MONTHLY REPORT.
The Woman’s Home Missionary Association has made no new appointments during the past month under the American Missionary Association. From those already sent into this part of the field the reports are encouraging and interesting.
From Baxter Springs, Kansas, where are 1,000 refugees and 1,100 white inhabitants, Miss Wilson writes that she is getting her work systematized, and gives her plan as follows:
“A small unoccupied building, owned by the Hard Shell (colored) Baptists, has been offered me, on condition that I will put in window panes and a stove. To do this I shall use a sum of money now in Gov. St. John’s hands, and I hope this will be enough also for a ton of coal. In this building I am to open an afternoon industrial school for women. The different arts of housekeeping will be here taught in turn. Those who wish will learn to read, and especially mothers’ meetings will be held. This is the central point of all my work—the women and their homes. Around this will cluster several other departments, for I have already four or five co-workers. Two of these are good Quaker women, living in the place and already doing all they can. They will assist in the women’s school and in visiting at the homes. Another of the workers there will be John Smith, a colored minister, from Iowa, educated by the Society of Friends. This man has been on the ground three months. He is teaching a children’s school. There are three hundred children of the age to go to school, only about half of whom are provided for by the town schools. He will be ready to assist me in every way necessary, and will have one of the departments in the Sunday-school, of which we have arranged three, beside being the superintendent of the school. For the use of the Sunday-school we have three rooms in the public school building. The fourth assistant is Miss E. Cabell, also colored, a graduate of Hampton. Miss C. joined us from Virginia in October. She is proving a valuable assistant. She will open a children’s school, mornings, in our little building, and also have the Infant Department in our Sunday-school. One other service I desire to hold, a Sunday morning Bible reading in our little church. And if we can persuade the ignorant preachers around us, of whom there are several, to come to our rooms some evening in the week for a weekly study of the Sunday-school lesson, we shall have gained a great point with them.”
The work of Mrs. Steele, in Almeda, S. C., proves full of interest. This place takes its name from a daughter of Mr. Reuben G. Holmes, who bought this tract of land, 12,000 acres, for the purpose of giving employment to worthy colored men and enabling them to buy small farms for themselves at $5 per acre. He now has nearly 150 families, including more than 700 souls, on the place, and to instruct and care for these is the work of Mrs. Steele. She writes that she has more or less care of all, has already had more than 200 in her Sunday-school. Her day school occupies her from 9 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.; her evening school from 7 to 9.30 P.M.; and her afternoons she spends in “calling on the folks.” Having mentioned some touching cases of distress and how she was able to relieve them, she adds: “Now don’t think it is all out-go and no income. I called on another family—the mother had previously called on me and wanted me to cut out a calico dress for one of her little girls—when my little girl and I came away from that home, the mother brought me a fresh egg as a present. Now that gift for her was more than ten dollars would be for some people to give. The good-will back of the gift made me feel rich.” “In my solemn talks,” she says, “with my pupils, I’ve found some who seem to me to be of the Lord’s noblemen, so conscientiously living up to the light and knowledge they have, and eager for more. I’ve formed a temperance and anti-tobacco society and have quite a number of names already.”
All who had a hand in filling or packing the barrel lately sent to Miss Carter, in Nashville, Tenn.—as well as those whose hands are filling or packing or are about to be filling or packing other such choice barrels or boxes—will be glad to hear of its welcome, and also to learn what are among the most acceptable things to send in such cases. She writes:
“The barrel arrived Saturday and delights my heart. Were I a little darker skinned I should say, ‘it will do me so proud,’ but as it is I hardly know how to express my thanks and perfect satisfaction. Did I tell you so explicitly all my needs—I can’t remember—or did you guess them? Those test cards are gems: perhaps their value to others may be beyond price. The papers I’m so glad of, especially the children’s papers. The pictures cut out by some loving fingers, the picture cards, tracts, story books, Testaments, all these things meet especial needs. The children’s clothes, especially the flannels and boys’ shirts, are most welcome. I know this moment the destination of each article.
“Perhaps that for which I’m most truly grateful, is the quantity of sewing materials. The Lord has not since I came here let me name a day for help, but just now I was counting my little funds and wondering—wondering if the time had come when I should be really obliged to halt. This supply of materials is a true blessing. Perhaps my Sunday-school stands highest in importance, but surely this sewing-school work, with all the influences of good which I strive to bring there to bear upon the girls, is next. I couldn’t willingly give it up. Through it the girls are clothing their bodies with their own honest efforts; are learning Christian gentleness and politeness, and having their minds stored with good thoughts out of good books. They let me come very close to them, tell me their needs, their troubles, and recognize me as their friend. So in furthering this work, you are setting many wheels in motion. I held a reception at the ‘opening’—opening of my barrel; how enthusiastic and happy we all were.”
The Association held public meetings in Boston, Mount Vernon church, morning and afternoon of March 3. The interest of these meetings indicates, we believe, increasing energy and delight in forwarding the work. The total receipts of the year, as announced there, have been $5,077.34. This is not a great sum, but neither is it a bad beginning, and as fast as it gives pleasure to the friends of the work to add to our pile, the present year, so fast shall we be eager to increase it by scattering.