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Wellville Nottoway Co Va
Dec 13, 1867

R. M. Manly Esqr
Supt Education
Richmond Va,

Dr Sir,
Since my correspondence with you, I have the pleasure to report that on the 15th Nov, I received notice that the government would aid us to the amount of $150 to build a school house. I immediately put hands to work, and we have a house up and shingled and ready for doors and windows & all the materials ready for completing it as soon as the weather softens sufficiently. I have bought a stove, of size sufficient to warm the house. We will be put to our last Dollar to complete the house, but will do it. I expect to open a night school by or about Jany 1st and have promised to give instruction five nights each week, and every Sunday, as a gratuity if I cannot be afforded compensation from sources which contribute to other schools. I have also promised to teach a day school if the students can find means to support it. I find that my interest and principles as concerning the school for Freedmen has a tendency to unpopularize me among my old patrons in the white school, but, I started in this enterprise, influenced more by a feeling of aiding an unaided necessity, [[strikethrough]] more [[/strikethrough]] than by prospects of pecuniary advantage (yet, not wishing to starve myself & family for anything) and I design to prosecute the undertaking until compelled to abandon it from financial necessity, if at all, but