TEXAS by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 24, 1877

TEXAS

By Jos. Clarke

Deckman, Dallas Co.

We feel encouraged at every step we have taken in this work of teaching the freedmen. If we realize no more than we have already experienced in seeing the little group of pleasant faces from day to day in the school, and the opportunities had for conversation with these really worthy people, we have now had our wages for leaving our friends and brethren and home at the North.

We intend to do all we can, but our brethren must not expect too much. The school now numbers twenty-three pupils, and is on the increase. Possibly it may yet satisfy the most enthusiastic; but if not, it is better to do a little than rust in selfish repose. The South should claim hosts of good, devoted persons from the North, who would come at their own expense, who are willing to be small and despised if they may but give relief to these people who are only grieving and praying for good teachers that will teach them how to read and write.

Mrs. Clarke and I teach the school each a part of the time. Yesterday I addressed the freedmen, who assembled at the humble school-house they have erected, to hear our first appeal to them, the reasons of our coming, and our objects and plans. I do not know who were most interested, the speaker or the audience. By a vote they requested us to address them again next Sunday.

These people are hungry for mental aliment, and many of them hunger for the bread of life. At the close of our meeting, Fayette Jordan observed that we deserved a beating for not addressing them till this late day (for we have been here since February), and old Aunt Fancy, a devoted and noble freedwoman, who is “grandma” to most of the children in the school, raised her hands to heaven, and praised the Lord. We felt very happy to say, Amen and Amen. Jos. Clarke.