The colored American., 1900-09-15

!
SHOWS plainly that these boys, in favor
aOIe environment, are not different
from other boys. There age IS or 20
COWS and calves and many horses and
colts-among them some thorough
breds-as we'll as pigs and sheep. to
which the boys are much attached,
Feeding time when the cattle stand
l0ngingly about the barnyard, craning
their necks toward the stable door.
with merry faced set of youngsters in
their midst,1s Is picture Of rural simple
lty that can but Uplift them above their
unfortunate inheritance of race and
condition. There IS a genuine honey
| corner, where a long deal table does
service for childish elbows when study
time comes. On the walls are pictures
! or eminent men and battle scenes OF
| cOlOred soldiers wearing the blue and
! nghitng under the starry flag A hand
| some npOssum skin, the result of the
boys first hunt, is tackled against the
] amb There are huge split-bOttomed
rockers, and gEeat yaWning fireplace,
with room for an old fashioned back.
| log, that burns FROM Sunday morning
until Saturday night at the proper saa.
son, diffusing lis mellow glow through
out the room.
While every effort is made to yield
the influence and cultivate the sppreci'
alton OF genuine home life, there is d
strict routine laid down for each day,
and only sickn revents its being
carried out At 5 d. m. the boys are
up, and each dresses, washes and turns
his bed for airing. Aspecified number
Of them, those best adapted to it, then
assist in getting breakfast, which is
ready at o'clock. After breakfast Ge'
| tails Of boys in regular assignments
! perform the dining-rOOm and dOrmItOry
work, while o hers enjoy an hour Of rec
| re6tiOn. AT 80 the regular morning
military drill takes place, and then they
go TO the school room for two hours
study and recitation. After that all
but the sick and those assigned to spe-
cial duty about the Rouse, yard and
Outbuildings go to the fields. At 10 the
great farm bell calls them all in, and
dinner is served, few Of the boys wait
ing on the others. This Is followed by
| an hour Of rest and recreation, and then
| half the boys return to the SchOOIrOOm
and the detail OF the other half 90 to
| the fields. supper comes at 80, and
that ever they rest and play until
O'Clock, when Mr.. Evans, tue perrin
tendent, calls them into the evening
assembly for an informal talk and re-
| ligiOus exercises and MUSIC. AT 80
! they all go up stairs to their clean Deds.
| The Sundays age spent with simple re
! ligious exercises, reading, talking and
quiet intercourse All possible work is
avoided on that day.
In all the work of house and farm the
| boys help perform the duties. enter
them freely and willingly, and appreci'
ate the plaudit of well dOne.' It is
wonderful TO Ob-erve the aptitude W hich
these children OF the gutter show for
special kinds Of work, and the marvel
OUs way in which they respond TO the
affection and example and instruction
of tneir teachers, all of which Is new to
their former experiences. The house
boy is not at loss Ia the fields, and vice
versa. An effort is made as far as pos
sible 10 give to each boy the duties for
which be is best adapted Just now
they are laying in wood for the winter
nights, when. instead of sinking up
cod, dark alleys, they start q roaring
fire in the great open mOuthed fireplace
and pop corn raised by their own in
dustry, end crack nuts gathered IN idle
moments, listen TO stories sing songs
and talk until turning in time Visions
of pumpkin pie make their mouths Wa
ter as they gather In the golden fruit :;
ard in the cOrnfields, where they watch
with wonder understanding for the
first time-the oncoming crop from the
time OF the fIesh'tuTned earth, until
the corn stands shocked ready for husk
ing; the thought of great squares OF
hot corn bread quickens their apprecIa-
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