"The fields are white already to harvest." Great is the opportunity of
the rich and enlightened churches. The helpfulness of our schools to my
people and to the country, is beyond calculation. Our missionary
schools are like so many lighthouses along this dark belt of the Union.
Their light is being reflected by thousands of colored youth who without
these schools would have grown up in gross ignorance.

This brings to mind an incident of my life, which now I believe was
providential. Seventeen years ago, when my education was very limited,
while working in a restaurant, I visited Talladega College and was
deeply impressed with the school, and the intelligence and advancement
of the boys. I decided that I would enter school immediately, and did
so, though my money was scarce and a few weeks before I had agreed to
continue work in the restaurant at twelve dollars per month, board and
bed furnished. That was good wages for a boy of my age, but I know now
that giving it up and going to school was a thousand times higher wages
for me. I felt my imperfections so keenly then I was ashamed to talk to
the boys in the college. The stimulation for an education, which I
received on that visit to Talladega College has never left me. I regard
it most fortunate for an ignorant young man to visit our best schools.

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THE INDIANS


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