Dear Children:—­The first morning I entered my school-room South, such a mass of little dark faces as greeted me!  At first it seemed so strange to me, they all looked alike, but in a short time I was able to pick out Simon, and Tommy, and Mollie, and Janie.  Most of them want to learn, and are quite tidy in their appearance.  One of the exercises they enjoy most is the singing.  It would be hard to find a colored boy or girl who does not sing, and many of them have very sweet voices.  They are able to sing the alto with very little practice.  It often surprises me to find how well they keep their parts.  One day we had a very severe shower, and it was so dark we could not see the black-boards or see to work, so I let them sing for nearly an hour.  All over the building, if you could have visited the different rooms, you would have enjoyed listening to them.  One of their own pieces which they like to sing, is “Roll, Jordan, roll.”  They pronounce it “Jurdon.”

Many of the parents are working very hard to give their children an education, and I am glad to say that the children themselves are glad to learn.  One little girl said, “I’ve got on a terrible bad looking shoe, and the big girls out doors were laughing at me yesterday, but I thought I’d rather come to school with the bad shoe, than stay away a day and not come at all.  I pray every day that God will help me to do right and be a good girl in school.  Last night papa was out of a job, and I prayed that he might get another one, and now he’s got another one.”  Then looking at her shoes, she said:  “I’d rather wear these ragged shoes than not to pay for my schooling at all.”

And now, children, will you come with me for a little drive?  We are going in a phaeton with our good horse, Maud.  We drive about a mile out of the city, cross a little bridge, and finally drive through a gateway.  The ground is sandy, in some places so white that it almost reminds one of snow.  The trees are still green.  Our attention is attracted by a procession moving slowly forward.  There is one carriage and the friends, men and women, are walking.  The words they are chanting show it to be a funeral procession.  Every one wears a green badge, for most all the colored people belong to some order.  Finally they come to a stop and gather about the grave.  The mourners break out into a wail, and they begin to chant the words:  “And must my trembling spirit glide into a world unknown?” The chant I can never describe, for there is no music in it, and we cannot distinguish any tune.  Then the minister preaches, and they begin another chant.  Let us look around a little.  I am sure you are already interested and surprised at what you see.  Here is a group of three little graves; on one, we find three dolls’ heads, a quantity of shells, marbles, dishes and other toys with which the children used to play.  On another, is a tin kitchen, a bell, a doll in a chair, a marble under a sugar-bowl