Friends have kindly sent us donations of work, and much more will be acceptable.  Sheets, pillow cases, underclothing or patchwork, basted ready for sewing, will be very thankfully received.  The work in the sewing classes includes patchwork, the making of dresses, all kinds of other garments, and quilting.—­From the Ballard Record.

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A DREARY PICTURE OF PLACE AND PEOPLE.

BY AN A.M.A.  WORKER.

The country is low and flat, with here and there a small elevation on which is a house or log cabin.  For miles and miles the country is dreary and monotonous.  The swamps have a funereal aspect as one looks upon the live-oak and cypress, hung with long Spanish moss swaying to and fro in the gentle breeze.

Back in these pine woods are hundreds who have never seen the railroad, a boat, carriage, or even a mail-bag.  Sometimes a few will go to the little obscure station on Saturdays and stand gazing at the train as it goes thundering by, and many comical remarks are made, as:  “Dat am de train ’pon which no darkies nor crackers kin ride; dat am all de heben dat dem buckra want and am gwine ter git.”

Most of the people own their homes, which are poorly constructed of pine poles with clapboards to cover the cracks, through which the dampness and cold winds make it uncomfortable for the occupants, who are seated before a clay chimney and a great lightwood fire.  Very few of the houses have any windows.  A lightwood torch furnishes the light by day and by night.  Some of them are improving each year, but the most of them are satisfied with a roof, and a few acres under cultivation.

The country people seem to be naturally religious, as they are all church members, are so from childhood, and are great believers in the “sperit,” which must be the evil one.  They are not denominational in the sense in which enlightened people are.  The church which allows the greatest number of privileges, and the minister who will just be preacher and make the most noise and have the greatest number of “big meetings,” are the most popular.  They have a burial service, and several months or a year after, they have a funeral service, which is always a big time.

Caesar is considered the best preacher that has ever been in ——.  He comes once a month, and cannot read a chapter; “nor need you expect me to get the one-thousandth part of the ingrejience out of this text,” is his introduction to every sermon, but he can get up steam enough to be heard half a mile.  One of the preachers wanting to be known as a licentiate, said in meeting:  “I want you to know that I am a licentious preacher,”—­which is the truth.

Our work has done an amount of good, even among those outside, and our schools and the two churches have done more good in the country than all other work combined.  The recent fanaticism in the county did not get one believer from our church.