I wrote you about a similar meeting one year
ago; this is the third one that I have held, and the meetings have
gained in interest. In that settlement, before they commence
planting, the people have a fast day; they neither eat, wash their
faces nor perform any ordinary duties from one sunset to the next.
They pray in their homes and unitedly for God's blessing upon the
labor of their hands. It reminds me of the way fast days used to be
kept in the early history of New England. I am inclined to think they
caught the idea from the people who came from New England here. I do
not know that such a custom is observed except in this settlement. I
asked the women if a blessing followed their prayers? They answered
decidedly, "Yes," and said that while the people all about them had
suffered for the necessities of life, in that settlement they had
never since freedom bought corn, rice or potatoes, but had raised
sufficient for their needs. In their simplicity they take God at His
word, "Ask and ye shall receive."

Last Sabbath another couple entered upon the "_matrimonial sea_,"
this time young people. The gorgeous attire of the wedding party can
be better imagined than described. We see few tokens of love and
affection among this people. In the Sunday-school lesson of last
Sabbath the questions and remarks of our pupils led us to think that
it was almost a missing link in their lives; it seemed impossible for
them to understand why the people should fall on Paul's neck and kiss
him; it is a rare sight to see a kiss exchanged among them.

Yesterday, after school, the parson went with me over the swamps to
the homes of some of our scholars. We passed through several ditches,
where the water was up to the hubs of the buggy wheels; there was a
log for a foot-path over these places. It was very muddy all along
the way, and yet these children are seldom absent from school.
To-day, the clouds are heavy and dark, and the rain has come down in
torrents, yet many have come into school from these long distances,
to our surprise, one boy having the promise of being promoted into
the second reader came at least six miles, bringing a chicken and six
eggs to pay for his book; when he arrived he was wet to his skin.
Two-thirds of our school were present to-day. I realize as never
before the effort these children are making for themselves. Oh! I
remember how freely money was given and the young men from our homes
that freedom might be obtaine