Читать книгу: «The American Missionary. Volume 42, No. 11, November, 1888», страница 6

Student's Letter

Struggles In The "Lone Star State."

BY A.C. GARROTT

My home, Marion, Ala., was also the location of the Lincoln Normal Institute, and fortunately I had attended that school for several years. Being next to the oldest of eight children, my parents decided to take me from school in '83, that I might earn something. I had often heard of Talladega College, and wanted very much to enter there, but my father being only a poor carpenter, it was impossible for me to get the means to accomplish my desires.

However, by the aid of Northern friends I entered the above named school, October 2d, 1883. Evenings and Saturdays I worked by the hour to help defray my expenses. Unable to obtain a school, I could be found at the college, during the summers of '84 and '85, working about the buildings or on the farm. The money earned there was used for schooling. During my last year in school I had job work—sweeping and caring for lamps. This work was done early in order that I might have time for study. And each morning, before day, my broom could be heard moving through the corridors. At the close of school, I had paid by work, and a prize gained in speaking the year before, about $52.75. It was agreed that the balance should be paid after leaving school. In a class of ten I received a diploma from the normal department, June 17, 1886. My time during the summer was occupied in working with my father at the carpenter's trade.

Texas was said to have good public-schools, and it was my plan to try the "Lone Star State." I was working to secure means to pay the fare, but father failed in being paid promptly, and this forced me to borrow money for the purpose. Many tried to discourage me in my plan as it was what is sometimes termed as a "wild goose chase." I remarked, though, that if no schools could be found, there were other things to be done—cotton to be picked; wagons to be driven; and ditches to be dug. So the work-clothes were not forgotten when my trunk was packed.

On September 30, 1886, I arrived in Henderson, a stranger to all save one, and with a very small purse. Then commenced my trials. I was in my twenty-first year, but had a young appearance, and the trustees of most schools objected to me for that reason. I walked many miles in search of work, and it was not till the middle of November that my first school opened.

Owing money for schooling, for fare to this State, and for board after coming here, caused me to start far below the surface in pecuniary matters. As I had made large plans, that was quite discouraging.

The school proceeded nicely and a Sabbath-school was organized in connection. The latter was quite small, though there was a large attendance in the day school. At the close of school, March 23, 1887, all expressed a willingness for me to teach the next session, but there was a trouble ahead which changed their views. The question of prohibition was to be decided by the people in August. I am sorry to say the majority of our people were on the wrong side. But most of the teachers and preachers fought with an untiring energy against the saloons. For this act of ours, many refused to give us work. Some even sneered at the "prohib. teachers," as we walked along the streets. Those were days of discouragement as our labor seemed to be in vain.

My summer's work lasted only a month, and being an independent school the returns were quite small, $6.00 only. Having to aid my parents, and a two months' sickness, caused me to be below the surface again at the opening of my school, November 14. This work continued for six months. A Sabbath-school was organized; and, unlike the previous year, outnumbered the daily attendance.

It has been said that it is better to turn up something than to wait for something to turn up. So I bought a small outfit for making photographs. It is incomplete, but enough to get an idea of the art. After looking at some of my work, our county Judge was heard to say. "That's a good picture for that nigger." My summer school was nine miles away, and I came here every Friday evening, that I might practice at my new trade. To save the hire and feed of a horse, I always walked here and back. The way at times seems dark, but I take courage from the fact that roads to success must lead through hardships.

The Chinese

Review Of The Year

BY REV. W.C. POND, D.D

The fiscal year of our missions closed Aug. 31. I desire to set before the readers of the MISSIONARY a statement of the year's work, made as complete as the space at my command allows:

1. Seventeen missions have been sustained during a part or the whole of the year. Ten of these have had no intermission whatever, except for a day or two at the holidays, and in one instance a fortnight's vacation. Of the remaining seven, three are new missions, viz: Los Angeles, San Buenaventura and Tucson. The work at these points is full of interest and hope, and has indeed already begun to yield what seem to us saving results.

2. Thirty-nine workers have been engaged. Of these, fourteen are Chinese brethren, converted in connection with our missions, and trained to the work in the work itself. The aggregate number of months of service is 295.

3. In comparison with the record of the previous year, but little change can be noted. The total number enrolled is 1,131, being larger by 87, but on the whole one record is about the equivalent of the other. Indeed, it seems to me that in both years we reached very near to the outmost limit of what is possible with the means at our command. The special interest of this year's history centers in the attempt to do, and to learn better how to do, evangelistic work. Three of our brethren have been set apart to this, and have been followed from place to place by the prayers of many. They had much to learn when they started forth and have much yet to learn. It is by no means clear to me that we have hit upon the wisest methods, and I know that we have not yet entered into the fullness of power, either with God or man. Yet I can see that these brethren are stronger and braver and more eager in this work than they were a year ago. And the blessing of God on their labors has been such as enables us to believe that full sixty of their countrymen have been led to Christ. This carries the whole number concerning whom this hope has been cherished, since the beginning of our work, above 700.

4. THE FINANCES. Our expenditures have been: For salaries of workers, $6,403.00; for rents of mission houses, $2,066.00; for incidental expenses, $1,150.15; total, $9,619.75. Our resources have been: From the parent society, $6,100; balance from previous year, $45.50; offerings made through the treasury of this auxiliary, $2,590.80; total, $8,736.30. This leaves a deficit of $882.85, a part of which can be met from our Permanent Property Account, but fully $500.00 needs yet to be secured if we are to provide things honest in the sight of all men. Thus far in the history of our mission, the account of no year has closed with the blot of a deficit upon it. The account of the year just ended is held open for awhile in the hope that the good precedent of the past may be still maintained. And, oh, if we might be a little less hampered by poverty;—if we might be set free to enter opened doors, and to make the most possible of our opportunities, how great would be the privilege and joy of showing in blessed experiment that the truest economy is a wise and careful generosity.

Bureau Of Woman's Work

MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY

Woman's State Organizations

CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

ME.—Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.

VT.—Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

VT.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Ellen Osgood, Montpelier, Vt.

CONN.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.

N.Y.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. William Spaldlng, Salmon Block, Syracuse, N.Y.

ALA.—Woman's Missionary Association, Secretary, Mrs. G.W. Andrews, Talladega, Ala.

OHIO.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin, Ohio.

IND.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Rogers, Michigan City, Ind.

ILL.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St., Chicago, Ill.

MICH.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren, Lansing, Mich.

WIS.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead, Wis.

MINN.—Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. H.L. Chase, 2750 Second Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn.

IOWA.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh, Grinnell, Iowa.

KANSAS.—Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs, G.L. Epps, Topeka, Kan.

NEB.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, President, Mrs. F.H. Leavitt, 1216 H St., Lincoln, Neb.

SOUTH DAKOTA,—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.E. Young, Sioux Falls, Dak.

Special fields have been assigned to Ladies' Societies contributing to the work, and missionary letters will be sent to all who desire such reports. If any fail to receive the letters, they can get them by notifying Miss Emerson, at the New York office. The ladles will be interested in the following list:

Maine Missionaries—Miss Lunt, of Selma, Ala., Miss Farrington, N.C. Mrs. Hubbard, Williamsburg, Ky., Mrs. Hall, Fort Berthold, Dak.

Vermont sustains the McIntosh School, Miss Plimpton continues in charge, assisted by Misses Ayer, Kuhl, and Head.

Massachusetts ladies are contributing to the Girl's Department of the boarding school at Tougaloo, Miss. Letters are written by the teachers in turn, thus reporting the different phases of work.

The industrial School, at Thomasville, Ga. appeals especially to ladies of Connecticut. Mrs. Gordon and Miss Knapp will continue their monthly letters, with occasional communications from other teachers.

The auxiliaries of the New York Union are entitled to letters from Miss Edith Leonard, (in place of Miss Haynes,) for the Indians, Mrs. Myers for the Mountain Whites, and Miss Evans for the Negroes.

The Ohio Ladies provide for Miss Collins of Dakota, and also for Miss Stevenson of Atlanta, Ga.

The Illinois missionaries are Miss Kinney of Austin, Texas, and Miss Pingree of Mobile.

The Michigan ladies find large opportunity to work for the blacks, through the Trinity School, at Athens, Ala. So, also, the Minnesota ladies, whose chosen field is the school at Jonesboro, Tenn.

Many others are working in definite lines and becoming better acquainted with the needs and how to meet them.