Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-04-10

We take pleasure in giving to the friend
in Walpole, N. H., and elsewhere lettes
received recently from Miss H. j. Gibson.
Mt SELINDA, EAST AFRICA,
January 10, 1897.
NY Dear Home Friends: 1t is inspiring
to think that this has been the most impor-
tant day which the ages have ever broug ut
to this region A visible church OF the
living God was organized this morning
with membership Of Is, including a son
and daughter of one of the American
missionaries and the son of one OF the
Zulu evangelists. Twenty-four presented
themselves as candidates but some had
only been here few months, had become
interested at their home in the Lowlands,
as they had heard the message from boys
who had been here but have had very little
instruction and though many of them wit
messed a good confession very little is
known of their life and it was thought
| wiser for them to wait little.
wish you could have looked in upon
us, company of about so, in the new
building which serves for school and chapel
purposes. The floor is of clay, the tim
bers of the roof are poles from the adjoln-
ing forest, the grass with which the root
| is matched was taken from old huts as it
was too late in the season to cut, especially
after the unusual grass fires which ragged
in September and October. Even with
the help of sail cloth on the ridge pole the
rain comes through, as we found this morn
ing, when the communion table had to be
moved twice and there was small water
tall on the front of the chimney. Instead
of glass windows the four openings have
unbleached cloth. On the east side this
cloth is tackled on the window frames or
the west made it into curtains, putting
small rings on the sides; when it rains
they can be fastened to tacks in the frames
Most of the time we can have them up anc
the room is much brighter and pleasanter
d Mrs. Wilder has been ill and as it was the
first time she had been out rocking chail
was carried over for her; the rest of thu
audience sat on camp stools, or the spill
log seats.
The clothing represented great variet,
of STYLES. Clio Wilder had on prett,
gingham which was sent to her for Christ
mas, 1894, the box reached here just befor
Christmas, 1895, and the gown was worl
h for the fist time Christmas, 1896. Th
: native boys were in various states of dres
and undress, some had fairly respectabl
looking trousers and coats One boy, VIII
: wore only loin cloth, is young chief
The collection amounted to S13. Man
of these boys are earning more than so. 5
per month besides their board but the
gave from 25 cents to 81 cents eacl
Many of these boys have suffered not
little persecution from their friends becaus
they have forsaken the worship of the
ancestor, will not smoke hemp or drin
beer. One boy first heard from CARRIE
who had been with our missionaries, a ver
little OF what these white men were talking
Another heard Zulu evangelist in his b.
at night praying.
II Now tor two months food is very scar,
and last Tuesday five Of those who joint
the church, with seven others, left for the
home in the Lowlands, five days journ'
nearer the coast They will probab
return when the green food is ready to ca
was sorry to have them 60 SO soon aft
the school had commenced but / hope tn
may spread the truth still more widely al
very likely when they return they W
bring others with them. Now there a
+. II scholars in the morning school and
in the afternoon. l spend most of {
morning in school and Miss Jones wi
l. that of the afternoon.
Mr.. Wilder went to Chikoie for t.
days this week. A settler went with b
and kindly loaned him horse. A "a
doctor has been making trouble thel
The people are trying to depose their Oh
and make this young man chief.
II. j. GIBSON.