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and doing well in all respects.
As to wages, of course, no fixed prices can be arranged. To the Freedmen we say, "you want a home and clothes and kind treatment, and the people to whom I send you are such as will do well by you." Some of course are competent and readily act the highest of wages, good housemaids can get $9 and $10 per month, and men from $15 to $20 on farms, and $25 to $30 as house servants. But the matter of pay will regulate itself. As we are particular in regard to employers before we give them charge of these helpless strangers, & think that but little injustice is done. Some children are in families where they are regularly attending school with other (white) children of the household. We have put several families on farms, where the employer furnishes a house, garden, fuel &c, and gives employment to all members of the (freed) family and fair compensation. I could place hundreds of families in the same way, if we had them here.
As one or more of these ex slaves came to the office we make a careful record of their names, appending memoranda of parentage, former owners, occupation, birthplace &c, and the names of the parties to whom we send them.
By this list, we occasionally have some affecting meetings of long lost friends, brought together here from remote and different locations.
In treating them, we keep families together if possible. And distribute former acquaintances and relatives in the same neighborhood and vicinity, thus endeavoring to preserve and cherish