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96

8.

of Schools for themselves and their children does not abate. They are generally willing to do all in their power to help themselves, and there are many instances of remarkable sacrifice to secure the benefit of the Schools. [[strikethrough]] More than half of the pupils in the school at Louisa CH, live more than three miles from the school house, many of them walking from five to eight miles to school every morning and returning home at night. At Gordonsville two girls walk nine miles to school every morning, and home again in the afternoon. This they have been doing for two years, except in the muddiest weather, when they faithfully prepare their lessons at home. They have become advanced scholars and will [[strikethrough]] now [[/strikethrough]] soon be good teachers. There are seven boys attending the same school, whose homes are in Barboursville, seven miles distant, with "Peters Mountain" intervening, which they cross twice a day. Such facts are sufficient evidence that the freedman desire Schools and will improve the opportunities offered them. [[/strikethrough]]
Bureau Officers The Bureau officers and agents have, with few exceptions, been interested and laborious in promoting education, and without their presence, encouragement and advice, the large number of nearly self-sustaining schools, now in operation in rural localities, could not have been established and could not be continued. 

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