in
such a way as to make it practicable for me to do justice to both;
visiting church members the last week in each month (except in case of
sickness), and using the rest of the time (apart from other necessary
duties) for visits outside.

I am thus brought into direct contact with our people and learn a
great deal about their condition. In some places it does seem actually
as if liberty and civilization are still mysteries to them.

When I was in the North and heard or read descriptions of the
condition and mode of living of the colored people of the South, I
often thought that those descriptions were very highly colored, but I
am now perfectly cured of all my doubts. My visits furnish me with the
most plausible attestation of the facts. Squalor, with its long train
of attendants, may be commonly seen in every direction, and perhaps
not confined to the lower-conditioned of our people either. The
desecration of the Lord's day is actually frightful. It is very
literally used as a "day of rest from labor." On every hand the people
are seen resting--resting from labor in the houses, on the stoops and
on the streets, instead of being in the house of God. In very many
instances, however, we succeed in getting some of them to attend
church, but the work is somewhat uphill. I trust that this abnormal
condition to which slavery has reduced them will eventually succumb to
the effective educational weapon that is being brought to bear upon
them, that of the American Missionary Association especially, and may
the time soon come for the South when the Holy Spirit working in and
through the various missionary Boards, and also other agencies, shall
spread righteousness and education and the true art of living, among
these benighted people. I am praying, others are praying, and you,
too, must help us to pray and to wait for the quickening influences
and a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit.

* * * * *

TALLADEGA FRUIT.

BY MISS E.B. EMERY.

The missions of the American Missionary Association at the South are
like orange trees, perennial, evergreen, and continually bearing
golden fruit, and of these there is none more abounding in vitality
than Talladega. All the year round the foliage glistens, the
blossoming sheds its fragrance, and every winter there is an ample
harvest. Sometimes one from abroad comes in to shake the tree and
gather the fruit, and sometimes not; but however that may be, the soil
is previo