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These facts suggest the propriety of maintaining one or more good schools in each large town during the months of the summer recess. I think much good would be accomplished by this course.
Before the year closes we shall have schools in nearly every county. The most prominent and gratifying fact now being developed is the diffusion of large numbers of new schools in strictly rural localities, not hitherto reached. The teachers are spreading their nets over all the land. The older work in the cities and towns does not surpass this in interest or importance. The country school houses are not so good, not the teachers generally so well educated since the larger part of them are colored youth fresh from the schools of the towns. But these deficiencies are made up by the wonderful zeal of the people and the pupils. One or two schools in a county leaven the whole. At day light in winter, may of the pupils leave their homes, breakfastless, for the school house for 3 or seven miles away. Each school gathers