Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-06-10

early TO the Methodist Church on Hancock
street, where one OF the eolured schools are held.
Very few, had as yet arrived. Sitting at the
side door observed old couple of fifty or sixty
years Of age, each OF whom held little primer
IN hand, into which they were intently peerIng,
and by the aid OF the dim twilight were en-
deavoring to master their first Lesson in letters.
Approaching them asked . How do you get
aloug with your book ?" Z" o, master, we is
trying right hard, but get on slow. Don't
you know how to read /? asked. " No, but
we wants to, master, very mucn We wants TO
learn more dan we does TO eat good dinner
when We is hungry we want to learn 50 dat
we can read de Word Of God said the man.
In few minutes the pupils began too come in.
They came-young, old and mdie-aged, male
and lemale-and quietly took seats, filling the
body OF the house. as we'll as the galleries, and
numbering five or six hundred. In front OF the
altar were sixteen bright and wakeiul little
boys OF from eight to twelve years, ranged on
two benches, and confronting the lesson OF the
evening, which had been written upon sheet
IN large letters and hung over the pulpit
Love your enemies bless them that curse
you ; do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them mat despitefully use you and perse-
cute you. Matt jth CHI
When all had become scared, Mr. Colyer gave
out the Sabbath school hymn
- JoyfGlly, joygally, onward we move"
which was sung with earnest pathos by the
Whole congregation.
During the prayer, when incidental reference
was made to the closing of the school, sob was
heard III all parts Of the house. That single
sentence dashed all hopes, and sent pang to
Pa - a
that during the six week the schools had been
opened, no disorder had occurred, and not the
slightest complaint had been made by the au-'
thorites The schools had been uniformly
closed before the hour OF guard mounting,
though by this course they had been obliged 10
assemble at an inconyonent hour, leaving their
WORK at the lUrtlhcalion aud on the bridge, fire.
quently without their suppers, in order 10 be
early at the school They had made rapid pro-
gress, over one hundred, only few days since,
having been selected as teachers, who cOod read
with facility, and the remainder were able, alter
a few minutes instruction, to read the common
lesson. He alluded to the iact that three or
four hundred of them had been engaged upon
one work-the iurt-and that no disturbance
had occurred, not a fight had taken place among
them. Meantime they ha lived in most neon
yenlent places, generally kitchens and outbuild.
ngs IN The town, crowded together in unhealthy
aud irritating circumstances.
" These schools said the speaker, 9 are now
to be closed, not by the officers Of the army {,
under whose sanction they have been cominen-
ced, but by the necessity laid upon nae by Gov.
Stsnly, who has informed me that IL is a erimi-
nal offence, under the laws Of North Carolina.
to teach the blacks to read which laws be has
come from Washington with Instructions to en-
force"
The teacher SAID be hoped the schools would
be closed only tor short time, and exhorted
them to submit patiently To the deprivation. like
good law-abldng people, such As they had al
ways proved themselves to be- Those who fol-
lowed tue injunction before them on The pulnlt,
and trusted IN the Saviour, who had given the
command, would not only have this blessing re-
stored to them but must, ultimately, enjoy even
greater blessings than this.
The old people dropped their heads upon their
breasts and wept IN silence the young looked
at each other with mute surprise and griel at
this sudden termination of their bright hopes.
1t was a sad and impressive spectacle Mr.. Col
yer himself could hardly conceal his emotion
a few moments OF silence followed, when, as il
by one impulse. the whole audience rose and
sang, with mourntuI cadence, = Praise God
from whom ali blessings aow, and then shook
hands and parted.
The school at the Baptist Church. where the
more advanced scholars were placed, was closed
in similar manner.