transportation for an assistant as readily as for myself alone. My
school vacation was fully occupied in preparing for the following
academic year, and in looking for a congenial companion to share with
me in this work,--one who was willing to sacrifice all upon our
country's altar.




CHAPTER XI.

SANITARY WORK.


We found a necessity for organized work, and formed a Freedmen's
Relief Association, in Detroit, with Captain E. B. Ward, president;
Rev. William Webb, vice-president; Benjamin C. Durfee, secretary; and
Francis Raymond, treasurer. These did what they could in gathering
supplies in that city for me to take South the coming Autumn. Brother
Aldrich was engaged to act as principal of Raisin Institute, and this
gave me leisure to hold meetings in towns and county school-houses for
soliciting help for my Southern work. During vacation our two halls
were made ready for opening the Academic Year, as usual, on the first
Wednesday in September, 1863-4. The school, though smaller than before
the war, opened with fair prospects, and I felt at liberty to leave.
The institution, being in competent hands, I obtained as a companion
in labor one of the most devoted of Christian woman, my dear sister,
Letitia Backus, of Pittsford, Michigan. With a car-load of supplies we
left our homes for fields of greatest suffering, where least help was
found. Well furnished with documents from our governor, Austin P.