"On Sunday the people come from other settlements, miles and miles away, to hear Mr. Long preach; and when our simple services are over, the children beg for the books you have sent for their use. Some of them are well thumbed already, but, on the whole, they take good care of them, partly for their own sakes, partly for that of their kind little friends so far away.
"On week-days, Mr. Long rides from place to place to teach and talk to the people. When I can borrow a pony or mule, I go with him, and the cry is always for 'books, books.' I take two or three from the library with me, and leave them here and there. They pass from house to house, till all who wish have read them, then they are returned to me, and others asked for.
"There is an old colored woman who lives in one of the houses near us; she has not left her bed for years; she is lame and helpless. I went to see her when I first came here, but she took little notice of me until I offered to read to her. Then she turned her face to me, and asked if I had books. I told her yes, and seeing she was ready to listen, I opened my Bible and read several chapters to her. To my surprise, she seemed to be quite familiar with God's word, and asked for certain chapters, not by name or number, but by repeating some verse they contained, or by telling me the subject. Since then I have been to see her every day; and thinking she might like to hear some of the pretty stories in your library, I took one with me the other morning. She seemed well pleased with the idea, and before I began, I told her how I had procured the books. She was much interested, and at last asked the names of the children who had been so thoughtful. When I mentioned Maggie and Bessie Bradford, her whole face lighted up, and she asked me whose children they were. I told her, and she at once said she had known Maggie's and Bessie's papa when she was at home, 'to dear ole New York;' and told me that her brother Jack, if he were still alive, often went to see Mr. Bradford's family, who were very kind to him. So when Maggie and Bessie see old Jack, they can tell him this news of his sister. Poor old Dinah never tires of asking about you, or of talking of the family, and when I go away, always begs me to leave one of the library-books with her. She cannot read a word, but she says she likes to look at the picturs, and to hold the book in her hands, because it does her good just to feel it and think it came from 'dear Massa Henry's chillen.'
"So, my little darlings all, you see what joy your present has brought to these poor people. That God may bless you for your readiness to help in his work, and reward you abundantly is the prayer of
"Your loving
"Mary Long."
Transcriber's Notes
Minor punctuation typos have been silently corrected. Retained author's preferences for "wont" instead of changing to "won't;" and kept both variations of "mean while" and "meanwhile."
Page [72]: "stiches" is probably a typo for "stitches."
(Orig: learning to put in stiches that grew neater)
Page [132]: "crimsom" is probably a typo for "crimson."
(Orig: butterfly, with wings of crimsom, blue, and gold.)
Page [264]: Retained spelling variations of "Charlie" and "Charley."
Page [278]: Retained the question mark, but it may be a typo.
(Orig: "We are going to do a purpose with it?" said Bessie,)
Page [394]: "picturs" may be a typo for "pictures" or intentional dialect.
(Orig: but she says she likes to look at the picturs,)