The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-31

AMERICAN UNIoN COMMISSION OF PENN
sYLvANIA AND NEW JERsEY.-The following ex'
tracts have been made from a letter addressed
to the Secretary by Miss H. N. Phillips, one of
the ladies employed in the service of the So
ciety:--
ATLANTA, Ca, July, 1s44.-Dear Friend:-
Could you step into our home just now, you
would lind us busy as usual. As some of the
teachers have been writing you of the schools,
/ will pass on to other matters.
This morning spent in visiting the families
oil some OF the most destitute scholars and
wished for a few hundred dollars, that l might
minister to the wants of the sick and suffering
around me.
The widow Banes family was second on my
list. Two OF her little girls we're sick, and the
mother scarcely able to sit up. The helpless
daughter told me she was hungry all the time,
and thought ii she could get enough to eat, she
would soon be able to go to school. | promised
to send her a slate and pencil the next day. /
then went home and prepared basket OF pro-
visions suited TO their wants. Mrs. Banes re-
marked, 81 know the dehcacies your money
has furnished is saving the lives of my
The next family visited was a poor delicate
mother, and bright little girl of nine years; both
had smallpox in the sp. ing, and have not been
well since. The mother is almost blind; their
poverty is extreme, | cannot describe it,
The next was family of the Rays whose
children attend our school. Here l lound the
mother in her coffin, ready for burial, two OF
the little girls were being carried to the City
Hospital quite sick; four other children gath
cred around the liieless body OF their mother.
The next shanty visited was occupied by Mr.
Lee and family. Mr.. and Mrs. Lee are quite in
telligent, and think about as refined as any
persons | have met with in the South Mr.. Lee
was always a strong Union man, aud greatly
prosecuted before he could get out OF the State.
The family reiugeed to Nashville. | knew them
there. When they returned to Atlanta with a
family of nine children, they found their house
in ruins, and had to live in a tent for three
months, during which time it was very wet.
MIR. Lee was taken sick, and has now been con.
fined to his shanty for five months, and every
member of his family has been quite sick.
Robert, his son, ten years old, died short time
since We furnished his burial clothes.
EeXt visited an old lady, who began to apollo
gize TOR having sent for me; said it was hunger
forced her to do it. Her daughter, never very
strong, had taken a severe cold when they
reiugeed, and lost her sight She has been
blind three years, but had never asked assist.
ance until now. The blind girl knit, and thus
supported herself; but lately they could not sell
the work. They have also sold articles of better
days, until now almost every comfort and con-
venience Is gone. / expended two dollars for
them, and bought some OF their work tor dis
tributlon.
These instances will furnish you with some
idea of our work among this impoverished
people.
The following is list of articles issued to
white children attending the free schools estab-
lIshed by the American Union Commission of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey: - Coats, "a;
pants 2O2; shirts, 1873; pairs of shoes, 1l2;
dresses, 2j4; skirts, 1853; chemises, 20l; drawers
10; sacques, 45; shawls, Is; bonnets, 13; aprons
u; waists, Is; vests, 20; pairs OF hose 81 hand
kerchiets, 3S; caps, 40; neck-ties 6 pairs OF sus-
penders, 4; combs, 4; Testaments, Sunday School
papers. tracts, ETC., 234.
Respectfully, H. N. PHILLIPS.
Samuel V. Merrick, ESQ.,, President; Joseph
Parker, Esq, Secretary, No. 1910 Chestnut
street. William Struthers Esq, Treasurer,
No. 1920 Market street.