d evils, a forgiving over and over again of sins and
wrongs, which showed how deep a hold the spirit of Christ had taken of
many of our countrywomen.

To receive such a letter as this elevated one's respect for human
nature:--

"S----, OHIO, February 14, 1859.

"I wish to add a few words to Carrie's letter, to inform you of her
welfare and progress. As she has said, it is now one year since she came
to us; and, in looking back upon the time, I feel that, considering her
mental deficiencies, she has made as much progress in learning as could
be expected. Her health, which was at first and for several months the
greatest source of anxiety to us, is so much improved that she is,
indeed, _well._ Her eyes are better; though rather weak, they do not
much interfere with her studies. She could neither sew nor knit when she
came here, and she can now do plain kinds of both, if it is prepared for
her. She could not tell all the alphabet, and could spell only three or
four words. She now reads quite fluently, though sometimes stopping at a
'hard word,' and is as good at spelling as many Yankee children of her
age. I hope she has learned some wholesome moral truths, and she has
received much religious instruction. Though really quite a conscientious
child when she came, she had a habit of telling lies to screen herself
from _blame,_ to which she is peculiarly sensitive; but I think she has
been cured of this for a long time, and I place perfect confidence in
her word and in her honesty. I succeeded in getting her fitted to enter
one of our intermediate schools by teaching her at home until the
beginning of the present winter. I am obliged, on account of her
exceeding dullness, to spend much time in teaching her out of school, in
order that she may be able to keep up with her classes. But I think this
has been a work worth doing, and I especially feel it to be so now, as I
am employed in this retrospect.

"I am often asked by my friends, who think the child is little more than
half-witted, why I do not 'send her back, and get a brighter one.' My
answer is, that she is just the one who needs the care and kindness
which Providence has put it into my power to bestow. We love her dearly;
but, if I did not, I should not think of sending her back to such a
place as your great city. She is just one of those who could be imposed
upon and abused, and perhaps may never be able to take care of herself