Article 1. This Society shall be called the Woman's Home Missionary Union of the State of ——. Its object shall be to promote missionary and evangelistic work in all parts of our land by forming auxiliaries in the churches of the State, and through them collecting money for the various existing societies of the Congregational order.
A TRUE INCIDENT.
At a little junction in Wisconsin, a score of passengers alighting from a train were told that the one they wished to take was four hours behind time. A big washout had swept away a bridge or embankment. There were a few exclamations of dismay and impatience, as that four hours delay meant the losing of other connections, the failure of many plans and appointments. It was a cold, rainy day, with a raw, penetrating east wind that speedily drove them all into the close, dismal waiting room. One woman, taking writing materials from a satchel, which she contrived to use for a desk, became utterly oblivious to everything as her pencil flew over the letter that would carry comfort and cheer to a far-off loved one. Suddenly she became conscious that a score of people were sitting in complete silence around her, with not a book or paper to read, looking as forlorn and miserable as possible. Laying aside her writing, she said, "My husband and I are missionaries among the colored people in Alabama. I am now on my way back to the work. Perhaps you might be interested to hear something about it, and if you care to ask any questions, I will be very happy to answer them."
An old lady sitting near, bounced up in a great rage. "I don't want to hear a word about the niggers." The rest of her muttered exclamations were lost as she rushed out, slamming the door behind her.
The missionary began to tell them about the climate, the tropical luxuriance of fruit and flowers, and of the great cotton fields. By that time questions began to pour in thick and fast, and in less than five minutes she had an eager audience listening to every word. She went on to tell of the condition of the colored people at the close of the war; ignorant, utterly destitute, with no more knowledge than a baby of how to shift for themselves; of the hard struggle it had been and still was for many of them to live; of the miserable pittance they generally received for their labor; of their home life, their peculiarities, and other things of interest.
About that time the irate woman, unable longer to endure the discomfort of the weather outside, came quietly in, looking rather disgusted at the prospect of being obliged, after all, to hear something about "the niggers."
The recital of some special incidents of peculiar trial and hardship which had come under the missionary's own observation brought tears of sympathy to many eyes; but best of all was the sudden conversion of our wrathful woman, who exclaimed: "I declare that's too bad! What makes them stand it? Why don't they all come North, where they could have a fair chance?" As she was told "the reason why," she grew full of sympathy and interest, and was even more eager than the others in suggestions and inquiries. But when they were told of what had already been done by the American Missionary Association and others toward establishing and maintaining schools and churches among them, of the devoted missionaries and teachers that had carried already so much of comfort and help into their sad lives, of the steady upward progress they were making in knowledge and intelligence, in the acquirement of homes and ability to care for themselves, all seemed to appreciate as never before the importance of the work that is being done in the South.
The distant whistle of the train surprised them all, and as they crowded about the missionary to take her hand and bid her God speed in her blessed work, one woman said: "I used to give pennies to the work of the A. M. A., but they shall be dollars now."