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7.

favor it & not the other, as a condition of their giving anything to build the school house. By this time, however, they know there is no possibility of partiality on my part or of either party, as such having any influence in or over the school. I have met each party a number of times & tried to harmonize them, but as this is impossible, I have induced a good portion of them to get up a Thanksgiving Festival to raise money for the school house. They have gone to work in good earnest, & are determined to make it a success, partly, I suspect, from their opposition. The other party cannot or will not do anything at present, on account of a heavy church debt, but chiefly on account of the influence of their colored teacher & preacher, who, from jealousy of his position & influence, has worked against their doing anything for the school house;  besides, the house will be open to the Baptists, which is another notice. He will be ousted soon, & will then leave the place. The people themselves are well-disposed. And when the school house is up, about Christmas time, I will start another festival, & get them all in to take hold of it, & pay off the [[strikethrough]] debts [[/strikethrough]] ballance for the house, besides furnishing it with seats.