Viewing page 5 of 17
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
320 THE NATIONAL FREEDMAN. [[first of 2-columned page]] this rather pleases me, for I have the pleasure of knowing that I have taught them all they know, and also of watching the progress they make. My school-room is very nice now; Mr. Pond has had writing desks made, and several new windows. A blackboard is being made for me, and I shall then have nothing to wish for. The scholars are equally pleased with the improvements. They are very obedient, and the hours we spend together seem too short. Mr. Birdsall, the Superintendent of Freedmen, has done everything for our comfort, and both he and Mr. Pond are the right men in the right place-untiring in their efforts for the improvement of the freedmen. November 14, 1865 Mr. Birdsall has been taking the census; the statistics will perhaps be interesting to you, as I have just received from him: Male adults, 494; female adults, 1,150; male children, 670; female children, 643; adults who draw rations, 1,133; children who draw rations, 1,095. The people are leaving the island by scores; at least thirty of my scholars will leave before Christmas. They are now leaving daily, and I am filling their places with others. Today I had seventy in school, and usually spend six hours and longer with them. Many of the large girls, who have left our schools, are now attending the Industrial School, and it seems to me an excellent thing for them. We must have more help in this school, or we can not take half of the number who wish to go. Very respectfully, E. P. BENNETT. ---------- Eastern North Carolina. ELIZABETH CITY, November 10, 1865. REV. MR. HAWKINS. Dear Sir:--I have just returned from a tour of inspection in my district, having been as far as Edenton. Miss Remmington, sent here from Newbern by Mr. Pond, I took with me to Edenton, to teach there, if needed, if not, to go to Plymouth. I left her in the care of Lieut. Tennant, who is doing what he can to advance our work. I hoped to meet Mr. Corliss and wife there, but he failed to arrive as expected. Lieut. Tennant however promised to assist in providing quarters, getting room for school, etc; and as he manifested a determined interest, and is, I believe, a good man, I left it with him, to save time and expense, knowing I should have to visit the place again soon. The Lieutenant has been to Plymouth, where they have a good school-room, which will accommodate, etc., one hundred pupils; and it is ready for two teachers. Miss Remmington might go there, if not wanted in Edenton. Columbia wants two teachers, and Williamstown two. Each of these places requires that one of the teachers , at least, should be capable, not only to teach, but to govern. I have not yet visited these places, but the Lieutenant has the two first, and learns that they desire them also in the two last. I name them that you may know what will soon be desired. I am ready now for teachers, in Plymouth, two; Columbia, two; Hertford, one; a settlement four or five miles this side of Hertford, one; Woodville, one; a place about ten miles out from this city. The two last places, colored male teachers of the right stamp would be preferable, for there is no good and proper place for females to stop. In each of these places, and also at Hertford, the schools would average about forty pupils each; and the people promise to provide rooms and board. Hertford would want a male teacher, or first class female, without any prejudice to color. Individuals from some of these places have been in the school in this town, and are so delighted, that they solicit strongly for a teacher to be sent them. We went into our house last Tuesday, that you may know the interest felt for us by the colored people. I give you a list of articles loaned us to begin with, on the inclosed paper.* I wrote Mr. Pond, to write you, if he had any more teachers to come this way. SUNDAY, November 12, 1865. BRO. HAWKINS:--The cry is, still they come! While in Sabbath school this morning (which by the way numbered 165 to-day, and is in want Sunday-school books, Testaments, etc.), two colored brethren came to me about schools; one had come twelve miles, the other fifteen miles. What must we do to have you send us a teacher? We want our children to go to school. I told them, and they replied: We will provide a school-house, and board the teacher. One was from Durand's Neck, twelve miles from Edenton City, and six miles from Woodville. The other from South Mills, Camden County, fifteen miles from Edenton City. [[footnote 1]]*Three bedsteads, high posted and double; two featherbeds, bolsters and pillows, sheets, quilts, etc.; nine chairs, one of them a rocking-chair; two tables; several small articles, but very useful, such as sieve, bread-tray, etc. These are loaned to us.[[/footnote 1]] THE NATIONAL FREEDMAN 321 [[First column on second page]] Colored teachers would be best, on account of boarding in colored families. If, however, the white are willing to board with the colored, they might come. Let me hear soon what may be expected in regard to supplying these places, named in both letters. If you have the teachers at hand, you can send them forward at once. The people are truly awake to the good work. What a pity that the Southern whites do not catch a little of their enthusiasm. Yours respectfully, GEORGE NEWCOMB ------ EDENTON, N.C., Nov 14,1865 REV. WM. G. HAWKINS. Dear sir:- We have just closed our school for the day. One hundred pupils were present. A class of ten can read well in the Third Reader; two come from the Roanoke schools, and one from Newbern. They sing in the most impressive manner, and are very obedient and respectful. Some of them are quite intelligent and quick to learn. The parents of many of them are men and women of sound judgment, and some one of them comes to see us every morning to encourage us in our work. Every scholar I have was brought to me by a parent of guardian in person. They call at the Teacher's Home frequently, always bringing something to add to our comfort and expressing their earnest thanks to us and the Association that sent us here. They have formed a society to help support the teachers which are sent to teach their children. Any person can become a member by paying one dollar and fifty cents on entering, and fifty cents monthly. We think they will sustain this Society, although most of the colored people are poor, and have great difficulty to get any pay for their work. Capt. Geo. Herbert and his company of colored soldiers are quartered here, to protect the operations of the Freedmen's Bureau, or they would not fare as well as they do. Every day a case comes up in which a white man refuses to pay his colored laborer for a whole summers service, even when he has a family of children dependent upon him for support during the coming winter. We have had several parents come to us, and say that if they sent their children to school, they must leave their employer's premises, and never return. Many citizens do all they can to prevent the attendance of colored children to our school, and none do anything to assist them. We can not tell what will be the result when the military is withdrawn, but we do not think they can break up our school. We shall have too strong hold upon the affections of the colored people, to be driven out, and we shall not leave for anything that we fear may happen. We believe that God sent us here, and prepared the minds of the people for our reception, by sending severe affliction upon the people. There has been during the summer a death in almost every family in the place, and to-day four persons were buried; but the pestilence is abating, yet the people on the street look as if the hand of God had touched them. Last Sabbath about forty person were present at the white church, and more than 400 at the colored church including the company of soldiers. When the announcement was given last Sabbath, that a free colored school would be opened in the church the next day, it would have done your heart good to have seen the smile of joy that I have on the dark features of the entire audience, and the warm-hearted welcome which they gave us brought tears to our eyes. On the Court House Square are several unmounted Confederate cannon. In this place Capt. Herbert drills his soldiers, and every morning, as we witness their perfect evolutions, we realize that we yet have the arm of Uncle Sam to protect us, and should they be withdrawn, we will remember that God is our refuge and strength. We need clothing for twelve children. They need teachers at Williamstown, Columbia, Winton, and several other places. We have also ordered books for our school. Please, send them direct to me, for we shall not get them so soon if you send them to Elizabeth City. Send some of the New York papers in the box, for we have no mail here yet, we can get our letters from steamers twice a week. Lieut. Tennant is still here, and has aided us very much in the organization of the school, and if he has teachers enough he would soon start more schools. We can live cheap here, our fuel will cost us nothing. The whites have the power to charge us twelve and a half dollars rent for the church, and Lieut. Tennant thinks it is best for the colored people to pay it. Your obedient serv't, A.B. CORLISS [[footnote 2]] Please take Notice.-The accredited Agents of this Association are able to present credentials of their appointment, bearing date since March, 1865. Mr. A.D. Watrous is not authorized to receive funds on our behalf.
