You will want to know about the work for the new school building. If we had had the least idea that we must work five months with less than one hundred dollars in money, we never would have undertaken the job. We hoped a fair share of the subscriptions would be paid in cash. One or two had themselves to buy the moulds for making the bricks, and the shovels to dig with, and the cord to line the ground with. We had no boards to cover the bricks, so, instead of kilning the bricks as they were made, they were piled in an old log house. Many were broken in this way. Then they were moved when we had boards to cover the kiln; and many more were broken. And from the 1st of August—we didn’t begin to prepare the ground till July 17th—till November we had heavy and frequent rains. The papers said such a season had not been known for many years. We were hindered in our work, and lost bricks from the rains. But we have over a hundred thousand bricks, and a total expense of one hundred and fifty dollars. If the workers next summer can have the money, as we hope, they will not work to such disadvantage, for they will have boards on hand, and can kiln the bricks as they make them, and have tools. The building will be finished, but it takes more time than we at first thought. Such a school-house was not necessary fifteen years ago. Our neat church building, and the necessity for a substantial school building, are proofs of the great work done here by Miss Wells. I enjoy this work, and have become attached to the people. But it is too nice a place for me. I never expected to preach from a carpeted platform. I must go far hence to more destitute places beyond—to the islands of the sea. But the work is one. Whether in Alabama or Micronesia, under the A.M.A. or the A.B.C.F.M., we are working for one Lord, to establish the kingdom of Christ on earth. We can but praise Him that He calls us to work in any corner of His wide vineyard.
MISSISSIPPI.
Sunday-Schools—Student-Conversions—Crowded Rooms.
MRS. G. STANLEY POPE, TOUGALOO.
The year thus far has been most pleasant and profitable. During the fall term we had an unusually large number of students who entered into study with faithfulness and energy.
Many who had been teaching during the summer, gave most interesting reports of their work. The Sunday-school and temperance work had been vigorously pushed with excellent results; one of which is over thirteen hundred signers to the temperance pledge. Some conversions in their Sunday-schools were also reported; and quite often now some one speaks in our prayer-meeting of receiving a letter from a pupil asking for prayers that he may become a Christian.
Just at the close of the fall term we were visited with a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Our good Dr. Roy had been here, and a sermon which he preached left impressions which brought some to decide for Christ. And then the Sunday-school lessons. I remember watching the young people during the closing exercises of Sunday-school the Sabbath before Christmas, and I saw that there was deep feeling, and felt sure that there were some who would not long resist the Spirit, and during the next three days there were nineteen conversions.
Three or four others have since then found Christ. There is also a marked Christian growth and a growing interest in the study of the Bible. Our hearts are greatly encouraged, and we go forward rejoicing that we are permitted to work for Christ. Truly “The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.”
At present we have one hundred and four boarders, with the prospect of more soon. Every room is occupied, and we are crowded to what seems the utmost limit of our accommodations. What we shall do with those yet to come, is a problem which neither mathematics nor the laws of expansion have solved. Shall they hang up in the trees or bivouac under them? We want to put an addition to the “barracks,” but have not the means necessary. Dear friends at the North, shall we turn these young people away? What is your answer? We hope that by a year from now, a good substantial building will be at least in process of erection, that shall do away with some of the temporary accommodations we now have.