* * * * *

REPORT FROM MOUNTAIN SCHOOLS.

Our year’s work is rapidly drawing to an end.  The older scholars are doing well and are remaining with us through the year.  They certainly are gaining in this direction.  They become very restless as soon as it is “put in crap time.”  They sigh for the fields and “shovel plow,” and often look from the school-room windows with a longing for the log cabin and the ground surrounding it.  In many cases we have to be very persuasive to have them remain, yet they seem thankful for the advice and remain.  The older scholars seem to manifest an earnest ambition to obtain situations through the summer, so that they may procure clothing and help pay their tuition.  We try as far as possible to obtain situations for our girls.  The better class of the people will come to us for help, feeling that our girls have been educated in the home and kitchen.

In our temperance meeting last Friday, I asked the question, “What would you do if you were forced to take whiskey?” A little girl rose and said, “My father asked me to take some and said ‘you must.’  I said, ‘I can’t.  God would not be pleased.’  He said, ’Well, I ’lows how you’re ’bout right.”  What a happy girl she was.  She knows if she will keep on refusing, he will give up strong drink.  Our greatest hope is in the children.

A poor woman had some articles of clothing to take home with her.  I offered to wrap her parcel in newspaper.  She said, “If you don’t care, I would like to have that ar paper.”  She never has a piece except what is given her by some kind person.  She utterly refused to have the parcel wrapped.  The people use the papers to keep the cold out.  I have seen pieces of paper four inches square and parts of letters pasted on the boards.  We save all the papers we receive, and have assisted in making many poor homes comfortable.

There is a good Sunday-school in a neighboring town.  The people listen very attentively, and seem to be thankful for the Sunday-school and church services.  The average attendance for the last five Sundays has been forty-two.  The thought of leaving this school during the summer is a cross.  There are fathers and mothers who are present every Sabbath.  The children show the need of a good school.

* * * * *

FROM MISS M.A.  BYE.

Our Christian Endeavor Society interests me very much, as I have given more time and thought to that than to anything else outside of school work.  It has increased in numbers, and the members have for the most part gained a great deal in interest and courage, and this term quite a number of associate members have become Christians.  We are working now to send a delegate to the St. Louis Convention, and I anticipate great pleasure in watching the effect upon our delegate of the enthusiasm of the Convention and the sight of the city, and think it will be worth the year’s work to be with him, for we hope to send one of the boarding boys.