor meetings. Indeed, I cannot remember all the things we did thank Him for this morning. One thing I do remember; we thanked Him for our voices and the many beautiful hymns we have learned to sing. Oh, how we do sing! It seems as if we should almost raise the roof sometimes with our old favorites, "He Arose" and "The Old Ship of Zion."
We have had some very cold mornings. One day Sandy said, "Please, ma'am, do they send shoes? 'cause I has far to come. I needs ebery ting, but I wants dem shoes." Poor little boy, he does indeed need "ebery ting." And there are many others that would fare very badly were it not for the barrels. There are more than four hundred boys and girls in this school. I think the heartfelt thanks of these people will call down showers of blessings on the friends that have provided this school and have been so prompt in supplying our needs.