The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1854-09-09
For the Carolin:an.
Quarterly Report Of Colportage
BY wM. J. W. CRowDEE.

another three months in his earthly vineyard
Through excessive heat, in great debility, and
at times, severe suffering of body, have passed
most OF that time, being supported and cheered
sees and cares fer us all. | have been enabled
to visit, talk on personal religion pray with
526 families, of whom 81 were destitute Of all
religious books but the Bible; IL destitute Of
the Bible, and 80 hahitually negecting the
house of God; aided in holding Il religious
SOLD 939 volumes, worth 5000 10;
and gave away 34y Volumes worth $40 so
About 400 of these families | visited a year
ago. and it is highly gratifying to see the i'm
provement that so many have made in obtain
ing knowledge, and the manifest disposition to
continue improving. Many who then only took
a Tract Primmer' at 10 cents, and frequently
1T given, on my second visit bought from one to
four dollars worth. In one neighborhood three
mothers and two fathers besides several chill
dren, have learned to spell and read from this
precious little volume And in another neigh
borhood there are 80 children over years old
who then knew not the alphabet, and most of
whom never heard Il sermon prayer; all of
these now know the alphabet many of them can
spell III one and two syllables and some of the
oldest, II and Is years old, can now begin to
read, and are able to answer most of the cues
tions in the first catcchsm l was.lso forciblv
struck at their asking me so many questions
about u Od and Heaven. AS there is no church
suitably near for this people to attend, there
will in short time be good house erected, in
which to have Sabbath school and regular
preaching. Several experienced persons five
miles off have consented to go and aid in this
Sabbath school. How delighted these children
two fathers of these children promised to go to
this school to learn to spell and read, two OF
whom learned most of the alphabet on my last
visit
After being kindly received by an obscure
and destitute family, had a pleasant talk with
the father, mother, and little children, the
oldest about 9, and then gave them the first
Bible they ever owned, and also the "Prmmer"
from which l began to read and talk, and soon
each one said, II wish l could read" Learn
ing from them that they once could spell, !
drew near them and spent sometime spelling
with them, and instructing them to read. AZ
ter reading a chapter from their new Bible and
praying with them, that mother with tears in
her eyes said, yours is the first religious visit
ever made to house, and that is the first
prayer made in the hearing OF clil-
dren. | want you to come to see us often for
we'll be glad to sec you if we are wicked people"
They had not been to church in two years
Since my visit | have the husband at
preaching twice; and he his wife and oldest
child, are now being instructed to spell and
read by an individual of piety and intelligence
have aided in forming two promising Sabbath
schools in very destitute sections. Two Of the
scholars are NJ. and A, aged 6 and IA. The
mother of these children l found drunk; also
her child A, who was lying on the floor in one
corner, pllowcd with an oren-iid. l found NJ.
had good mind and fine disposition, and seemed
deeply grieved at their condition, not being
able to spell or read, and seldom ever having
been at church. l found others near 10y in near
ly as destitute condition. Aid afforded
them in preparing them for Sabbath school,
and on the second Sabbath they all walked
together to the school in nice order and fine
spirits. How striking is the contrast in the
case of A., who two weeks previous was lying
drunk, plllowed with an orcm-ld, but now is
seen walking steadily, with combed hair clean
face and hands, neat new clothes, to the Sab
bath school to learn about Jesus! young
minister of much promise recently said to me
about as follows: Sir l entertain feelings of
lasting gratitude for you, regarding you
instrument in Gods hands of bringing me into
the ministry. For when there was sore strug
gle as to my taking up this cross, l wen. to
where your books were spread out, and heard
you speak of the perishing hundreds and search
ty of laborers, which rested with weight on my
mind and l bought 'D'Aubigne's History Of
the Reformation the reading of which deepen
ed my Impressions, SO that before had closed
the first volume l was filed with the spirit that
fired Lnthers soul, and | at once hung my all
upon the cross of Christ as His minister"
At a recent meeting many have been hope
fully converted. One fine young lady,
who says that my visit to her fathers house,
about seven months ago, afforded the means OF
her awakening. She, soon after my visit, made
known her feelings and purpose to five OF her
associates, all Of whom covenanted with God to
seek salvation, and they have all now found
pardon and peace.
The Female Tract Distributors of Raleigh
are truly devoted to their ''work of faith and
labor of love-" in leaving tract monthly with
every family in the city, talking with, aiding.
encoura ging, and instructins; such are in need
of it, 1t is highly gratifying to know that they
are, generally, very kindly received, and that
their labors are highly appreciated by the citi-
zens and owned and blessed of G cd. A young
man of standing recently said to me, ''The
Tract on Ardent Spirits, distributed by the
Female Tract Society," was placed in my hands,
which / read and it fully convinced me of my
ruinous course and [ determined to abandon
the use of liquor entirely beverage, which
have done up to the present, and shall con-
tinue to do so' This tract has also been the
means of reforming dissipated young man in
the country, to whom it was sent by friend
A prominent man told me that he intended to
be standing colporteur, to keep on hand and
distribute that tract written by Dr. Edwards.
and l let him have good supply A family of
high standing, who made fashionable use of
liquors, told me that this tract had convinced
them OF the great error in using it, even in that
way. The tract, "a visit to your Family" !" has
been the means Of father commencing family
prayer. And a young man said, II never had
such views Of Eternity, my approach to 1T, ana
my foolishy spent time, as since read ene
mi Il sfv,I RI