The Portland daily press., 1866-04-10
The Freedmen of the South.

LILO = IooeluSu OF the SOuG0.T tig ..ffH
THE following extracts are from private
letter, written under date of Of March 10
from Fernandina, Fla, by young lady who
is-engaged there in the labor of teaching the
freedmen: i
We have have tried to distribute all our
clothing with discrimination, giving to those
who are most needy, as we have not enough
for all; always making an exception in favor
of the aged and those who attend school
In all cases, we have visited the families to
ascertain for ourselves their true condition
and there are many families of children who
are absolutely too naked to come to school.
Our schools still continue to improve. You
can see the progression tow ards civilization in
the altered glance, which at first is always
afraid to meet your own, in the more distinct
utterance and louder voice, the more erect
bearing and firmer step, as the consciousness
slowly dawns upon these children that they
are human beings and responsible only to
themselves and God. Some of the little ones
are very quick in thought and speech: others
just emerging from plantation life, seem to
have no idea beyond eating and drinking;
their minds are as dark as the BLACKLIST night
and time only, that great enlghtener, will dis
perse the shadows. was talking with lit
tie girl about ten years old, who has recently
come here, and trying to teach her lesson
for Sunday School, 1 asked her what day
Sunday was, and what people did on that day.
She said people ,oorked, !" and that was all the
idea she had about Sunday; though it was
true enough in her case, for the Sabbath was
all the day that the slaves had for themselves
to cook or do anything else.
Here is another idea which may be new to
you Acolored woman living with gentle
man, said to him when he demonstrated with
her on her late hours and late fires, telling
her he was afraid she might set the house on
fire: "The night was made for the colored
people, and the white folks has no business to
NEEDLE with them; they have all the day for
themselves, but let 'em leave the night for the
colored people," sasa,,l5.i.' Z ~ -. l't
In that box of books you sent me, there was
a large Bible directed to "The oldest colored
person who can read" 1 gave it to Aunt Pa
mela, an old woman of seventy, who has an
idiot son over thirty years old. She is very
destitute, but is such happy Christian it is
pleasure to visit her. She fought herself to
acrite after she acas si9ty gears old; she knew
how to read. She was very grateful and sent
her "prayers" and BLESSINGS" to her friends at
the North who were so kind to her. She is
entirely dependent, as she has had stroke of
paralysis which renders one of her arms al
most useless at times, and all her care and at
tention are needed for her son, who is perfect
ly harmless, but must be cared for like little
child. 1.i.0t hla
There is one very happy old couple who
live near us, and whose great delight is in
hearing the Bible read, and whose thanks for
this little act of kindness are perfectly over
whelming. There is quite q large lot adjoin-
ing their shanty, which the old man cultivates
almost wholly himself, sitting in his chair. 1
watched him day before yesterday at his work,
hoeing as far. as he could reach, then rising
and moving his chair and hoeing another spot,
and so on until he hoes the whole field. and
then plants in the same way. give you this
as an example of "These niggers who would
rather starve than work p - -
There seems to be a storm gathering here
which will burst over our heads before long.
The rebels here are perfectly rampant over
their..successes, and are conducting themselves
in such way that we are all on the lookout
for "breakers ahead" Two of our churches
were given up last week, and many of the
Union men have been ordered out of their
houses by the Sheriff, and a great many ne
gro families have been turned out of doors,
and have not place to go to, and many of
tnem sick. Our only dependence is in our
Union Mayor, who has just been elected, to the
surprise of everybody.
All the rebels fully endorse Johnson's poll
cy, and one OF them, a Judge and man of note
here before the war, said the other dav
johnson has got his heel on the neck of the
Senate, and we need have no fear now for our
rights"