DEAR CHILDREN:
Would you not like to hear about some of the little black children in our mission Sunday-school down here in the Southland? One of our scholars, a certain ragged boy, was for many weeks among the missing. A few Sundays later, one of the first arrivals was master James, but he was so decently clad that I did not recognize him, and was obliged to inquire his name. A blue jacket, much too large for him, and ornamented with brass buttons, gave him a very distinguished air, but we soon learned that clothes do not always make the man, for time has proven him not as worthy as we thought. O, such a little scamp as he is! and yet so full of good nature in his mischief, that it is not easy to scold him for naughtiness. Living only across the lane, he runs in and out as much as he pleases, and if one starts after him, he is often found just outside on the step, peeping through a crack, and grinning at authority. He is simply irrepressible, as a little incident will show you. One day, as the Superintendent was speaking of the collection, a little boy said he had no money. "Aw! ye've got yer pocket cram full," was the comment of the boy with brass buttons. It was said for the benefit of all present, and in no modest tone.
You have not heard, I believe, about the three little boys I call "my babies." They are yet in dresses, and as cunning as can be, very regular in attendance. Harry, Eddie, and—well I must tell you about the other name. Down here, many nick-names are used, such as son, bubba, or boysa for the boys, and sister or missy for the little girls. When this little fellow was asked his name, he very bashfully said, "Son." "But you have some other name?" If he knew any other, he was afraid to speak, so I asked whether anyone present knew his name. A little girl called out "He is Son Anderson Baby Boy," and now I always use the four words when speaking to or of him. We are very good friends, but he has doubted my sincerity since one time when I ventured to examine a small brown pipe held tightly in his hand. It proved to be chocolate candy, and as he did not choose to risk his treasure with me, he put down his little mouth, and took in not only the candy, but my finger as well. He is quite shy of me now, evidently fearing that some of his rights will be denied.
Mordecai is an unruly specimen, and then there is Simeon, who never fails to have an answer ready. His favorite one is, "Be humble, and ever mindful of death." I suppose he learned it in the catechism, for he rarely fails to give it when any question is asked concerning duty to God or man. When we had the lesson about "The Sick of the Palsy," his class were asked what they would do if they had a sick friend who was unable to walk to a physician, and had no horse. "I'd get some mare and tote him," was Simeon's original thought, and he did not know the story either. It always seems as if I had just begun to write when time and space warn me to stop, so now good-by.
AN A.M.A. TEACHER.
RECEIPTS FOR APRIL, 1889.
| MAINE, $362.69. | |
| Augusta. "A Friend" | 11.21 |
| Bangor. S.C. Carter | 5.00 |
| Blue Hill. Cong. Y.P.S.C.E., by Miss C.B. Stevens, Treas. | 5.00 |
| Brewer. First Cong. Ch. | 10.00 |
| Calais. First Cong. Ch. | 30.00 |
| Castine. Class No. 9 Trin. Sab. Sch., for Student Aid, Tougaloo U. | 2.25 |
| Eastport. "G.A.P." of Central Ch. "Thank Offering" | 10.00 |
| Garland. Cong. Ch. | 8.00 |
| Kittery Point. Cong. Ch. | 6.35 |
| South Bridgton. Cong. Ch. | 10.88 |
| Thomaston. "A Few Friends in Cong. Ch." for Memphis, Tenn. | 12.00 |
| Yarmouth. Chas. L. Marston, for Mountain Work | 180.00 |
| Yarmouth. Cong. Ch. 42, and Sab. Sch. on True Blue Cards 30, for Tougaloo U. | 72.00 |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE, $384.29. | |
| Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 19.00 |
| Barrington. W.B.M., Bbl. C., for Talladega C. | |
| Croydon. Mrs. D.W. Barton, for Student Aid, Lexington, Ky. | 5.00 |
| Exeter. Second Cong. Ch. | 91.92 |
| Francestown. Cong. Ch. | 17.52 |
| Gorham. Cong. Ch. | 5.67 |
| Haverhill. Cong. Ch. | 17.00 |
| Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. | 5.75 |
| Hudson. Cong. Ch. | 14.00 |
| Keene. Second Cong. Ch. | 27.04 |
| Keene. Primary Class Second S.S., for Woman's Work | 5.00 |
| Londonderry. Mrs. Buxton | 5.00 |
| Lyme. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. | 10.00 |
| Manchester. Sab. Sch. First Cong. Ch. for Fort Berthold, Indian M. | 75.00 |
| Marlboro. Cong. Ch. | 12.33 |
| Meriden. "A Friend" $1.50. Cong. S.S., Box Books, etc., for Student Aid, Lexington, Ky. | 1.50 |
| Newport. S.S. of Cong. Ch., Box S.S. Books, for Lexington, Ky. | |
| Plainfield. Mrs. C.H. Lewis, 5, Cong. Ch., Box S.S. Books, for Student Aid, Lexington, Ky. | 5.00 |
| Rindge. Cong. Ch. | 9.94 |
| Salem. Mrs. Dean Emerson | 1.00 |
| Sanbornton Square. Cong. Ch. | 8.41 |
| Sunapee. Meth. S.S., Box of S.S. Books for Lexington, Ky. | |
| Swanzey. Cong. Ch. | 8.11 |
| Tamworth. Mrs. Amanda M. Davis, to const. FRANKLIN W. DAVIS L.M. | 30.00 |
| Winchester. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. | 10.10 |
VERMONT, $1,643.31. | |
| Bennington. Mrs. Isaac Jennings, for McIntosh, Ga. | 5.00 |
| Brandon. Cong. Ch. | 12.92 |
| Brownington and Barton Landing. Cong. Ch. | 23.75 |
| Brownington. Mrs. M.S. Stone | 10.00 |
| Burlington. Class in College St. Sab. Sch., for Rosebud Indian M. | 8.00 |
| Burlington. Bbl. and Box C., Freight 2, for McIntosh, Ga. | 2.00 |
| Cambridge. Madison Safford, in Memory of John Safford | 1,284.00 |
| Cambridge. Madison Safford | 10.00 |
| Clarendon. Cong. Ch. | 7.27 |
| East Poultney. Mrs. A.D. Wilcox | 10.00 |
| Fair Haven. Members Cong. Ch. | 9.45 |
| Greensboro. Cong. Ch. | 15.85 |
| Hartford. Cong. Ch., by J.G. Stimson of Norwich | 50.00 |
| Middlebury. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., 25, Cong. Sab. Sch., 2.25, for Rosebud Indian M. | 27.25 |
| Montpelier. Box C., Freight 5, for McIntosh, Ga. | 5.00 |
| Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 9.00 |
| Orwell. Ladies of Cong. Ch., for McIntosh, Ga. | 14.21 |
| Peacham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 26.55 |
| Randolph. Mrs. M.K. Nichols | 1.50 |
| Saint Johnsbury. North Cong. Ch., for Student Aid, Fisk U. | 20.00 |
| Wallingford. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., for McIntosh, Ga. | 13.49 |
| Wells River. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 34.57 |
| Windham. Cong. Ch. (2. from Mr. and Mrs. H.N. Prentiss, for Mountain White Work, 5 from Rev. Geo. N. Beckwithfor Debt) to const. BLISS B. PRENTISS L.M. | 38.00 |
| Vermont Woman's Home Missionary Union, by Mrs. William P. Fairbanks, Treas., for McIntosh, Ga.: | |
| Saint Albans. W.H.M.S. of First Cong. Ch. | 5.50 |
| ——— 5.50 | |