The missionary concert at the Congregational church, last Sunday night, was interesting, and in some respects novel. There is a bit of history connected with it. Two little girls belonging to the Sunday-school some time ago became so inspired with missionary zeal that, after casting about for ways to get money for the purpose, they devised a doll show, and carried it through here last winter with considerable success, netting five dollars. That money they sent to Fisk University, with request for report concerning its use. A letter came back, enclosing a letter from a Fisk student, written from Mississippi, where the young man was teaching to earn money to continue his studies at the University. That letter told of a colored boy, one of the pupils in the student’s school, and made an appeal for him. The boy was the son of his mother’s former master, and since she was emancipated the mother had married. The step-father hired the boy to horse-racers and saloon-keepers, and in various ways kept him under bad influences and away from school. The boy and his mother were ambitious that he should be educated; and when, a short time previous, the step-father had sickened and died, one obstacle seemed removed.
Another obstacle was lack of means, and for that the student appealed, in a letter written in answer to one from our people here, and it was for that purpose that the concert of last Sunday night was given by the Young People’s Missionary Circle of the Congregational Sabbath-school, organized since the little girls’ doll show enterprise. But now the enterprise is shared with them by the other churches, for they all suspended their services on this occasion, and Messrs. Sanders, Walter and Monroe participated in the devotional exercises, and their people swelled the congregation. The exercises, recitations, essays and Jubilee Songs were creditable and entertaining.
A collection was taken for the benefit of Master Walter, the ambitious Mississippi boy, and then a novel feature was introduced. Mr. Dickinson stated that last spring one of the boys in the congregation had noticed for two Sundays, in one corner of the church, a potato, from some source unknown. The thought came to the boy that he would take it home and plant it, for the benefit of missionary interests. He had done so, and now brought the proceeds, some twenty or thirty potatoes, big and little, but mostly little, and desired them to be sold to separate persons who would, make the same use of them next year.
The potatoes were thereupon offered for sale, and bought up, mostly at ten cents apiece; and we may expect to hear more about that missionary potato next year. Potatoes, $2.25.
The proceeds of the evening amounted to $15.05, which is forwarded to the student at the University, where he has already taken the boy Walter, trusting that the needed help will come. The student’s name is McClellan.—Cambridge (Ill.) Chronicle.
RECEIPTS FOR AUGUST, 1881.
| MAINE, $241.91. | |
| Bangor. First Cong. Ch. | $20.17 |
| Bath. Winter St. Cong. Ch. and Soc., toconst. Michael F. Gannett, L. M. | 35.10 |
| Brunswick. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 70.00 |
| Dennysville. Peter E. Vose, $5; Mrs. Sam’lEastman, $5 | 10.00 |
| Eastport. Cong. Sab. Sch., $5; G. A. P., $1 | 6.00 |
| Gorham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 29.59 |
| Hallowell. Girls’ Sunday afternoon prayermeeting of Classical Academy, for furnishinga room, Atlanta U. | 27.00 |
| Hampden. Cong. Ch. | 12.75 |
| Machias. “A. R. T.,” $5; “A Friend,” $2 | 7.00 |
| South Berwick. Hugh and Philip Lewis | 5.00 |
| Waterford. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 8.30 |
| West Auburn. First Cong. Ch. | 5.00 |
| Wilton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 5.00 |
| Woolwich. “A widow’s gift” | 1.00 |