These are not 'the words of soberness,' probably, but the enthusiasm
with respect to the re-opening of school is beyond all expectation."
Five teachers have been sent and more are called for.

Our teachers in Troy, N.C., write us: "Can you not send us a pastor?
There is such an earnest need of one. We really do not think the work
here can prosper unless we have a pastor. We do the best we can. The
prayer meetings are all well attended, but it makes one's heart fail, to
think of these 'sheep without a shepherd.' The work is very absorbing.
Is there no one you could send here, if only for a time?"

Through certain interferences with one of our schools at the South, on
the part of some ambitious people there, it seemed at one time that we
should feel it a necessity to reduce the grades and place two or three
teachers in some other schools which are calling on us for help. We
telegraphed them to remain, however, and the result is thus given: "Your
telegram came this afternoon and the children were half wild when they
got out of the school-house, running up and down the streets to tell the
good news. A company of them met the chairman of the local school board,
whom they did not regard as altogether friendly, and they shouted to
him, 'We have got our teachers! We have got our teachers! The man says
they can stay.' One old auntie came this afternoon to say, 'I'se heerd
how they is trying to get the teachers away and I prayed and prayed to
the good Lord to keep 'em.' Some of the boys are waist-deep in the water
after clams to get their fifty cents for their week's tuition. It has
been a great joy to me to see the character of the people when the
unfriendly ones tried to break us up. They have shown much thought and
ability, and they win our hearts by their faith in God."

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