The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-08-20

the boy. Then there were three
square meals a day served on a
table both unknown before) and
there was bed made for him! 1t
was almost invariably the first
glimpse of love and home that had
come into the little sinners life.
But still, around that table every
morning he heard verse of Scrip
ture from each boy and he was
taught to say one himself. After
breakfast there was work to do in
the open fields, and then nature
came to him with her own healing
and uplift. In the silence of the
old wood-lot many boy came to
himself
Two hours a day, summer and
winter. must be spent in the old log
schoolroom, where a well trained
young negro man, sent out by the
Presbyterian Board of the Southern
at meager salary, does his best to
teach these habitual truants. But
for these boys and this race and
education of hearts and hands beats
education Of brain many fold. 1t
was industry, purity of environment
and Sam Days own beautiful life
and spirit that worked the salvation
of the 27O. Never once has be put
shackles upon a boys or stripes
upon his back.
But how has he fed and clothed
and housed this big family" asks
the business man.
BY simple daily toll. Forty dol
lars and the salary of the teacher
constitute the donations from the
church. Not cent of public funds
has gone from Jefferson county or
the state, although he has sup ported
their charges. A few individuals
touched by Sans struggles, have
given small sums, and once bill
was put before the legislature for
an appropriation, in return for
which the nego offered to turn over
175 acres of his land. But an in
fiammatory speech by one man. an
gered by negro crime in his COM
munity, caused the bill to be lost
by five votes. The shortsiyhted
legislator could not see that Sam
was working to prevent countless
more just such heinous crimes.
So there came dark day in which
DAILY had to mortgage HIS farm to
borrow 1900. (Do you know any
white people who have morgaged
all they possesessed for charity's
sake?) That 81 800 went into food
and clothes into buildings, or
equipment. The $40 from the
church was the total cost of the
boys sleeping room"-a clapboard
log cabin, where the BOYS lined up
to have their pictures "tooken."
with Sam at the head of the process
sion.
There is a large, unfinished build
ing, but it has not cost any money
yet. l wish it would! Under their
leader. Andrew May, the boys went
to the woods. cut down trees, sawed
them into mill lengths and rolled
them to mill, where they were
sawed on shares. The construc-
tion was every bit their own labor,
Now, as no money and no more logs
are to be had. the unroofed sheds
stand there useless, in mute appeal.
Sam" Judge Feagin said TO him
last winter, you will lose all you've
got taking care of those little ne
groes."
De good Lawd is gwine to take
care oh me 8 long as rs dom his
work." answered Sam, with his ra-
diant smile.
But you We got mortgage on
your place now,' persisted the pru-
dent lawyer.
"Yas, but it aim foreclosed yit,
cried the negro triumphantly. true
to his faith that the Master was
guarding his ways.
Last May, driven by necessities
and confident that help would be
given him, he went to the convoca-
tion of the Presbyterian Assem- blies
at Atlanta. But before he could so
much enter his plea he was taken
violently i'll with ptomaine poison
ing, and died among strangers. His
last conscious words were. Take
care-take good care-ob NAH little
niggahs!'
His brave widow and the young
teacher are doing their best; the
judge of the Birmingham juvenile
court declares the work must be
continued or his hands are hope
lessly tied; and the boys are won