Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-22

For the Green Mountain freeman.
Letter from Miss Fidelia CObnrn.

door for me to leave, and Br. Wilson consentlng,
each desiring the greateat amount of good to
this despised and abused and neglected people, |
mos chcertully embraced the opportunity, ac-
companied by Charles Golpin, a student from
Oberlin, who visited the Province for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the condition of the colored
people.
had no motive but to satisfy myself where |
could be most useful, and if at Dawn was ready
to return there again. Had | remained, | should
haveGeceived my daily sustinence (Which was all
| d~eseryed) and without care had my daily labor
marked out, enjoying at the same time many of
the comforts of life. Whereas, on leaving, |
absolved Br. Wilson from all expense, responsi-
bility or care, feeling that he had then far
greater burden than he was able to bear, and
subjected myself to very great inconvenience
Our steps were directed to new settlement cal
led Queens Bush. 1t was Clergy reserved lands,
to be sold by the Government in due time and
the avalls to 60 to the clergy. The colored peo-
pile, having frequently gone on to land, and be-
ing driven off petitioned the government for land
on which they might remain unsold, until 1t
came into market, and then purchase, if able,
and even directed to this plan. There are four
townships Of land, and it is settled by English,
Dutch, Scoth, Irish, Africans and Americans,
but it has so happened that each nation have to
a considerable extent, located together. The
climate is healthy, though cold, being about
43 I-2 degrees N. lat. and 3 l-2 degrees West
long. from Washington, The soil is very fertile,
though being a very heavy hard wood growth
it is a slow and laborious operation to pre-
pare it for a crop, especially under the dlsad-
vantages which this poor and destitute people
labor. There we're about rs colored families
in this settlement, mostly Americans, which had
been driven by cruelty and oppression, to burs:
asunder the chains that bound them in their own
native land, and seek an asylum among stran-
gers, in a Foreign country. There are now
about 200 families in the settlement. We spent
about 2 weeks in visiting from house to house,
that we might be the better prepared 70 decide
what was best to be done, and if anything, how
to do it. Having been there but a short time
their openings were smaIl-little log cabins with
but one room and mostly without %chlmneys or
glass, and the inmates poor and needy, though a
~ p+oatY nc children which needed instruction.
None had raised their bread but in part, and pro-
visions must be obtained BY day labor, from con-
siderable distance and packed in, as most were
destitute Of teams. | sympathized with them
and though knew that many difficulties and
trials were to be encountered and that they
could not even board me, | decided to take up
my residence with them. A log house was
nearly prepared for school, though with but one
window and that paper instead of glass, and 9TH
erwise uncomfortable, | engaged to teach for
nothing and find myself 8 months, hoping by
that time they would be able to sustain teacher.
Br Golpin put up a room of logs on one end of
a house nearest the school, chinked it with
wood and corked it with moss-made a small
sheet iron box stove to warm it and cook by,
some benches, table &c. Sent to Dawn for my
clothing, bedding, and some Boxes of clothing
sent by friends which [ had not disposed of, and
which, in some measure, prepared the children
for school. Being short for means, We lived on
boiled peas sailed, and bread, cooking the peas
in a tin pale on the top Of the stove, and baking
my bread in a tin baker sitting against the sides
the NO accompanying my cooking establish
ment. However ] was very comfortabIe-Gal
more so than any body around me, and | was
happy, which is the real Panacea to make one
comfortable.
We thought it best to select a lot on which
to establish a permanent school, eventually to be
of a higher order than the common schools, if
needed-and to be a kind of Missionary station
"a house for teachers, and a resort for visitors.
A four corner lot, in the centre Of the town and
where it would be likely to be the centre of bu-
%siness, three and a half miles from my present
location, was selected. and Br. Galpin, conclu-
ding to stop till navigation opened, when he had
leisure from other engagement, chopped 5 or &
acres. About the time Br. Galpin left d man
who was supposed to be trusty, took the last
money | had, a 90 dollar bill, to change into
Canada currency, as he was going near the
American shore, and he rau away. Such were
the circumstances connected with this, that ]
could but believe that the Lord had some wise
purpose to accomplish, though the man was not
the less guilty. Thus | was left alone, among
strangers, nearly 200 miles from former &C
quaintances, and 800 from home, destitute Of
means, and about four dollars in debt. Howev.
er | felt that the earth was the Lords and the
sfulness thereof,-that the gold and silver were
his, and that he would turn the hearts of the chill
dren of men and direct as much to me as he saw
best. 1.-The saw that more good could be accom-
plished by my being left in this situation wa
willing-willing the Lord should take his owl
way, if that people could only be raised iron
that state ofignorance in which they then were
and prepared for usefulness in the common walk
of life.
For nearly four months, | sustained mysel
by my own efforts, though my school and othe
duties occupied most of the day, (ofen workini
most of the mighty yet feeling that I was sustain
ell as was Elijah seeing the hand of God il
opening the way to obtain provisions for work
/ was always supplied without care or anxiety
feeling entire confidence in my Heavenly Fathe