Viewing page 151 of 313

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

and although my loss, by their liberation was very heavy, I am still able & determined to repay a portion (at least) of their labor, as thiers was given, without charge.

During their bondage I did not want them Educated, since they are Free I want them Educated, and am laboring to that end.

The greatest difficulty that I have to contend with is to get our people to [[underlined]] see them as freemen [/underlined]], & forget they were once slaves; They are willing that they shall be, & remain free, but they can not generally divest themselves of the old idea, that they should not be educated, hence I have great trouble to [[underlined]] procure good & efficient teachers [[/underlined]].

One restive citizen, who is competent to teach, is too often prevented either by his own prejudice, or the prejudice of those with whom he has been raised, on the other hand, if I get a teacher from the North, who has no prejudice

[[end page]]
[[start page]]

to contend with, a little imprudence in speech, or act, or slight indescretion, excites animosity on the part of the Community, gives trouble, & retards the good work. What is the best for me to do? If you can send me a good teacher, & one who can keep clear of points sugested, I would like to have such an one, either male, or Female. We have had no trouble with the citizens, & hope to avoid any, for in all conflicts in the south between the Races, the blacks come off second best. We have an excellent school room, in connection with a Colored church, & have it nearly all paid for. Our school has averaged during the past year over fifty, & can easily be made to go over one hundred.

The tuition has heretofore been at two dollars per month, but it must be reduced, the poor can not send, & very many are poor, all should be induced to send: