Publication: THE FREEDMEN'S RECORD (THE FREEDMEN'S JOURNAL)
Date: JUNE 1, 1867
M.G. KimballTitle: EXTRACTS FROM TEACHERS’ LETTERS.HOPE LODGE, March 9, 1867.My
HOPE LODGE, March 9, 1867.
My school is prospering beyond my expectations at the beginning of the year. The day school has increased, since I wrote you last, from eighteen to thirty-five, and the number is increasing weekly. I cannot be thankful enough that I had an opportunity of coming to this plantation, for I think if one has the will there are unusual opportunities for doing good here. This is the only plantation anywhere about which supports a teacher.
It is quite rare for any of the little ones to be absent; for every child, down to the smallest abecedaridu seems to be thoroughly interested. I have a few representatives from four plantations. I wish you could see one of my little ones, a tiny thing, only four years old, who rejoices in the name of “Jack-Ann.” I had no idea when she came that she would be able to learn anything, but used to set her up on the table in front of the chart, while the others were reciting, (she being so short that she could not see over the top of it), and in a little while she astonished me by being able to tell me all her letters. She has been reading for a fortnight in words of three letters.
I wish that some of these southern unbelievers, who talk of the dull and stolid negro, could see my evening scholars hastening to the school-room after a long, hard day’s work, and staying sometimes three hours at a time, although some are so tired that they drop asleep in their chairs. Their zeal and patience have quite astonished me. The only case of insubordination that ever arose was one evening when a queer, half-witted fellow arose, and declared his intention of leaving the school-room, because he could not begin reading, writing, and arithmetic, all in one evening. After school was over the rest of the scholars gathered about the house where he was, one with an old, rusty pistol, two with axes, and threatened to execute vengeance upon the offender if he was ever saucy to “the school mistress” again; but after speaking to them they quietly dispersed.
I received a box of clothing from the Dedham Society a few weeks ago. I wish you could have seen the happy little faces that emerged from my room after being attired in new clean aprons. One of the aunties said, “Oh, Miss Nellie, ‘pears like we shall be getting too proud, we’re not used to such things.”
Yours truly,
ELLEN M. JONES.
CAMDEN, S.C., March 15, 1867.
The schools for freedmen in this town were establised February 19th, 1866. There are now two schools, the “Hamilton” and the “Jackson,” having four teachers and an aggregate number of two hundred and fifty-five pupils. I am informed that on June 1, 1866, the Jackson school numbered seventy-five pupils, and that operations were exclusively confined to the alphabet and primer. Now the “Jackson” registers some ninety scholars, has one scholar in the primer, sixteen in the first reader, forty-eight in the second reader, twenty-five in the third reader, fifty in mental, ten in written arithmetic, fifteen in geography, fifty writing on slates, and twenty-five writing in books. The reports which you have, from month to month received, show the gradual advancement of the pupils, and when we reflect that it numbers but a few days more than one year since the privilege of schools was granted them, I am convinced that they fully equal in progress the average of scholars at the North. Their lessons are well learned, and they are ever ready with an “extra,” if there is the least prospect of a chance to recite it. They are as bright, cheerful, active, roguish, and wholesome looking as any body’s children. They are more polite and easier to govern than northern school children. Praise them and give them the idea that you are proud of them, and that you think they are doing well, and their ambition knows no bounds. Said a mother, the other day, “my William is all carried away with his school, and thinks I do him badly if I keep him at home a day to help me.” Another parent said, “my little girls are talking about their school, saying over their lessons, and singing their pretty pieces which you teach them, from the time they get home from school until they go to bed, and from the time they get up until they go to school.” Very often as I go down street, I hear the boys drilling each other in spelling, in which branch they excel. The attendance is good and they invariably manifest a determination to improve upon the present. The parents seem willing to make any sacrifice that their children may learn to read and write. I feel that every effort or act of kindness is more than appreciated, and that I can hardly do enough for such people. Miss Babcock and myself have enjoyed much through the kindness of our generous friends at the North, in the distribution of the clothing sent by them, (eight barrels and two boxes, and there is still another barrel on the way.)
Their expressions of thankfulness and sincere “God bless you,” are a reward indeed; coming, as they do, from hearts which have long borne the burden of oppression. They often refer to the future, and express the desire for a lot of land which they can call their own. One said to me “if we could just get enough to buy us a piece of land and have our own home how happy we should be,” and probably the time is not far distant when they will possess what they now desire, as industry and perseverance will accomplish it.
They manifest an earnest inclination, generally, to provide for themselves a successful future. The colored people of Kershaw District are said to be the finest in the State; be that as it may, they are certainly deserving much praise for the efforts which they make to advance the condition of their race. Messrs. Tomlinson and Whittemore being fully convinced of our great need of suitable school-rooms, have succeeded in getting an appropriation of $1,100 to be applied to the building of a new school-house.
Your friend in the cause.
ELLEN A. GATES.
SNOW HILL, March 25, 1867.
I herewith submit my report for March.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the
weather, the children have been very punctual,
and their interest have in no degree
abated. The colored people in this vicinity,
I am yours, respectfully,
SIDNEY A. BUSBEE.
P. S.—The tracts have been received, which is a real treasure for our Sunday school.
S. A. B.
RALEIGH, N. C., April 11, 1867.
You will probably be surprised at my letter being dated from this place. But I was compelled to abandon my field of labor in consequence of rebel hostility. On the night of April 4, the house used by the freedmen, for a school-house, was fired by unknown parties, and burned to the ground. The next day I was informed that the house was burned because I had written a letter to a friend informing him of certain murders that had been perpetrated at Snow Hill. You may ask how did any one know what I had written? The answer is, my letters were opened; and the one that was so offensive to them being a returned letter, some one wrote a postscript to it threatening myself with a coat of tar and feathers, &c. I received this letter the day after the house was burned. I immediately proceeded to Raleigh and reported the facts to the Bureau; and an officer has been ordered to proceed to Snow Hill and investigate the case.
I am grieved to be forced to abandon my school at Snow Hill, but do not feel it safe to return without military protection.
Yours respectfully,
SIDNEY A. BUSBEE.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 29, 1867.
DEAR LADY,—We have lived to see the fortieth Congress and to behold a change of affairs. The rebels begin to see the error of their way at last, and do all they can to better our race. They say the colored people are not only free but have a right to vote. Now let us be kind to them; they have been our slaves, and we must do something for them. It will not do to leave them to the care of those hated yankees. They will build them up as a tower against us. We must not do as we would like, but as we must, in this time of trouble, because the time that the Garrison’s, the Sumner’s, and Stevens’ have been telling them about, has come, they will believe it if we do not take right steps in time. They are a good people, and so fond of their old masters, they will do what we want they should. Most of them love us, and have forgotten what happened while they were slaves. They know we are their friends.
This is a grand story for them to tell, but let us answer them. Can we forget the crack of the whip, cowhide, whipping-post, the auction-block, the hand-cuffs, the spaniels, the iron collar, the negro-trader tearing the young child from its mother’s breast as a whelp from the lioness? Have we forgotten that by those horrible cruelties, hundreds of our race have been killed? No, we have not, nor ever will.
If the Northern people who have given their life’s blood for our liberty are not our friends, where can we find them? O, God help us to love these people.
I am with the warmest regards,
Your servant,
ISABELLA GIBBINS.
GORDONSVILLE, Va., April 1, 1867.
DEAR LADY,—I write you this letter to return thanks for your kindness to me and my race. Our school prospers finely. They learn very fast. We have some grown scholars in the school and they work hard to learn all they can. Miss J. Hosmer teaches in the room with me, having as many as a hundred and fifteen scholars in our room. Miss Stone is in the next room. I think most of these children will become useful to their country. They all sing well and like their teachers, which is most important. It is true we have some do-nothings in our school as in all others; but there are but one or two of that family. I am thankful to say the colored people have the power to vote, and they are willing to put good men in office. The winter has been very hard here and prevented many from coming out during the bad weather. The colored people have been able to do but little for the school, but are willing to do all they can, I believe. I am thankful that I am blessed with this opportunity of learning. I thank God, and all my kind friends at the North for what I have learned. I want to make it known to them in every way I can. I have read the tracts sent me to many who cannot read well; some of them were written by you; I saw your name. We like them very much.
Yours respectfully,
WILLIAM P. LUCAS.
BALTIMORE, April 13, 1867.
I want you to see some of my dear little
trials of patience, so I am going to take
some of them to the photograph rooms and
have their pictures taken. I made inquiries
about it yesterday, and the artist said,
“as they were
M. A. UPTON.
