Another fact of interest is that the county Superintendent of Education has consented to give to our school a portion of the public money, so that we may teach it as a public school.
The interest of the church and school has been very much increased by a fine bell, given by Mr. F. W. Carpenter, of the Central Church, Providence, R.I., also a beautiful communion service, presented by the ladies of the same church.
We have received a barrel from the ladies of the church at Yarmouth, Mass. Many of the pieces will go to assist a poor girl who intends entering Fisk University next fall.
We have received a box from Rev. C. L. Woodworth, which enabled us to help worthy ones in the Sabbath-school.
My wife has planted a flower garden in front of the parsonage. I have planted a vegetable garden, which has given me an opportunity for physical exercise. We have every variety of vegetables, and as fine as I ever saw anywhere. My white potatoes are particularly fine.
VISIT TO TOPEKA.
BY GEN. O. O. HOWARD.
On last Sabbath, at 3 P.M., by the invitation of your missionary at Topeka, Rev. Mr. Markham, I visited the Tennessee Mission and participated in the exercises of the occasion. I found a large meeting room filled with young people, with a sprinkling of older heads.
I had seen some thirty girls, with perhaps half as many boys, over at the S. S. Convention Park. They had stood behind me on the platform Sunday morning and backed me up with their inimitable melodious songs of Zion. The large multitude of people—perhaps a thousand—were touched by their enthusiasm, where a little of art has not robbed nature of her best effects. So here again I find the same bright, happy faces and more of them.