Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-05-03

upon small brook that was the receipt
acle of the offal from the enemy's camp,
situated a short distance above. This
was their only supply, except the small
amount procured by digging holes in the
ground, until in August, 1864, when a
spring of pure water burst forth from
the dry, sandy hillside within the stock
ade. This was named "Providential
Spring" and it appeared to our poor
men as much an interposition of God to
preserve their lives as when he by the
hand of Moses. slaked the consuming
thirst of the Israelites at the rock of
Horeb.
1t would be impossible, were it not
worse than useless, to describe our feel
ings as we walked through this city of
the dead, and trod the soil, every foot of
which was moistened by the tears and
Redeemed by the blood of so many patri-
OTIS. What those 10000 heroes suffered
during the fourteen months they were
shut up in the stockade, without tree,
shelter or blanket, faint from sickness
and the pestilential air, scorched, drench-
ed, Knocked, hungered, starved-let us
not draw the picture, but cover it up as
too appalling for mortal sight, and COM
NIT the decision of the cause to the
righteous Judge of all the earth.
As slavery is the cause of all the
trouble between the North and the South,
it will not be inappropriate to close this
letter with reference to the condition
and prospects of its former Victims
Though not as eager as at the close Of
the war to acquire an education, the
colored people are making commendable
efforts to this end, in all the places |
have visited. A freedmen's school, num-
bering about 250 pupils, is maintained
in this city by the American Missionary
Association. 1t is taught by white la.
dies from the North, and is partly sup
ported by the parents of the children,
who pay from so cents to 81 monthly,
for their tuition.
There are also schools connected with
many of the colored churches. Of these
the largest and probably the most sue.
cessful, is under the charge of Mrs
Smith, (white) and is held in the Meth.
odist church. Another large and flour.
ishing school is taught by the wife (col
ored) of an elder of the Presbyterian
church. All these are sustained by the
money paid by the pupils, except q
small sum given by the country for the
education of orphans. In this way 6O(
colored children are being instructed
and when we consider the former condi
ton and present poverty of their pa
rents, truly their efforts to elevate
themselves must be regarded as worthy O
all praise. From the whites, either with
i'll or without the churches, they receiv,
but little sympathy or encouragement
and still less assistance. They are il
need of almost everything. 1t will b,
many years before they can be supplied
with suitable teachers of their own race
for their schools, and an educated minis
try for the pulpits of their numerous
churches. To these people the christian
men and women of the North shoult
evince greatly increased liberality, ant
all their contributions, if judiciously be
slowed, would result in untold blessings
The field is most promising, and tn
fruits are abundant, which every earnes
worker is enabled to see and l hope ant
pray that our own beloved Church ma,
ere long understand her great opportu
nifty, engage in this work in name
somewhat commensurate with her abilit,
and her duty Cor. ~. y Observer.
TIT FOR TAT.-Mr. Elisha w. Cook