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Bolivar, Tenn.
Feb. 23rd, 1867.

Mr. D. Burt

Dear Sir

I should have answered your letter before this, but having just lost my darling little only daughter I have not felt like writing upon any subject. I have had a meeting of my vestry who are among the first citizens of the place and all of whom (though two were absent from town at the time of the meeting) heartily approve my efforts and promise to do all they can to help me.

I send enclosed their written assurance to that effect as well as a statement by Mr. John D. [[Ussery?]] Agt. F. Bureau &c. which I trust you will find satisfactory. I would urge you to appropriate at least $500 but you seem to have determined upon $300 as the maximum. I have, too, made other efforts & have pledges which will enable me with the aid of $300 from you to complete the building in a plain way and then a school can & will be sustained without the least difficulty. I am going on with the work right away. Since I wrote you some more citizens have subscribed something & Col. M.T. Polk who was with Gen. Howard at West Point has promised me to furnish the school with wood for at least one year. I assure you this the only effort in the entire county that is being made for the education of freedmen-

Since writing the above I have learned that you are a minister and surely I can appeal to you in the more earnestly in behalf