St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-08-25
Africa.
LETTER FROM MISS NJ. W. TYLER.

LETTER FROM MISS VI. W. TYLER.
As | write. the sweet sound of a
beautiful HYMN. dear to Zulu hearts,
floats out on the clear evening air. 1t
is similar, we think, tO"What a Friend
we have in Jesus" and is sung to a
new rhythmical tune. Such hymn
as this, telling of our blessed Saviour
as a friend ever near and helpful, could
not once have been sung in this dark
land and it is with JOY that we see
these former benighted heather enjoy
ing words so precious and comforting
TO us all.
The singers voices are more care
fully mOdulated than many we hear,
because they are possessed of the thlr-
" teachers from the various mission
schools. who have come to this station
To learn better how to teach and to
gain useful hints for their work, as well
a. stimulus and inspiration. Imagine
ten white teachers and three times as
many black ones at a teachers con-
ventiOn, and think of all the topics
brought up at such an occasion, like
GLOW To Organize "A School, Methods
of Keeping Small Children Employed"
BEST Methods of Teaching, Reading"
etc, and YOU may be able to see us
more plainly. We meet in Mrs. Ed
wards schoOl-roOm, and Rev. II. Good
enough, who has lately come out, Is
the organizer of this institute, or con-
VcntiOn.
Some of the teachers are very inter
esting, and all are interested, although
the sessions are many and long. just
fancy one at halfpast six i'll the morn
ing lasting until eight one from ten
to twelve, third from three to five i'll
the afternoon and a fourth after tea,
including queries and drill i'll singing.
1t is wearisome to the body but joyful
to the mind, to watch the eagerness
and attention, and to see the thoughts
kindlc and illuminate the faces and
it is specially gratifying to me to find
that so many are Christians, and anX-
ions to make their schools truly Chris
tian schools. My topics have been
"Gymnastics,n GLOW to Write Mum
beers and GLOW to Amuse Little Chill
drcn, and keep them interested and
profitably occupied during other reel
tations - so that have had compare
lively little to do, and have had time
to listen. All my kindergarten knowl-
edge is great help here.
have also spent some time with
Rev Mr.. Richards, looking over his
curiosities from Umzila's Country, and
hearing of his trip there. How won
derfully God is opening this land. Ii
is interesting to hear how bright and
ingenious Umzila's people are. TheiI
beadwork, in beauty of design, excels
any that our Iulus make, and their ma
tive dresses, of skins, are more elabO-
rate than any that we see here. The
varieties of cotton cloth used for barter
interested me. Those with red mar
gins can never he worn by women, N
that is il color denied to the weaker
sex. The articles of commerce, brought
to the coast in largest quantities, con
sist of cylindrical rolls of gutta-percha
which Oozcs not from trees, but from
vines that Irvine and coil across the
road. Mr.. Richards found them i'll {
leatless state, and the twenty miles %
rubber-vine, or bush, through which
he passed was the most difficult par
of his route. Occasionally he would rid,
on his donkey through seven or eight
coils OF twists of the same vine.
Everything hear of that new lane
makes me quite enthusiastic to hea
more. The population must be quite
dense, and they are inclined TOWARD
civilization so we trust that Chris
tianity may he speedily received. l
was pathetic to hear of UmZila's JOY
and interest when Mr.. Richards hand
ed him Testament. He had neve
seen book before, and he touched it
and looking closely at the well-wOrl
binding, and turned it over and over
Mr.. Richards told him to open it. Ill
seemed to think it was box, and eX
pressed great amazement when Nh
Richards turned the leaves one by one
Mr.. Richards read to him some of TIL
words of love and instruction in it, AM
said il was his wish to come to hi
land and teach his people of Christ
UmZila replied Come, and show mt
too, how to read this book. Whit
men and travellers have come and gone
have been over my kingdom, but Ii
one has ever given or shown me a boo
before Can you picture it-an Afr
can monarch for the first time learnin
the uses and the value of a book, an
that very book being the creates
treasure we have Oh earth-the word
of our Lord. our blessed Redeemer!
1t has been pleasure to have thi
teachers association here at lnandi
in the old station hallOwed by so man
memories, and specially dear to me a
being the scene of Mrs. Lindley's la
bors. Her name is treasured in man
heart, and though dead she VI
speaketh," in many "A renewed life
Mrs. Edwards and Miss Price have Civ
en- us very cordial greetings, an
their words have been listened to wit
great respect and attention.
LateI.-The meeting is over an
God grant that great good may aris
in all our schools from our being to
gether The votes of thanks were orig
inal, hearty, and earnest. One ma
rose on tip-tOe, stretched out bot
hands, and said, II thank you for CON
ing. with my whole body" The
parting words were strong, apprecia
tive, enthusiastic. One expressed sill
cere gratitude for his food and goo
bed. as well as his intellectual hell
Mrs. Edwards had the closing sessiO
III charge, and | am sure none of thOs
assembled can ever forget her cOncis,
faithful, earnest address. 1t was ca
culated to aid and strengthen, to stin
ulate and encourage, every one Lii
and Light.
Webster and the south.