In one county I found a number of people off by themselves in a little nook of a valley, but not over two miles from Sunday-school and church, yet not attending.  As I went into their homes and talked about their opportunities and duties, many promises were given that the future would find them more active for themselves and children.  One man who had not been in Sunday-school for four years made a humble confession, and pledged that he would go to work.  He spoke of his early life with its Christian activities, and now when he has a family he has neglected to take them and go to the house of God.  So many men are waiting for somebody to lead them to their duty—­they see it and know it—­but have not moral courage to go forward unless encouraged in some special way.

On Children’s Day I was in Pleasant View, and am sure if our Northern friends could have looked in and have seen the bright, happy children that were engaged in their first Children’s Day service they would have been encouraged and rejoiced.  Of course the service was far from perfect, but while this was true they were having a new experience.  I had told them about Children’s Day, and urged them to use our order of exercises, which they did, but the songs and recitations were too hard for most of them; yet, as I saw the real effort and interest, I could not restrain the “well done.”  But this was not all; I was again to be surprised when the names were called and the “little envelopes” presented with their “little Children’s Day offering.”  They were happy in the thought of doing something for the good people who had aided them.  They are very poor people and cannot do much, but a great change has come over them since I first found them.  Our Christian Endeavor meeting that day was one of profit and help to all.  One little boy about ten years old led in prayer.

During the month there have been two hopeful conversions and many evidences of spiritual strengthening and growth.  On the other hand, hundreds are waiting for some one to help them “while the water is troubled.”  In all the meetings of the month there has been a marked evidence of spiritual interest.

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“NOLICHUCKY JACK’S” DESCENDANTS.

REV.  JOS.  E. ROY, D.D.

After I had preached recently at Naperville, Ill., Sunday morning, upon our mountain work, using the big map, a couple of ladies came forward and introduced themselves as descendants of John Sevier, the Huguenot “commonwealth builder” in the mountains of Tennessee, the hero of King’s Mountain, as I had represented him to be.  One of the ladies was Mrs. Knickerbocker, her husband being one of the most respected citizens of that place—­his own stock being that indicated by his name.  She is now, as she has been for many years, the lady principal of the college in that town connected with the Evangelical Association Church.  Her mother was a Sevier and her father, Rev. John Cunningham, a Presbyterian minister from Jonesboro, East Tennessee, who came early to Illinois to get away from slavery, and who served acceptably that Congregational Church of Naperville.  She was a granddaughter of John Sevier.  The other descendant was Miss Sevier, a great-great-granddaughter, a cultivated young lady, who was a teacher in a college in Ohio.