THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
GILBERT ACADEMY
AND
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
WINSTED, LOUISIANA
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS
SELECTIONS FROM JOURNAL
( ^VrtX/fV 3
r 91
,,. ,,, ,;NEy YORK
p?vii\TED p,y HT'TNT i EA-JCN
150 FIFTH AVENUE
Copyright, 1892, by
W. D. GODMAN,
WINSTED, LA.
Elec*fa*ype'df >jrirrced, an*i bound by
, r/HUNT' fef EATOlM,
150 FifJti Avenue, New York.
DEDICATION.
WE ARE UNSPEAKABLY GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR HIS
ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS.
OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF THANKSGIVING TO THE MANY FRIENDS WHO
HAVE AIDED AND ENCOURAGED OUR LABORS IN EIGHTEEN
TOILSOME, GLADSOME YEARS.
THIS HUMBLE VOLUME,
THE IMPERFECT SIGN AND RECORD OF LABORS, CARES, AND SUCCESSES,
S$?e Drtiiratc
TO THE ENDOWMENT OF
GILBERT ACADEMY AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
W. D. GODMAN,
A. H. DEXTER GODMAN,
INEZ A. GODMAN.
4611.86
Copyright, 1892, by
W. D. GODMAN,
WlNSTED, LA.
^ >>riried, and bound by
T fcf EATON.
150 Fif)t> Avenue, New York.
DEDICATION.
WE ARE UNSPEAKABLY GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR HIS
ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS.
OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF THANKSGIVING TO THE MANY FRIENDS WHO
HAVE AIDED AND ENCOURAGED OUR LABORS IN EIGHTEEN
TOILSOME, GLADSOME YEARS.
THIS HUMBLE VOLUME,
THE IMPERFECT SIGN AND RECORD OF LABORS, CARES, AND SUCCESSES,
ffl®e Betrtcate
TO THE ENDOWMENT OF
GILBERT ACADEMY AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
W. D. GODMAN,
A. H. DEXTER GODMAN,
INEZ A. GODMAN.
461.166
PREFACE.
WE believe that the magnitude of the work in
progress among our fellow-citizens of African de-
scent in the Southern States is not known to the
people of the United States. The reports of the
several societies that direct the work of uplift by
educational and missionary movements are not
read. So far as read they are not fully appre-
ciated. Imagination, guided by some analagous
experience, must associate itself with the appre-
hension of figures and general statements before
anyone can grasp the situation and comprehend
what teachers and missionaries are actually doing
and achieving.
In effect we workers are in a foreign land. In
fact, our work is home work of the most intimate
kind. The economic and the moral conditions
of the people of the United States are as directly
and as effectually influenced by the status and the
habits of life of our colored citizens as by the ac-
tivities and the character of any other seven mil-
6 PREFACE.
lions in our great aggregate of population. Peace,
good order, strict morality, temperance, and thrift
signify in Louisiana just what they do in Massa-
chusetts. It is just as vital to the integrity of the
American republic to reduce vice to a minimum
among the blacks of Mississippi, Louisiana, or
Georgia, as to do the same thing in the slums in
the city of New York. The nation has just as
real and serious an interest in making lynching
in the rural districts of the South impracticable
as it has in correcting and preventing riots and
bloodshed in the city of New Orleans.
In view of such considerations it is well the
people of North and South should study the
problem, or problems, that we are trying to solve.
To help them in this study is a leading aim in the
presentation to the public of this unpretending
volume. Many things herein may seem to the
casual reader quite trivial and very personal ; yet
we are modestly inclined to think that every item
and every incident will give the intelligent inquirer
some real and valuable light on the situation.
This is, at least, our hope. We hope, too, that
this little book may find favor with all lovers of
humanity and with all truly patriotic citizens be-
cause of the end to which it is devoted.
PREFACE. 7
Gilbert Academy and Agricultural College is
already a great power for good in Louisiana. In
the language of Hon. D. Caffery, a very distin-
guished and influential citizen of that State, " No
people on the globe stand more in need of the
stimulating effects of mental discipline than the
colored people. Any endowment of schools es-
tablished to educate them by large-hearted and
big-brained philanthropists reflects as much luster
on them as it confers incalculable benefits on the
beneficiaries. Gilbert Seminary will be a power
in the land to elevate the ignorant and enlighten
the benighted."
This institution has furnished to State and
Church as many influential, capable, and useful
men and women of the colored race as any other
institution that can be named in Louisiana. We
earnestly desire to see its usefulness increased.
We desire to enlarge its facilities. We aim at
stability and perpetuity. It must not be left de-
pendent on the fluctuating offerings of charity.
These have been and are rich, and causes of much
rejoicing and gratitude ; but in addition to these
pleasing, gracious contributions, that speak so
much for the loyalty, humanity, and benevolence
of American Christians, there should be a perma-
5 PREFACE.
nent, imperishable fund. This will keep away
adversity in days of poor crops and changing
markets, and will substitute the consciousness of
strength for the fears of weakness.
Trusting, therefore, in God's goodness and in
the large-heartedness of the American people, we
launch our little ship.
CONTENTS.
PAGB
HON. WILLIAM L. GILBERT 13
WHY HELP OUR COLORED BROTHER? 29
REV. EMPEROR WILLIAMS 46
THE STORY OF GILBERT ACADEMY AND AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE 49
EXTRACTS FROM A HISTORY OF THE ORPHANS' HOME SOCI-
ETY 53
AN APPEAL TO CHRISTIANS 68
THE ORPHANS' HOME SOCIETY OF LOUISIANA 73
REV. J. T. B. LABAU 78
OPENING OF LA TECHE SEMINARY 80
FATHER GRE::N (REV. HENRY GREEN) 83
A FATHER 85
THE PREACHER'S SEVERITY 90
A PUZZLE 90
A TOUCHING RELIGIOUS SERVICE 91
A NOISY MEETING 92
SOME PREACHING 93
THE DEVIL TAKETH AWAY 93
SOME SAYINGS 95
REV. STEVEN DUNCAN 95
NEW ORLEANS UNIVERSITY 103
CONVERSATION ON STEAMER — TWO SOUTHERN WHITE
MEN 103
A DAY'S OCCUPATION 105
IO CONTENTS.
PAGE
A PREACHERS' MEETING IN NEW ORLEANS 1 10
CONVERSATION WITH MR. R , IN NEW ORLEANS 115
CONDITION OF SOME 117
NEW ORLEANS, 1877 117
A CRANK 1 18
A LAD WHO BECAME A CHRISTIAN 119
BOY SOLDIERS 122
A PRESCRIPTION 123
DAILY GLEANING 124
REV. J. W. E. BOWEN 132
LA TECHE TRACT, No. i 141
REV. ERNEST LYON, A.M 149
FRESH BENEFACTIONS 151
FINANCIAL HISTORY, 1875-1892 153
PROPERTY 156
PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT 157
AN ENTRY IN THE JOURNAL 165
A VISIT 179
CASTE 183
POWER 184
SUPERSTITION 1 89
A NIGHT'S EXPERIENCE 191
ART AND CHARITY 196
SOMETHING FOUND 202
BIRTHDAY 204
PRAISE 205
GLORIES 2 36
SUFFERING 219
A STRUGGLE UPWARD ... 220
THE VOICE 227
REV. MADISON C. B. MASON, A.M 234
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD 236
REV. E. B. RICHARDS 246
CONTENTS. I I
PAGE
ISAIAH EUGENE MULLON, A.M., M.D 247
A BASKET MEETING 250
PATSY. 267
CHAPTER I. — CHAOS 268
CHAPTER II 274
LILY 286
THE DIARY 287
LETTER 292
To MRS. D , IN PHILADELPHIA 293
STORY OF THE LITTLE WHITE BABY 293
NOTES ABOUT THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY 296
WAITING 301
GENERAL SHOWING OF RESULTS OF ELEVEN YEARS 303
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
GILBERT ACADEMY AND AGRICULTURALCOLLEGE, FRONTISPIECE
FACING PAGE
HON. W. L. GILBERT 13
REV. EMPEROR WILLIAMS 46
DOWN THE BAYOU 61
REV. J. T. B. LABAU 78
REV. J. W. E. BOWEN 132
REV. E. LYON, A.M 149
INDUSTRIAL BUILDING 159
REV. MADISON C. B. MASON 234
REV. E. B. RICHARDS 246
MRS. E. B. RICHARDS 247
PROFESSOR I. EUGENE MULLON. A.M., M.D 249
TECHE LILIES 274
RESIDENCE OF S. M. BAKER 303
GILBERT HALL AND ANNEX, CHAPEL, SMITH HALL 305
J
HON. W. L. GILBERT.
GILBERT ACADEMY AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
HON. WILLIAM L. GILBERT.
GILBERT, WILLIAM L., of Winsted, Conn.,
was born in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Conn.,
December 30, 1806. His father, James Gilbert,
was born in the same State, in the town of
Woodbridge. He was by occupation a farmer,
and died in Litchfield in the year 1840. His
mother, Abigail Kinney, was born in Washing-
ton, in the same county, and died in Winsted in
the year 1873, at the advanced age of ninety-four
years.
The first twenty-two years of his life William
L. passed chiefly at home, employed during the
summer months in labor with his father on the
farm, and in winter in such district or academy
schools as the country at that time furnished.
The domestic life of Mr. Gilbert may be briefly
told. He was married in the year 1835 to Cla-
rinda K. Hine, of Washington, Conn., who died in
14 GILBERT ACADEMY
the year 1874. The fruits of this marriage were
three children, all of whom died previous to 1860.
He was married to Miss Anna E. Westcott, of
New London, Conn., in the year 1876. As a
citizen, although never a violent political partisan,
he always acted with the Republican party, and
was twice elected to represent that party in the
Legislature of the State, and was largely instru-
mental during his first term in gaining from that
body the charter of the Winsted Bank, and in his
second that of the Connecticut Western Railroad.
But the sphere in which Mr. Gilbert was most
widely known and respected is business. It may
be instructive to notice those personal character-
istics of his to which he is indebted for eminent
success. Endowed by nature with an excellent
constitution, capable of the most intense and pro-
tracted exertion, with good habits and correct
moral principles inculcated by his parents, Mr.
Gilbert brought to the business of his life great
concentration, an indomitable will, unwearied in-
dustry, strict integrity, and common sense To
these qualities he owes his success rather than to
exceptional advantages of birth, wealth, friends, or
fickle fortune.
Mr. Gilbert commenced business soon after
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 15
reaching his majority without a dollar which he
could call his own or a single relative or friend
on whom he could call for pecuniary aid. In the
year 1828, at the age of twenty-two years, he
formed a partnership with his brother-in-law,
George Marsh, for the manufacture of clocks.
His contribution to the capital invested in the
firm was three hundred dollars, all of which was
borrowed. With these small means the firm com-
menced business in the town of Bristol, Conn. For
the want of capital they began by making only
parts of clocks for the older firm of Jerome &
Darrow. This fraternal association continued
three years, during which, by industry and econ-
omy, the means of these young men had been so
far improved, and by close application to business
so much experience had been gained, that they
thought themselves competent to the manufacture
of a whole clock. With these larger views the
firm removed to the adjoining town of Farming-
ton, where they became regular clock manufac-
turers, and prosecuted the business successfully
until the fall of 1835, when Mr. Gilbert returned
to Bristol and resumed the same business in a
new firm, entitled Birge, Gilbert & Co. This firm
continued to prosper until 1839, when he became
1 6 GILBERT ACADEMY
a member of the firm of Gilbert, Grant & Co.
This last was only a temporary arrangement, and
in 1841 Mr. Gilbert removed to Winsted, pur-
chased a clock factory, and formed a partnership
with Lucius Clark and Ezra Baldwin. At the
end of four years he bought out the interests of
his partners and conducted the business three
years alone, when Clark repurchased an interest,
forming the firm of Gilbert & Clark, which con-
tinued three years. In 1851 Issac B. Woodruff
was admitted into the partnership, and continued
a member of the firm until Mr. Gilbert's death.
From the year 1857 to 1862 they were associated
in manufacturing clocks in Ansonia, Conn., in ad-
dition to the business continued in Winsted.
They were also extensively engaged in the manu-
facture of clock movements in the city of Wil-
liamsburg, N. Y., from 1863 to 1871.
In the year 1866 he organized a joint stock
company, called the Gilbert Manufacturing Com-
pany, for the prosecution of the business in Win-
sted. The business of Mr. Gilbert had now
become large, increasing, and prosperous, and
continued so until 1871, at which date the factory
buildings were consumed by fire. Mr. Gilbert
then obtained a special charter of the State for
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. I/
the manufacture of clocks under the name of
William L. Gilbert Clock Company. The facto-
ries were rebuilt on a much larger scale, better
adapted to their object, and containing all those
improvements suggested by long experience in
the business. The buildings were of brick, built
in the most substantial manner, four stories high,
and between three and four hundred feet in
length, furnished with the best machinery known,
and accommodating four hundred operatives. It
is one of the largest and best factories for the
manufacture of clocks in the State. Mr. Gilbert
held the presidency of the company as long as
he lived. It has had a continued prosperity,
even through those financial revulsions preceding
the year 1857, which, with a single exception,
proved fatal to every rival firm in the State.
Since he commenced the manufacture of clocks
the material of which they are made has been
changed from wood to brass ; the clock and the
processes of its manufacture have been simpli-
fied, the clock greatly improved, the cost of
manufacture reduced, and the article sold for one
fourth of its former price. The varieties now
made are almost innumerable, and the clocks are
sent to all quarters of the globe. Mr. Gilbert
I 8 GILBERT ACADEMY
twice visited the -other continent in the interest
of the business, which has thus been enlarged,
and was one of the first to open a foreign market
for American clocks. He was engaged in a great
number of other kinds of manufacturing busi-
ness in various places, most of which proved
successful.
In 1867 Mr. Gilbert formed a partnership with
Henry Gay, late president of the Winsted Bank,
under the name of Gilbert & Gay, and immedi-
ately commenced business in the building for-
merly occupied by the old bank. They carried on
a large and successful general banking business,
also making loans on real estate in the West to
a very large extent. They continued in that
location until 1874, when Mr. Gilbert was elected
president and Henry Gay cashier of the Hurl-
but National Bank They then stopped their
general banking business and removed their office
to the Hurlbut National Bank, where they con-
tinued business until Mr. Gilbert's death.
Soon after Mr. Gilbert embarked in the bank-
ing business came up the project of building a
railroad from Hartford west to the New York
State line at Millerton — an undertaking of no
small magnitude. Mr. Gilbert entered into the
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 19
work with with his accustomed energy and per-
sistency, and to h!s ability and capital is due, in
great measure, the successful completion of the
road, which, although not as yet a paying invest-
ment, has been a great advantage to the towns
in western Connecticut. The earnest endeavor
of Mr. Gilbert to promote every honorable enter-
prise was always marked and noted ; and with
his clear head and unwavering purpose, to-
gether with his ample means, he did his full
share in building up the thriving community in
which he so long resided. At eighty-three years
of age, more than half a century of which had
been devoted to an intensely active business life,
Mr. Gilbert had survived most of his early com-
petitors, and by his own unaided efforts fairly
earned a place among the foremost business men
of the State.
Mr. Gilbert was eminently a self-made man —
using the phrase simply to express the fact that
he did not receive aid for his education. In
truth, every man that is made makes himself.
This did Mr. Gilbert. He attended district school
when a boy in the winter. In time he knew
enough to teach a school himself, which he did in
old Winchester, receiving six dollars a month for
20 GILBERT ACAPEMV
salary and boarding round among the people.
He always looked back with pleasure to that
period, and uttered the opinion that the school
work done in those days was as good as that done
now. He could not see but that the early edu-
cation fitted people for life quite as well as does
the modern education.
Being poor at the beginning, and compelled to
the strictest economy, he acquired the habit of
saving. He could not brook the unnecessary ex-
penditure of a penny. He exacted great economy
of others, and sometimes declined to help those
whom he thought able to help themselves. If he
was very " close " he nevertheless, by that very
trait of life, saved and accumulated the vast for-
tune by which he was enabled to do so much good
in his last years. To leave eight hundred thou-
sand dollars to the town where he had so long
lived, and to give fifty thousand dollars toward
the uplift of the colored race in the South — these
are the things that made him happy in the wind-
ing up of his career. He said he gave a large
amount on one occasion with more satisfaction
than he would eat his dinner.
Mr. Gilbert's natural affections were warm and
his moral convictions very decided. A lady friend
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 21
at one time gave way to intense grief in his
presence, and said she wished to die and be rid
of the burdens of life. He said to her: "It is
wrong for you to talk in this way : you have no
right to ; we must all live as long as the Lord
wills. It is wicked to wish for death. Do you
not suppose that when my little boy died the
world looked as dark to me as it now does to you ?
I did not feel that there was anything left to live
for ; but I had to go on and live, and so must you."
His early sorrows drove him the more eagerly to
business.
Not long before his decease, as he lay ill on his
couch, he opened his heart to a friend, and spoke
with a degree of freedom concerning the past and
the future : " I've been a hard-working business
man ; I've given very little attention to my states
of mind. Have been too busy for that. Have
thought I could serve God by doing things that
ought to be done. I never exactly belonged to
the Church, but have been, in all my manhood
years, connected with it and have supported it. I
can't say that I believed everything that I heard
preached. As for some people being saved from
all eternity — foreordained I believe they call it —
and some being damned from all eternity, I don't
22 GILBERT ACADEMY
believe a word of it. I have put my case in
God's hands, and there I leave it."
His eightieth birthday was observed by his
friends as a day of rejoicing, and many assembled
at a dinner in his honor. On that occasion prom-
inent citizens rose to testify to the generosity
with which Mr. Gilbert had aided them in the
business ventures of other years. At this festive
board Mr. Gilbert, though an octogenarian, made
his maiden speech. Comparing the luxuries of
the present day with the hard fare and simple
living of his early life, he said: "In the winter
I used to get up before daybreak, but I did not
have a furnace-heated room to dress in, nor hot
water in a marble basin. I went out of doors
and broke the ice, and dipped up the water in an
iron skillet, and washed on a bench under a tree
with the whole world for my dressing room.
But," he added, after a pause, " those times were
the best. The people were healthier and happier
than with all your modern improvements."
There was mirth in the stern man, and many a
flash of keen wit or dry humor. He enlisted
with some of his fellow-citizens in the manufac-
ture of shoes at one time. Some young men
carried on the business, older persons, like Mr.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 23
Gilbert, furnishing the bulk of the capital. At
the expiration of six months the directors were
assembled to hear a report from the managers.
The business seemed to have opened well ; con-
tracts were numerous ; great profits were looming
up in the near future. All the directors wore a
smiling, cheery look. Mr. Gilbert relaxed his
stern countenance enough to say, " Well, gentle-
men, I'm really afraid these men are going to
make some money."
He visited us in Louisiana in 1885. Said he, " I
had hard work to find you ; these railroad fellows
pretend they don't know you." " They know well
enough where the freight belongs," was the answer.
When he and Mrs. Gilbert visited the school — all
being assembled to greet them — Mr. Gilbert said
rather privately, " You really think you can teach
these folks ? " " No doubt about it ; you will
see." He made a little speech to the scholars, and
Mrs. Gilbert said a kind word. On leaving he
said, " Why, they have souls very much like ours,
eh?"
Kindness with him was something forbidding
in the outward expression. " You thought I was
rough last fall, did you not ? I was rough, but I
meant to give you the money all the time." We
24 GILBERT ACADEMY
had to love him. A Christian black woman from
Louisiana once sought an introduction to Mr.
Gilbert. When he had finished saying " Good
morning," to her and was proceeding with his
breakfast, she said, " I ax your pardon, Mr. Gilbert,
but I'd like to plead with a man who has done so
much for others to be kind to his own soul." A
tear glistened in his eye. He was silent and
crowded down his morsel of bread.
Mr. Gilbert was a strong temperance man. He
used to say, " I drank grog until I was twenty-
one ; but everybody did then, and there were
fewer drunkards than now." He thought it a
useless habit, and gave it up for that reason. At
the age of eighty-two years he made a forcible
speech before the county commissioners against
the granting of licenses. He was an enemy of
tobacco. He berated the folly and extravagance
of the times. He yielded willing homage to true
goodness always. He loved his family, and was
kind and generous in his household. One who
was very intimately related and had the best
opportunities to know his private life says : " He
was a very amiable, good-tempered man, wonder-
fully forbearing and patient under provocation.
He had a remarkable self-control. No one ever
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2$
heard him use profane or violent language. He
never brought home his business cares, but would
look as serene as he sat in his easy-chair as if
nothing weightier than plowing or planting had
taxed his brain that day."* The man who was so
careful to save even twenty-five cents was per-
fectly composed under great providential losses.
When it was useless to worry he did not worry.
He was once aroused at night with the message
that his clock factory was on fire. " Well," he
said, " I don't know that I can help it." He
turned himself over and went to sleep. In ad-
versity he was at his best and kept undaunted
courage and a hopeful spirit.
Like many others Mr. Gilbert enjoyed the ex-
citement of new ventures and investments. He
often said that the pleasure of watching the de-
velopments of enterprise and of seeing things
grow was more than the money profit. As years
accumulated he gave much thought to the ulti-
mate disposition of his large fortune. Two ob-
jects presented themselves to him as having par-
amount claims on him. They were (i) the boys
and girls who had not the opportunities of edu-
cation of any kind ; (2) the city (Winsted) where
* Mrs. Mary B. Mix, niece of Mrs. Gilbert.
26 GILBERT ACADEMY
he had so long lived and where he had made the
greater part of his fortune.
For the indigent boys and girls he had the
profoundest sympathy, by reason, as he often said,
of the painful experiences of his boyhood and
early manhood. He could not think of laying
down his earthly trust without providing for these
objects of his pity. He did plan nobly for them.
He erected, with much study, care, and labor of
his own hands, a home for poor boys and girls on
about twenty acres of suburban land, in a beauti-
ful spot overlooking West Winsted. He saw this
home completed, furnished, and partly filled with
happy children. His plan was to secure the co-
operation of the towns of Connecticut. The
overseers of the poor were invited to send chil-
dren to the home, they paying one dollar per
week for the living of a child, and he paying one
dollar per week. This was the estimated cost.
After furnishing the home complete he left it
in his will a legacy of four hundred thousand dol-
lars for endowment. The interest of this sum was
to be divided into two equal parts, one half for
current expenses and one half to be reinvested ; this
policy to hold for one hundred years, at which time
the endowment would amount to one million dol-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2 7
lars. A similar plan was adopted and ingrafted into
his will for an educational institution in Winsted.
Mr. Gilbert spent his last Christmas — Decem-
ber 25, 1889 — with the children in the home.
He gave them a Christmas tree well laden with
things to please them, held them on his knee,
trotted them, chatted with them, laughed at their
merriment, enjoyed their singing — could not sing
himself — and, when he sat down at home after it
was over, he said in his happiness, " I believe
those children were as happy as if they had hung
up their stockings in their own homes ; and very
likely it was the first time that many of them ever
had a Christmas to know what it meant."
But it is within due bounds to say that noth-
ing ever done by Mr. Gilbert made him happier
than his gifts to the institution known formerly
as La Teche Seminary Agricultural College. He
contributed at different times ten thousand dol-
lars for buildings, and in his will left a legacy of
forty thousand dollars for endowment.
In 1883 the Rev. W. R. Webster, then of the
New York East Annual Conference of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, now of the New Hamp-
shire Conference, was agent of La Teche Semi-
nary, having been appointed in the spring of 1882.
28 GILBERT ACADEMY
After a long silence — in the minds and of our la-
bors with crops and school — we received from him
the following telegram :
" Hallelujah ! Five thousand dollars promised
conditionally ; will write. W. R. WEBSTER."
He had found Mr. Gilbert, had prayed with
him and his family, and had received his promise
in the presence of witnesses. In due process of
time this promise was fulfilled. Referring to this
gift afterward Mr. Gilbert said," It gave me more
pleasure than any one thing I have done."
After making his will he visited his friends in
Canada, where he had some business interests,
and there, having heard the Master's call, he sur-
rendered his trust of life and labor. On his
dying bed he told friends of what he had sought
to do for the colored people in Louisiana, and
said, " They love me down there." This stern,
peculiar man wanted love, and he had it.
The world has need of men like Mr. Gilbert.
The more of them the better. He employed
many men , never quarreled with them ; had no
strikes. He was strict in fulfilling his own en-
gagements, and required them to be equally so.
He built houses for them to live in, gave them
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2Q
time wherein to pay, and aided them to fulfill con-
tracts. By his own severe example he taught
them, how to save their earnings.
In the ages to come his memory will be green.
Of the colored race especially untold numbers of
future generations will u rise up and call him
blessed."*
WHY HELP OUR COLORED BROTHER?
WE assume that the man of African descent is
our brother. If any deny, we do not write for
him. Our word is to those who hold the brother-
hood of men. If any refuse the Negro a rank in
the brotherhood such might still feel themselves
bound to help him when in need, just as they
would a lame horse or a sick cow. But we do
not stand on that plane nor address ourselves at
present to any who may stand there.
The question is, Why should we help our col-
ored brother? It is not questioned that he needs
help. But what help ? As to material and eco-
nomic aid, Nature, Providence, and the American
people have spread a table, and he can help him-
*Many facts in the above sketch are taken from a sketch by the
Rev. John Andrew.
30 GILUERT ACADEMY
self. He is as free as the foxes and the birds.
He can go to any part of the country and any-
where find work and remuneration. He is rapidly
forming habits of thrift, learning to appreciate his
opportunities, and acquiring a diversity of indus-
tries. In this direction true helpfulness is to em-
ploy and to pay him. On this line he has' hosts of
friends. He may complain that his pay is small
and that it sometimes fails by fraud or accident.
But so complains the workman everywhere, and
the Negro simply shares the common lot.
"'Tis true, 'tis pity, and pity 'tis, 'tis true."
Among those who were placed on plantations
are many who were trained as " men-of-all-work,"
and are to-day able to turn out good jobs of
blacksmithing and carpentry. Among the young
men who have been at the schools not a few are
demonstrating the utility of the Slater Fund by
building houses, making wagons and buggies, and
striking off jobs of printing. There is a consider-
able number of the educated youth who are estab-
lishing an excellent record as teachers, both men
and women. One, just to-day, said: "When I
came here at the beginning of last year I knew
nothing but to read and write. I went through
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 3!
the ' Graded Lessons in English ' and the ' Inter-
mediate Arithmetic/ and so on ; and this year
I have taught school four months at thirty dollars
a month, and I am here now to spend the balance
of the year in study." Another young man who
finished the grammar school course two years
ago, including two years of carpentry, writes :
" I have contracts for building seven houses."
This same man is able by his success to sup-
port two younger brothers at school. Multitudes
of comfortable homes are now occupied by fami-
lies that twenty years ago lived in old-time cabins.
These colored people are thrifty.
There is as much difference between the new
and old Negro as between the new and the old
South. The Yankee has a world-wide repute for
splitting a sixpence. The Irishman's genius for
the same style of achievement will not suffer by
comparison. But the new Negro is not far be-
hind either of them. As for politics, he seems as
if born to it. The best political trainers might go
to school to the Louisiana colored man. So then,
in point of worldly wisdom our colored brother
can look out for himself. The answer to our
32 GILBERT ACADEMY
question is that we should help the colored brother
for the same reason that we would help any other
brother who is in need.
We do for the colored brother for the same
reasons as for some other brother. We leave our
homes, forsake our friends and every dear associ-
ation of life, traverse the seas and brave the dan-
gers of unknown climes, encounter the painful
toils of untried tasks, and the prejudices, the
superstitions, and the hostilities of the men that
are wholly savage, or but little civilized — all for
Christ's sake. We have been baptized with his
baptism, have felt the cleansing fires of his Spirit
coursing in flames through our souls ; we burn
with the passion that courts death for a brother's
sake. We plead with our fellow-men face to
face, " O come, ye that are perishing with thirst
in the parched and weary desert, come to the
Fountain of living waters. Ye are dying of
hunger: here is the bread of life. The poison-
ous breath of the deadly serpent has filled the
air ye breathe. O escape for your lives." We
heed not danger; we take our lives in our hands.
When the palsy smites our limbs, when death
lays his icy hand on our vitals, when the voice
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 33
wavers with the last agonies, and we can toil and
suffer for lost men no longer, then the beatific
vision of Him who died on the cross and after-
ward ascended to glory ravishes our souls, and we
are glad we left all for him ; we would do it again
if we could. We lie down in a jungle or in a
thatched hut and find a short passage to heaven.
There are those who are doing thus in the
Southern States among the Negroes. The condi-
tions are not essentially different. The main dif-
ference in favor of the Southern missionary is
that he can occasionally run to the North and
see his friends ; or they can come South and see
him. But this advantage is offset by the peculiar
and sometimes dangerous complications in which
his work is involved by popular politics. He
loves the Negro soul, beholds his true manhood,
foresees his going to judgment with the responsi-
bilities of a man on him, discerns the precious-
ness of his soul, as capable as any other soul of
the cultured intellect and the beauty of holiness.
He grieves when he beholds this immortal being
deceived by men who only desire to use him for
their personal ends and corrupted by those who
have no regard to the final judgment of God.
2*
34 GILBERT ACADEMY
Here is one who is a good mechanic and can
point to many monuments of his skill in the city.
Here is another who so skillfully practices medi-
cine that he is sought by both white and black
for the cure of the sick. There is another who
walked like a giant through Euclid, wrought out
clearly and comprehensively the problem of
lights in algebra, and calculated the elements of
the moon's orbit in astronomy ; there is still
another who reveled in classic studies, and while
serving in a gentleman's dining room daily was
reading in the original the orations of Demos-
thenes and the De Officiis of Cicero. There are
numbers who preach Christ with understanding
and with power, and will give you a good critique
on a chapter in the Greek New Testament or a
capable tractate on the Nicene Creed. What
then? These men not worth saving ? These men
incapable of education ? These unfit for citizen-
ship ? These not of equal natural endowments
with white men ?
One says with tears in his eyes, " I'd rather die
than do wrong." A woman writes : " I saw your
letter in which you say, 'You honor the colored
race enough to wish them pure.' How thankful
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 35
I am for that message ! My heart is agonized at
what I behold in this city. Ah, how sad that some
of the ministers of our own dear Lord should so
betray him to the demon of uncleanness."
We cannot find in color nor in previous condi-
tion a reason to prefer him to some one else.
But is he in need? Is he in deeper need than
some other brother ? Than any other ? If his
need be not along the line of material things is it
in the direction of spiritual things ? If he need
moral uplift and spiritual renovation shall we
strive at once to uplift him, or shall we wait for
others to do it ? Is it any injustice to others that
we should essay to help him ? Is there not more
sin and sorrow than all of us can possibly alle-
viate ? Shall we not be thankful to anyone that
will lend the helping hand ? Let an intelligent
Christian survey the situation and penetrate to
the bottom facts, and we assure you he will find,
among the masses, two dark — unutterably dark —
and baleful conditions.
The first is the dense intellectual night. The
free, honest exercise of thought among these un-
tutored masses, in the search after truth, is un-
known. You cannot discover a recognition of
36 GILBERT ACADEMY
truth as existing, attainable, or desirable. There
is no evidence of a desire to know the truth
about anything. If it be farming, the traditional
way is pursued, and the suggestion of a better
method is scouted as folly. If it be medicine,
the hum of the voodoo, burrowing underground,
is preferred to the advice of a scientific physician,
and the stewing of an " auntie," who is authority
in " drawin' up the pallit," is deemed far more po-
tential than the formulae of the pharmacopoeia.
If it be morals, and the law of chastity be com-
mended and urged, it is deemed a sufficient an-
swer to all appeals to say, " We's not white folks."
" Having eyes they see not." This scriptural de-
scription of an ancient people is most fitting here.
We write of the masses, not of the noble few
who have lifted themselves up, or have been gra-
ciously lifted up, to the realm where there is a
vision of " the things which are not seen."
We know whereof we affirm. One man, con-
fronted with his habit of lying in the pulpit, said,
" I no lies when I preaches ; only when I 'zorts."
Another said, " De Lawd, he do me bad ; he say,
1 Serve me, 'n I'll do you good.' I do jes' as he
say : whole year I go to church ; I steal nothing ;
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 37
I pay my debts ; 'n I ax the Lawd to give me
sumpin', and he didn't done it. No ; it don't
pay to serve de Lawd. He don' keep hes word."
A man who is in many things intelligent, and who
has had opportunities above many of his fellows,
sees many visions of future events after they have
come to pass. One who finished a college course
and was pastor of a church in an intelligent com-
munity prescribed for a sick youth thus : " Stand
beside a certain tree ; I'll cut a hole in the bark of
the tree at your head and inclose under it a lock
of your hair tied with a woolen thread. After
twenty-one days you will be well." He applied
to the writer for permission thus to use the tree.*
One said he saw in a vision a keg of gold un-
* It were slightly presumptuous if one should think that we arro-
gate to the Negro race a monopoly of superstition. The privileged
Caucasian may claim preeminence therein as in so many other
things. And to-day, in the noontide glory of his civilization, his
millions are walking, working, suffering, according to signs in heaven
and earth and all the mysteries of occult lore. The writer knew a
distinguished divine who had brought many souls out of spiritual
darkness into light, who also guarded his steps so carefully that if he
were about to enter a gateway by the left foot immediately turned
about, went back to the starting-point of his excursion, and walked
the distance over again, scrupulously compelling himself to reach the
gate on his right foot. He said to do otherwise would bring him ill
luck. There are multitudes of both white and colored who at this
moment wear amulets and charms as protectives against " the evil
eye," evil spirits, and various diseases.
461166
38 GILBERT ACADEMY
der ground at a particular spot in the field. He
told the writer, with all the authority of a prophet,
to dig and find. When we made him an offer to
divide the treasure equally if he would dig and
find he departed meekly and never appeared
again. Another, when scourged for his violation
of the seventh commandment, said, " What's the
matter ? Any harm in that ? "
We point to these facts, not with exultation,
not with fault-finding, but with deep and pungent
grief. The thought that our brother, in whose
veins flows the "one blood," should be so be-
nighted gives us " inward pain." O, our Father !
how comes it that any of thy children should be
so far from the truth ? We read libraries of Afri-
can tradition, adventure, and travel, finding there
the same things. Here they are relieved by the
better environments. The fact that this terrible
night has come hither, like a Tartarean fog, from
the " Dark Continent " relieves not in the least its
gloominess, and furnishes no excuse for its longer
brooding over our land.
The second gloomy fact is the absence of
moral feeling, the want of moral sensibility, the
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 39
irresponsive conscience. That one thing is right
and another wrong seems to signify only that one
is harmful to us, the other beneficial. If, there-
fore, the harm of sin may be avoided or escaped,
that sin becomes righteousness. There is no es-
sential difference between the right and the
wrong. We are at perfect liberty to do the
wrong ; we are fools if we do it not, when we may
hope to escape punishment. This is not with
them a philosophy of wickedness but moral stol-
idity— the conscience deep sunken beneath the
burdens of the flesh and the animal instincts cul-
tivated, on the one hand into shrewdness, on the
other into ferocity.
Illicit connections of men and women are not
regarded as foibles even, and therefore to be
pitied ; much less are they regarded as crimes,
and therefore to be condemned. They seem to
be viewed as normal until the moral law is thrust
forward and disciplined into them by years of
patient drill.* Thankfully we can say that loving
* The colored race cannot claim the social vice as their exclusive
heritage. Among all the races, from the beginnings of recorded his-
tory, the dominant sin of the world has been sexual uncleanness.
When St. Paul enumerates the works of the flesh that militate against
the Spirit he places, emphatically, at the head of the list "adultery."
4O GILBERT ACADEMY
instruction and consistent discipline do ultimately
create a better sentiment and bring about such a
social uplift as to make it disgraceful in their own
eyes to commit fornication and to establish in a
young man's mind a feeling of compunction if he
has wronged a woman. Lawful marriage comes
to a premium, and a father says with pride, " My
daughter was married like a lady."
A clean house becomes a glory and a blessing,
and a minister of the Gospel who stands up for
the family as God made it, and denounces men's
sins, prevails over his enemies, commands uni-
versal favor and confidence, and sees his Church
going forward under heavenly leadership to glori-
ous peace.
An orphan boy with a charming countenance,
a superior brain, and a moral nature budding into
purity under Christian training is converted into
a thug by the drink demon and the gambling
hell. He goes with reveling companions, and
one morning his lifeless body lies by the rail-
road. An honest man that once sought to do
him good and to keep him from evil ways stands
by and declares, " That man who keeps the gam-
bling hell is the murderer." But no one cares.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 4!
Two colored youths quarrel at a ball. One
shoots and kills the other. The murderer is
taken up by the crowd and hanged. Some are
terror-stricken, some are pleased. All seem to
regard the whole business as regular. None
mourns before God and pleads for mercy. None
send appeals to the tribunals of human justice.
Men sell their votes at an election, some for one
dollar, some for five dollars. "It pays to vote,
boys." None seems to think God is displeased.
None questions whether it is right. Even the
Gospel minister takes his five dollars and says,
"It would be a fine thing to have election once a
month."
A man is a lay preacher in one of the churches.
Something is said from the pulpit by the pastor
against drunkenness and the habit of tippling.
The favorite bottle of "gin" that travels to the
store and back again so many times a week — the
family palladium — is denounced as the occasion
of ill-temper and the waster of the family means
of support. The said lay preacher denounces the
pastor to the merchant as the man that inter-
meddles to the injury of his (the merchant's)
business. For the next step the wife comes to
42 GILBERT ACADEMY
the pastor, holding in her hand a printed docu-
ment of familiar look, and says, " Hyur's yer
license ; Tom don' want it, it's no 'count."
Such are characteristic facts of frequent occur-
rence, and not by any means those of darkest hue.
There are such things as would make the very
paper blush to record, and some that would too
violently shock the finer feelings of the cultivated
reader. Our aim in saying what we do is simply
to show how deeply Satan is seated here and how
truly this is missionary ground. We write of the
colored people and of the discouraging facts
among them. It is not our purpose to attempt
an exhaustive statement of these things. We
omit all reference to the embarrassments that
originate in politics — embarrassments often most
perplexing, and such as no missionary on foreign
grounds is likely to encounter. But having indi-
cated briefly the subtleties of darkness involved in
this knotty problem of uplift we take great delight
in setting forth some of the brighter spots in the
field of our outlook.
No one capable of an intelligent judgment in
such matters would for a moment expect us to
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 43
grasp an entire community as a father lifts his
child by the arms, put them into our Gospel
elevator, and raise them en masse toward heaven.
No agency has ever yet been known to do a thing
like that. Men do not rise in crowds — possibly
they do fall that way. Here, as everywhere else,
the way to destruction is broad ; the road to life
is narrow. Here, as elsewhere, are those who will
not change for the better — will not lift a foot to
go up hill. They are stubborn reactionists when-
ever you propose to improve them or their chil-
dren. They are apt in framing excuses for
indifference, ingenious in devising schemes of
t> C>
opposition. "We's got along 'dout eddication.
De chil'uns can do jes' as we done. De white
folks hab der way ; we colo'd folks mus' hab ourn.
As de book say, ' Ebbry tub mus' stan' on its own
bottom.' Dat school don' me no good. Dey
fence up der Ian' ; now leg'slater say no stock run
out ; man shut up yo' cow, 'n yer have to pay dol-
lar to git her agin. 'Twarn' so To' dat school
cum. Wat dat school fur? Don' wan' no pay
school. Public school good 'nuff for my chil'un.
I buys one book for my gal dis yur. Nex' yur
do same. Dat's all it cos'." One who has had
some school training and is under great obliga-
44 GILllERT ACADEMY
tions for aid rendered says, " The white folks are
bulldozing the colored. I'm going to stand up
for my race."
Yet good and permanent results appear. A
high standard of morality among students is
manifested in the cordial acceptance of rigid dis-
cipline, in the serious and manly defense of it, and
in the jealous but kind watchfulness over each
other. When students object to the admission
of applicants whose moral character may be open
to question it is evident that social ethics are
ranged along the line of righteousness.
When the Church is jealous of her purity, eager
as the bride of Christ to keep her robes "without
spot or wrinkle ; " when ministers and members are
required to keep the commandments of God and
are brought to account if they do not ; when it is
brought to light that the pure Church and the
blameless ministry secure the public confidence
and support, then it is evident that here, as else-
where, the truth of the Gospel of Christ becomes
the leaven of saving health to the people.
A vigorous temperance organization in the
seminary, composed of two hundred young peo-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 45
pie, men and women, with the prohibition badge
and the triple pledge, enthusiastic in the main-
tenance of their principles here and at home, or-
ganizing branch societies during vacations, and,
wondrous to relate, capable in the Christmas re-
cess of resisting the fascinations of eggnog — this
state of facts is a note of marvelous progress.
There was recently organized ? union of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union in our
community. There came some who once were
slaves and signed the pledge by making their
mark ; some of fewer years, unknowing slavery,
who wrote their own names to the pledge, one
acting as secretary and one as corresponding secre-
tary. In the public congregation the opening
prayer was made by a colored young lady. A
white lady on the platform declared that the prayer
was one of the richest inspirations of her life.
There are public schools in this State, many of
them, especially in the larger towns, very good.
They are usually, in the rural districts, open three
months in the year. In the schools for colored
youth the large majority of the good and capable
teachers received their training in schools like
Gilbert Academy, which have been established by
private munificence. The conclusion is that we
46 GILBERT ACADEMY
should help our colored brother — i. Because he
needs the help ; 2. Because he appreciates it ;
3. Because he is bringing forth good fruit from
the assistance already given.
REV. EMPEROR WILLIAMS,
Vice-President of Orphans' Home Society.
REV. EMPEROR WILLIAMS was born a slave in
1826, in the family of General Gaines, Nashville,
Tenn. He went to Louisiana in 1839, and in
1840 was sold for six hundred dollars to a Negro.
who treated him badly. He was sold in 1841 to
James Mclntosh, a builder. Williams was a mas-
ter mason, and from 1846 to 1858 was the trusted
foreman of his owner. He joined the Church in
1845. He had been promised his freedom for
years, but that boon came in 1858 under peculiar
circumstances. His master had a difficult piece
of cornice work on the corner of Perdido and
Carondelet Streets. None of the white men could
put it up. Williams said he could, and his master
replied that if he did he should have his freedom.
He took the plans of the difficult piece of work,
laid them on the floor of his cabin, and studied
REV. EMPEROR WILLIAMS,
Vice President of Orphans' Home Society.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 47
them all night until he got every part perfectly in
his mind. The next day he took his gang of men
and accomplished his difficult work. The promise
was redeemed, and our friend was a free man.
In 1849 ne married a slave woman who was,
like himself, a remarkable character. After he
was free he offered two thousand dollars in gold
for his wife, but her owners would not sell her.
Not long after, in 1862, General Butler took New
Orleans, and Emperor Williams got his wife for
nothing, and took his money and bought him a
home. We have many times enjoyed the hospi-
tality of that home; we sat by the deathbed of
that wife, and a more beautiful and triumphant
deathbed scene seldom occurs.
While a slave Williams sometimes carried a
pass, written by himself, which read as follows :
" Permit the boy Emperor to pass and repass, and
oblige Mr. Williams." His master, whose name
was Williams, saw it, and the following colloquy
took place :
" Where did you learn to write like that ? "
" When I was collecting your rent, sir."
" My name, is that ? "
" No, sir; that is not your name, but mine. I
would not commit a forgery."
48 GILBERT ACADEMY
His master gave him a seventy-five dollar suit
of clothes and a nice cane, and said, " Go preach
until you die ; I am tired of you and your God
bothering me any more." Afterward, when dying,
he sent for Williams and told him that slavery
was wrong and bade him good-bye.
In 1866 the Methodist Episcopal Church was
reorganized in New Orleans, and Emperor Wil-
liams was one of the original twelve. From that
day to this he has been one of the trusted advisers
of the Conference. A large portion of the time
he has been a presiding elder. He was a mem-
ber of the General Conference of 1876, He is a
man of great natural ability, thoroughly trust-
worthy, and impartial in his judgment of men
and measures. His education from books is
limited. He is thoroughly loyal to his Church,
and is free from race prejudice.
When we broke ground for the new university
building on St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans,
he was one of the speakers. He is not a fluent
speaker, except occasionally. In times of great
enthusiasm, and when deeply moved, the few
words he utters make a profound impression.
Here are some of his sentences on that memor-
able occasion. Lifting his hands to the heavens
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 49
he said : " I wonder if this is the world I was born
in ! For twenty years I was a slave on these
streets. It was a penitentiary offense to educate
a Negro. I have seen my fellow-servants whipped
for trying to learn ; but to-day here am I on this
great avenue, in this great city, with the bishops
and elders and people of the great Methodist
Episcopal Church, speaking at the breaking of
ground where a building is to be erected for the
education of the children of my people. I won-
der if this is the world I was born in !"
THE STORY OF GILBERT ACADEMY AND AGRI-
CULTURAL COLLEGE.
GENERAL N. P. BANKS laid the first stone. By
a General Order, in July, 1863, he required the
commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in New
Orleans to gather the neglected and perishing or-
phans of colored Union soldiers and maintain
them. The mothers of these orphans having to
work out by the day — often for the " Yankee sol-
diers," often finding no work at all — the children
were scattered and lost, or died of starvation.
Some were found dead by the roadside, famished
while the mothers looked for work.
50 GILBERT ACADEMY
General Thomas Conway, a Baptist minister, a
commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, laid the
second stone, putting the children, about one hun-
dred, first in the confiscated mansion of Pierre
Soule (who had represented the Confederate
States in France), and afterward established them
in the Marine Hospital. How gladly, in those days,
did the lovers of the Stars and Stripes rally 'round
the orphans as a center of Union feeling, a mark
of loyalty, a sign of gratitude to the nation's de-
fenders ! People of every extraction and of every
creed went with joy to the hospital to contribute
aid and to express their devotion to an imperiled
and rescued nation. And now the third stone
of the wall was laid. M. de Bossier, from Mar-
seilles, France, went with others whose hearts beat
to the music of freedom, beheld the recovered or-
phans with grateful tears, and came forward with
the offer of ten thousand dollars, if the friends of
the orphans would add twenty thousand dollars,
to purchase a farm, remove the orphans to the
country, maintain and educate them.
Dr. (now Bishop) Newman laid the fourth
stone by securing the twenty thousand dollars,
and the orphans were provided a delightful home
on a sugar plantation in St. Mary's Parish, La.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 51
Many stones have sin.ce been laid, perhaps the
largest by the Hon. W. L. Gilbert, of Winsted,
Conn., after whom the institution has been named.
It is now not only an orphans' home, but more
than that. It is an academy of thorough charac-
ter and a manual labor school. Its aims are
expressed in its name, Gilbert Academy and Agri-
cultural College. Mr. Gilbert, besides ten thou-
sand dollars for buildings, has given forty thou-
sand toward endowment. As the result of the
expansion of work and the great increase of
members it is now indispensable to have about
one hundred thousand dollars endowment and
fifty thousand dollars for buildings. Those
who are grateful for the preservation of the
Union, they who rejoice in the liberation of
the slave, they who, for love of Jesus, desire to
see all men renewed in the image of their
Creator — all these should find joy in aiding this
institution. Let it not be forgotten that this is
the only institution for the education of the
blacks that had its origin in the patriot's grati-
tude to our colored soldiers, dead defenders of
the flag, who, when they fell, did fall with faces
toward the foe. The letter on the following page
from General Banks explains itself.
52 GILBERT ACADEMY
" BOSTON, MASS.,/#«^ 25, 1879.
"The Colored Orphans' Home in Louisiana
was originally established by my order in the
mansion formerly owned by Pierre Soule, in the
city of New Orleans, in 1863, where it was main-
tained for nearly three years in a prosperous con-
dition. Madam de Mortier, a colored lady of
high culture and character, well known to philan-
thropic ladies of Boston, and liberally aided by
them in her labors in Louisiana, had charge of
the home and managed its affairs with great suc-
cess. When the government withdrew its protec-
tion it was temporarily discontinued, and the or-
phans narrowly escaped being apprenticed by the
government to their former owners until the age
of twenty-one years. It has since been re-estab-
lished, and is under the charge of Rev. Dr. God-
man, a white clergyman, on the plantation in the rich
and fertile valley of the Bayou Teche, the scene of
a memorable history preserved in Longfellow's
1 Evangeline.' Disasters of various kinds have en-
dangered its continued possession by the orphans
of colored soldiers and others who have so long
profited by its instruction and protection. It is a
deserving charity, and ought to be permanently and
liberally maintained. N. P. BANKS."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 53
EXTRACTS FROM A HISTORY OF THE ORGAN-
IZATION AND GROWTH OF THE ORPHANS'
HOME SOCIETY.
THE Freedmen's Bureau, that strong arm of
the United States government stretched forth to
protect the freed people of the South, initiated
this society. When Mr. Conway was the com-
missioner in Louisiana, appointed by President
Lincoln, he instructed the officers throughout the
parishes to gather the friendless and destitute
little colored children and send them to the city.
Here he provided them with a home, fed, clothed,
and educated them for future independence and
usefulness. Most of those little ones were either
orphans of soldiers who fell in the Union ranks
or such as had lost their parents in the confusion
caused by the retreat of the Confederate armies
and the hasty removal of slaves to Texas or else-
where as the army of freedom advanced. When
the assassin struck down Mr. Lincoln and a new
ruler arose who had no sympathy with freedom,
Mr. Conway was removed, and, his successor
making no provision for the colored orphans, they
would have been turned out in a destitute condi-
tion to become vagabonds upon the earth. But
54 GILBERT ACADEMY
God put into the hearts of some kind ladies to
rent a building in the third district, New Orleans
(the Soule mansion,) placing it in charge of Mrs.
Clarina Hyde, where, amid difficulties of every
kind, they struggled for a brief period.
The first meeting for organizing the society
was held early in 1866, and Madam de Mortier,
an intelligent colored lady, who came to New
Orleans to do something for the orphans, was
placed in charge of the children. By her influ-
ence considerable sums were collected for the
work. A few months after this a division took
place in the society. Some of the members, wish-
ing to have the children trained up strictly as
Roman Catholics, separated and organized a so-
ciety of their own. There was a providence in
the event, for, about the same time, M. de
Bossier, a wealthy French gentleman of Mar-
seilles, France, whose name we delight to honor,
being in New Orleans and hearing of our soci-
ety, proposed to give us ten thousand dollars
provided twenty thousand dollars more were
raised and invested in lands and buildings and
that the children be educated in the Protestant
faith. This happy circumstance at once inspired
the friends of the institution with hope, and
AM) AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 55
begat in them an earnest purpose to use every
means in their power to secure the generous
Frenchman's donation.
The orphans became now again the guests of
the Freedmen's Bureau, and occupied ample
apartments in the Marine Hospital and were sus-
tained by the bounty of the United States gov-
ernment. General Howard was also taking a
deep interest in the enterprise so congenial to his
noble nature and his Christian heart, and Dr.
Newman made an appeal to him for ten thousand
dollars, hoping to raise the other ten from other
sources. The general promptly responded, and
now twenty thousand dollars were secured. The
remainder came more slowly and with much toil.
Madam de Mortier traveled through the North
and obtained donations in Boston, New York,
and Philadelphia. Dr. Newman also traveled,
preached, and lectured for the purpose, pleading
eloquently for his beloved orphans, and at last,
not, however, without another smaller grant from
General Howard, the whole amount was on de-
posit and the orphans were sure of a home.
The property was bought for fourteen thou-
sand dollars. Buildings were prepared, and last
56 GILBERT ACADEMY
February, 1 867, when the Freedmen's Hospital had
to be broken up and the Marine Hospital turned
over to the State, our large family of one hun-
dred and two children, with officers, furniture,
etc., were transferred to the home on the Teche.
As fast as the funds would permit work has been
done to make the house comfortable ; and if our
expectations of help from the friends of the in-
stitution are not disappointed we shall, before the
present year closes, see it in complete order and
be prepared to accommodate a larger number of
orphans. From the first an excellent day school
has been kept on the premises, the Freedmen's
Aid Society of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church
providing the teachers. At the present time one
hundred and two children are under instruction ;
sixty-eight are able to read, and about fifty are
well advanced in geography, writing, arithmetic,
and grammar.
One of the older boys has entered upon the
study of law under the direction of one of our
managers. In 1871 the Rev. Dr. Con way, then
president of the Orphans' Home Society, a Bap-
tist minister, said in a public address : " We hope
to make the Orphans' Home the equal of any
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 57
similar institution in the South. Our State may
be proud of having made this provision for the
colored orphan, though the society is not organ-
ized with any spirit of exclusion of any orphan
because of his race, color, or previous status in
society. We have built on the banks of the
Teche a home to which they can come, and
where they can be clothed, fed, instructed, and
fitted for the activities and responsibilities of the
present life and for the enjoyments of that higher
life which is to come. It is our purpose to make
our Orphans' Home a model institution, espe-
cially in the matter of rendering it self-sup-
porting."
It is hoped that, after the present year, we will
be able to support ourselves. We have seventeen
hundred acres of land, of which four hundred are
under cultivation, mostly in sugar and corn.
Small tracts have been rented to certain freed-
men, who live on the plantation with their fami-
lies, and who give one third of their crops for
rent. Enough cane has been raised the present
year to enable us to secure a large crop the
ensuing year by planting and cultivating it. By
building a sugar mill, at a cost of about six thou-
3*
58 GILBERT ACADEMY
sand dollars (considerable machinery being al-
ready in our hands and available for that purpose),
we can consider ourselves fully able not only to
care for the number of orphans already in our
charge but to increase it considerably. We do
not propose to make our asylum a poorhouse,
where pauperism shall become a habit or a pur-
pose. Our aim is higher, better, more noble, be-
cause it is more practical, more useful. We aim
to receive poor little orphan children and give
them a home. We aim to educate those who
come to us in all the rudiments of a plain, prac-
tical, common English education. We teach in-
dustry and usefulness as mainsprings of a success
in life. WTe take those of our beneficiaries who
are able to work into the field and garden and
then instruct them in the great fact that life and
happiness are not to be separated from honest,
earnest labor.
From the efforts thus put forth, under a work-
man whose employment is secured for twenty
dollars per month, the home, with its extensive
family, receives all its vegetables. Nor do we
convey the idea that labor of the field or gar-
den is the only one fitted to engage the attention
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 59
of our inmates. We have already prepared some
of our orphans to be teachers of public and pri-
vate schools. Those in some of our public schools
in the country are receiving a salary of forty or
fifty dollars per month. Fifteen of our number
are pupils in a collegiate school on an adjoining
plantation, one at least of whom is preparing for
the profession of law. Seventy children have
been attending school in connection with the
home, and, under faithful teachers supplied by
the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, have made most gratifying ad-
vancement.
Five of our girls and one of our boys have
been sent out to homes in Christian families,
they being over sixteen years of age. Six
boys have been discharged from the institu-
tion for the reason that they were old enough to
take care of themselves. They are now earn-
ing an honest living. Three have been mar-
ried and are now living in their own homes.
The health of our orphan family has been good
during the whole year, so that we have had but
slight need of the visits or the medicines of the
physician.
6O GILBERT ACADEMY
The religious culture of the children has been
carefully promoted. Chapel services have been
held every evening. Sabbath services and a Sun-
day school have been kept up during the year, on
all of which the divine blessing has descended.
A prayer meeting has been held every Friday
evening, which is attended by the children and
other inmates of the home. The addition of
eighteen members to the Church in the place
from among the older children is a noteworthy
event of the year, and, indeed, the most gratifying
of all.
It was reported to the Mississippi Conference
that "in 1867 there was some uncertainty as to
the financial success of this important enterprise.
It is generally known that M. de Bossier, of France,
had generously offered ten thousand dollars to
the institution providing the same was increased
to thirty thousand dollars by January i, 1867."
But January came, and we had failed to raise the
twenty thousand dollars. It was a trying hour,
but we were unwilling to submit to defeat without
further effort. Impelled by the necessities of the
case, I wrote to M. de Bossier for an extension of
time, which he very kindly granted, and on the
first of April, 1867, we had the great satisfaction
'
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 6 I
to deposit in the Bank of America, in New Or-
leans, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, which
secured to us the ten thousand dollars offered by
M. de Bossier. This achievement was a cause of
sincere joy to the friends of the home and of de-
vout gratitude to God. It is proper to state that
the twenty thousand dollars was raised principally
in the North, and we are especially indebted to
Major General O. O. Howard for a munificent
donation, and for lesser sums to dear friends in
New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and
Illinois. May God bless them! As M. de Bos-
sier stipulated that the thirty thousand dollars
should be expended in the purchase of a farm
and its improvement, we have accordingly com-
plied with his condition and have made the
purchase.
Down along the banks of the Teche are mas-
sive live oaks whose branches are covered with
moss and which cast a grateful shade, and at in-
tervals are lofty pecan trees laden with nuts.
Here is to be the home of our orphans ; here
their schoolhouse, their workshop, and their play-
grounds. On the opposite side of the parish road
is a field of seven hundred acres, rich sugar land,
inclosed with an osage-orange hedge on three
62 GILBERT ACADEMY
sides, while beyond are more than nine hundred
acres of woodland, on which is much valuable
timber. Amid the oaks and cypresses of this
swamp flows a small bayou, wherein the garfish
floats lazily along and the alligator basks in the
scant gleams of the sun. On the eastern banks
of this stream is a good steam sawmill and also
draining machine, which may be used to redeem
hundreds of acres of what is now swamp land.
On the 1 7th of last September this noble plan-
tation was purchased by the managers of the
Orphans' Home for fourteen thousand dollars.
Here, on the verdant banks of the Teche, charity
and education join hands for the elevation of a
race, while religion shall sanctify and smile upon
the union.
"THE ORPHANS' HOME, LA TECHE, LOUISIANA,
May 22, 1875.
" To the Orphans' Home Board of Louisiana :
"GENTLEMEN AND LADIES: In this my first
communication since you were pleased to clothe
me with responsibility, under your oversight, in
the management of your affairs at this place, I
desire to congratulate you on the blessedness and
glory of your calling to administer so great a
benevolence. I doubt not you feel as I do, that
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 63
this is the Lord's work and the great duty of our
day. By this I mean that there is no mode of
benevolence now so urgent on American Chris-
tians as that which is directed toward the elevation
and the salvation of the freedmen. Let us
unitedly pray that the Saviour of all men may so
guide that we, in our sphere, may accomplish the
greatest amount of good.
"I have endeavored, since I came to this work,
to attain to an understanding of the wants of the
freedmen and of the needs of this particular in-
stitution. I have arrived at some conclusions
which I feel warranted in expressing to you.
"i.I am convinced that the freedman can rise in
the scale of social existence, and, to some degree,
into the enjoyment of even his political and civil
rights, only through slow processes of education.
Circumstances will not make him. He must be
able to make his circumstances. Nothing but
Christian education will enable him to do this.
You have discerned this and evidenced your judg-
ment in the plans you have heretofore laid out
for execution.
" 2. I have observed the need of a practical,
everyday business education. This is just as
64 GILBERT ACADEMY
pressing as that which is higher and more gener-
ally cultivated in schools.
" 3. I perceive that the home and daily sur-
roundings of these, our dependent brethren, have
an intimate connection with their intellectual and
moral degradation. Until he can have a more
comfortable and attractive home the freedman's
progress upward will be slow. His present style
of abode is too like the den of his slave life to sug-
gest fully the blessings and dignity of freedom.
He has no glass in his windows; no paint on his
house ; few rooms in his dwelling, so that many
have to crowd into a common sleeping apartment ;
his poverty forbids his burning artificial lights
except when forced by necessity to do so ; the
warm climate invites out of doors. Consequently
the entire family are inclined to be out at night.
The young people are thus corrupted, and the
older ones are not improved.
"4. The freedman, from lack of training, loses
in business transactions, and when he is clearly
defrauded he does not know how to defend him-
self, even if defense were otherwise practicable.
He has not, therefore, as yet been in a position
to see a fair chance of profiting by his labor.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 65
He is not yet inspired with the prospect of
gain. He will be, doubtless, when he sees the
way to it clear, when he is presented with an
offer, and has confidence in the integrity of
those who present it. I beg leave, therefore, to
present the following suggestions :
" i. That a church be built on this plantation.
The Church Extension Society will probably
aid. If they do not, let other aid be found.
The work will all be donated here. I presume
it would be necessary to raise three to five hun-
dred dollars cash.
" 2. That the La Teche Seminary be sustained
in pe rpetuo, as preparatory to the New Orleans
University. I presume that, for next year, a
plan suggested by the Rev. J. C. Hartzell, your
able and worthy treasurer, will work. It is to
secure an able white minister from the North
who, with his wife and necessary assistants, can
give instruction and govern the seminary. This
arrangement strikes me as feasible, and will
meet the intellectual and spiritual wants of the
place so far as the institution is called on to
meet them.
66 GILBERT ACADEMY
" 3. I would respectfully suggest that a good
man and his wife from the North, whether minis-
ter or layman, be secured as superintendent of
the home and the plantation, with the chance
to make his living out of one third of the crops
and the boarding house, on condition of keep-
ing everything in repair, having oversight of all
the farmers, teaching and directing them in all
practical matters, keeping the orphans that may
be here to a certain number, receiving and car-
ing for any others that may be otherwise pro-
vided for, and giving necessary rooms to the
teachers and their families.
" 4. Let a company be formed in New Orleans
with fifty thousand dollars capital, five hundred
shares of one hundred dollars each. Let one
hundred shares be paid in at first — that is, twenty
per cent on all the shares taken, and this amount
paid the Home Board for two hundred acres of
land. Let this land be laid off in one acre lots
and comfortable tenements be erected thereon and
let to such colored men as desire to occupy them
and can satisfy the company of their fitness. Let
the rent be sufficient to pay for the house and lot
in a given number of years, with a margin for re-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 67
pairs. Let the men be told that at the expiration of
the given time, if they have been prompt and faith-
ful, the rent paid shall be accepted as payment for
the property, and a deed be made to them. Let
them have at the beginning a bond for such a deed.
Details of the plan could be determined by the
company. They need not be entered into now.
" I beg you to consider it earnestly and see at
once if something cannot be done. Brother
Hartzell, if instructed to do so, could solicit con-
tributors to such a fund while he is North this
summer. Now is the time for action. If we do
not embrace this opportunity to enact some plan
the power will go out of our hands. Land is very
cheap, and many places about us are bidding for
the colored man's money. The men who are now
here are making up their minds upon the issues
of this year. Next spring they will either go else-
where or decide to remain and bring their families
here to reside. If we go forward we shall retain
those we have and secure more.
" 5. During this year quite a sum of money will
have to be expended in repairing the home and
the sugarhouse and mill.
68 GILBERT ACADEMY
" Now, brethren, I will close this lengthy paper,
begging your earnest and prayerful attention, and
subscribing myself,
"Yours very truly,
W. D. GODMAN."
AN APPEAL TO CHRISTIANS.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in
his commandments.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness
endureth forever. — Psalm cxii, I, 9.
FELLOW-CHRISTIANS: Our appeal is to you. In
behalf of five millions of the Lord's poor in the
South, the colored wards of the nation, our brothers
and sisters redeemed with Jesus's precious blood,
we bespeak your candid attention. The colored
people have nothing wherewith to help them-
selves. The means to educate and elevate them
must come from the Christians of the North until
the Southern Christians shall have the ready
mind for their help. The time will come, we are
persuaded, when the Lord will make them to be
" pitied of all them that carried them captives."
While the Lord's time for this tarries he would
give us of the North the heavenly privilege of
ministering to the wants of these his chosen ones.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 69
Shall we heed his call? If we do not, then as
American citizens his retributions await us !
Your attention is called particularly to the wants
of this people in Louisiana. In this remote re-
gion of our country less has probably been done
by the benevolence of Northern Christians than
elsewhere in the South. Yet great enterprises for
good have been undertaken and are in progress.
A benevolent man in Ohio gave ten thousand
dollars to the American Missionary Association
for the purpose of founding a college for colored
youth in New Orleans. Straight University, a
vigorous institution, commemorates his name and
is fulfilling nobly his intent. Mr. and Mrs. Cham-
berlain, of Brooklyn, N. Y., gave twenty thousand
dollars for the establishment of Leland Univer-
sity among the same people. These godly peo-
ple spend their winters at the university, and
Mr. Chamberlain superintends, gratuitously, the
finances of both university and boarding hall,
counting himself and his means wholly the
Lord's. O, noble examples ! Are there lovers of
Jesus who will emulate them?
At the close of the late civil war Hon. Thomas
Conway, District Commissioner of the Freed-
7O GILBERT ACADEMY
men's Bureau, smitten, as many were, with com-
passion of the hapless lot of the orphans of de-
ceased Union soldiers, gathered about a hundred
of them together in New Orleans and rallied
around him the active cooperation of the Chris-
tians of the city. These orphans were cared for
a few years by the agencies of the Freedmen's
Bureau. It became evident, however, that their
permanent protection and instruction must be
committed to other hands, and they were at
length committed to the watch-care of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church.
The orphans were in their new home, in the
midst of that beautiful region styled in Longfel-
low's "Evangeline" "the Eden of Louisiana," by
January i, 1869.
For a few years the Board of Management re-
ceived aid from the State of Louisiana. But this
aid at length ceased, and the board found them-
selves, with a family of one hundred persons, rap-
idly accumulating debt. In July, 1874, the greater
number of the orphans were distributed in homes
procured for them among people of their own race,
leaving only about ten at the home. Since that
time the sugarhouse was entirely destroyed by
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Jl
explosion of the boiler, and the debts, by accumu-
lation of interest and by misfortune of one or two
bad seasons, have grown almost to the sum of ten
thousand dollars. The financial pressure of the
times is doubly distressing to an already embar-
rassed benevolent institution. The danger is now
imminent of losing this magnificent property to
Protestant Christianity and to true benevolence.
Some species of speculator will seize it if it go
from us. Help must come quickly.
The good already done in six or seven years
of care and instruction is great and strikingly vis-
ible. We cannot yield to the now threatening
danger without an earnest appeal to the friends
of humanity, to those who toiled and prayed for
the emancipation of an oppressed race, and who
still desire their improvement and elevation. We
have three sources of power in our hands, which,
with divine help, wUl be most efficient in improv-
ing our colored people :
1. The plantation, to train them to intelligent
and productive industry.
2. The village, La Teche, to furnish the oppor-
tunity of civic experience and training, and still
more, the blessedness of Christian homes.
3. The school, La Teche Seminary, preparatory
72 GILBERT ACADEMY
to the New Orleans University, which will furnish
the intellectual discipline and literary culture so
eagerly sought after by the colored youth, and so
needful to make them a high order of citizens.
One most crying need of the colored race is the
home, the Christian home. We make a specialty
of cultivating among them a home-life through
our growing village. They buy lots cheap and
have time to make their payments.
How grand an opportunity this for the colored
race ! Can you name any enterprise comparable
to it in grandeur and in promise of success ? A
comparatively small amount of money will free
this property from embarrassment, put it in good
repair, and replace its destroyed sugarhouse. It
seems to us that twenty thousand dollars will be
needed for these several purposes. Trusting in
God, we present our claims before an enlightened
Christian public. The Rev. -W. D. Godman and
his wife, Mrs. A. H. Godman, are our accredited
agents, who will faithfully account for all moneys
intrusted to them.
GEN. CYRUS BUSSEY, President,
REV. J. C. HARTZELL, B.D., Treasurer.
Hon. H. C. Dibble, Hon. E. Heath, Hon. A. J.
Sypher, Managers.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 73
THE ORPHANS' HOME SOCIETY OF LOUISIANA.
To THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC OF THE UNITED
STATES: We hold in trust a large and valuable
sugar plantation on the Bayou Teche, in Louisi-
ana, one hundred miles from New Orleans. The
Southern Pacific Railroad passes through the
property. The plantation consisted originally of
fifteen hundred acres, which were bought in 1867.
An additional large outlay was made in the erec-
tion of an orphans' home building and a school-
house, in building sugarhouse and planters'
quarters, and in fencing and putting the planta-
tion in a condition to be remunerative. The
whole amount expended was thirty thousand dol-
lars; ten thousand dollars of this amount were
donated by M. de Bossier, of Marseilles, France.
A large part of the remainder was given by the
Freedmen's Bureau, and the balance was raised
principally in the North by the Rev. Dr. Newman
and other devoted friends of the colored people,
who labored with him in the South at the time.
The home, which had already been opened in
New Orleans, was transferred to the plantation,
and had, for seven years, an average of one hun-
4
74 GILBERT ACADEMY
dred orphans per annum. At first the orphans of
colored soldiers were cared for, being fed, clothed,
and educated. During these years the income
from the plantation was not so large as was an-
ticipated. The hard times, financially, through-
out the country, cut off donations, and the
sugarhouse was badly damaged by the explosion
of the boiler, and had to be refitted. So it trans-
pired tnat in 1874 we found ourselves embarrassed
with debt, and we deemed it wise to find homes
for nearly all the children, leaving always a few
on the place with the matron, and to devote our
efforts to clearing the property from embarrass-
ment. The debt amounted to about ten thousand
dollars and interest — in all, to nearly thirteen thou-
sand dollars. Of this amount five thousand, with
interest, was due the Freedmen's Aid Society of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the re-
mainder was made up of local debts.
The Rev. Dr. W. D. Godman, our Correspond-
ing Secretary, has had in charge the property
since 1875. For two and a half years he and Mrs.
Godman, who is also one of our managers, have
been in the North raising money to pay the debts.
During that time they have raised and paid on
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 75
the debts of the institution something over six
thousand dollars. By a happy arrangement with
the Freedmen's Aid Society and our local credit-
ors, we have been enabled to provide for our
remaining debts by the sale to our creditors
of about one third of our plantation, leaving
us nearly one thousand acres and all the improve-
ments valuable to us. Had it not been for the
terrific storm of last September, by which our
buildings were destroyed, we could at once re-
open our home and school. That storm, which
destroyed millions of property in that region of
the State, played sad havoc with our buildings
and improvements. The main building, which
was a two-story brick, two hundred and twenty-
five feet long and fifty feet wide, was so badly
wrecked that only a part of it can be utilized in
rebuilding. The schoolhouse, the gift of the
Freedmen's Bureau, was entirely destroyed. The
barn, planters' quarters, and fences were nearly all
swept away.
We have rebuilt such buildings and fences as
we were able. Now that the debts are provided
for our purpose is to reopen the home and the
La Teche Seminary next fall. To furnish the
76 GILBERT ACADEMY
necessary buildings to do this will require about
five thousand dollars. The Rev. Dr. and Mrs.
Godman are now in the North to raise this
amount. They have already demonstrated their
great interest in this work by their unselfish de-
votion to it, laboring continuously, without com-
pensation, even at times bearing a part of their
own traveling expenses. Through them, as our
accredited representatives, we appeal to the
Christian public of America for help.
A few orphans have all the time been under
our care. But we hope to soon have scores to
whom we can impart Christian culture, and whom
we can send forth to lead and save their people.
Our seminary embraces within its helpful influ-
ence a large number of pupils from a wide terri-
tory, the orphans being but a small fraction of
the entire number.
We beseech especially the friends of the col-
ored people to make Dr. and Mrs. Godman wel-
come, and to help them for the Master's sake,
whose poor, through us, they represent. The
opportunities for good, through this institution,
are boundless. The poor and homeless children
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 77
of the colored people are numbered, in every
Southern State, by thousands. From these can
be gathered those who, after a few years of Chris-
tian training, can go among their people as teach-
ers and leaders to aid them in their struggles for
a better and higher civilization. Remember the
words of the Mas.ter, " Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye
have done it unto me."
Your brethren and sisters in Christ,
REV. J. C. HARTZELL, D.D., President.
REV. JOSEPH MATLOCK,
First Vice-President.
REV. EMPEROR WILLIAMS,
Sec on d Vice-Presiden t.
THOMAS G. TRACY, Esq., Treasurer.
JAMES G. B. WILLIAMS, Esq.,
Recording Secretary.
Rev. Henry Green, Hon. Edward Heath, Hon.
John Page, Hon. H. C. Dibble, Mrs. J. C. Hart-
zell, Mrs. C. W. Boothby, Mrs. C. B. Drew, Mrs.
J. Hayward, Mrs. T. G. Tracy, Managers.
January, 1880.
78 GILBERT ACADEMY
REV. J. T. B.'LABAU,
Pastor Baptist Church, Baldwin, La.
REV. J. T. B. LABAU was born March 26, 1854,
near Jeanerette, St. Mary's Parish, La. His mother
was bought and brought a slave, from Virginia ;
his father and master came from, France. He did
not have the chance of getting an education until
the close of the war. His mother moved to
Franklin, La., where young Labau entered the
public school, under the tutorship of Mrs. J. C.
Roberts, in 1866-67. He was a studious boy, and
soon won the esteem of his teacher and school-
mates. Having been compelled to work in order
to earn money for the purpose of educating him-
self, he was employed at the Orphans' Home, as
it was then called. It has been succeeded by
Gilbert Academy. Having earned money enough,
he returned to school, and was greeted by his
teacher and classmates. At the close of school
he passed a creditable examination for the po-
sition of a teacher in the county public school,
which he filled with honor to the school and credit
to himself.
In all his early life he had a good religious
training, having a Christian mother who taught
REV. J. T. B. LABAU.
'AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 79
him Christian truth, and prayed that her son
might become a good Christian man and be a
good citizen and neighbor. Her prayers have
been answered, though the good Lord has taken
her home to heaven. Her prayers and teachings,
like bread cast upon the waters, are seen after
many days. The subject of this sketch was al-
ways a great lover of good books, the Sunday
school, and the Church. He was converted and
called to preach the Gospel of the Son of God in
1874. About this time the Rev. Dr. W. D. God-
man, a Christian gentleman, became acquainted
with young Labau, and, apparently, the reverend
doctor saw signs of usefulness in him. Though
he, Labau, was a Baptist, yet Dr. Godman began
to encourage him to study the word of God that
he might become a worthy leader of his people
and a preacher among them. Later on he went
to New Orleans and entered that University, of
which Dr. Godman was president, and pursued
biblical and theological studies. The president
points with pride to his former student because
of his attainments and because of his ability to
think for himself. At a later period the subject
of this sketch was ordained. In 1883 he entered
the Baptist ministry. He has been very success-
8O GILBERT ACADEMY
ful, both as preacher and teacher. He is married,
and lives happily with his wife and five hopeful,
happy children, in the town of Baldwin, La., near
Gilbert Academy. One of Mr. Labau's charges
is located a't Baldwin, where the session of the
Union Baptist Association, sixth district of
Louisiana, met on the I4th day of June, 1892.
The association elected Mr. Labau vice-president.
With a strong physique and with favoring cir-
cumstances Mr. Labau has the prospect of a very
successful career as a minister of the Gospel.
OPENING OF LA TECHE SEMINARY.
April i, 1875. — Seminary opened this day at
9 A. M., in the schoolhouse, a building presented
by the Freedmen's Bureau to the Orphans' Home
Society. Present, W. D. Godman and Mrs. A. H.
Dexter Godman, teachers; and fifty-six pupils, all
of genuine ebony or snuff color and of various
grades of attainment, some learning the alphabet
and some studying algebra and natural philoso-
phy. We formed nineteen classes, besides such
as may require lessons in penmanship, and two
advanced students, one in biblical science and one
in Latin, who will need instruction in private.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 8 I
To the color of the students two notable excep-
tions should not be overlooked, namely, the
daughter of the principal and the son of the
matron of the Orphans' Home.
We began with cheerful salutation to the house
of eager youth and reading Psalm i, which was
followed by singing and prayer and by two short
addresses. After this we proceeded at once to
enrolling the students and organizing the classes.
In enrolling we found interesting names, some
by grand historic association — for example, Martha
Washington, Geraldine Calvin ; some by coinci-
dence with celebrities of fiction — for example,
Adeline Bray ; some by a queer combination of
fine significance with burly, two-fisted suggestions
— for example, Memory Bowser ; and some by
scriptural sanctity, as in the case of two little
chicks, black as Pluto's pullets, the first names
taken in enrolling a primer class, namely, Solomon
Marshall and Rebecca Sims.
We were interested, and at the same time
grieved, to find that quite a large number — and
some of them not mere children — could not give
their age, for the good reason that they did not
know it. Quite likely their parents could give us
4*
82 GILBERT ACADEMY
no more accurate information on this point than
the children. They would say such a one was
" bawn yeah To' de wah," and such a one " second
yeah after de wah." The misses showed, some of
them, the same sensitiveness regarding their age
that marks their fairer sisters. Query, Is this
feeling, therefore, a pure expression of nature, or
is it merely the fruit of education ? One might
suggest that such a feeling is a transmitted expe-
rience, the recurrence of what ancestors felt. If
this were granted it would but remove the ques-
tion for answer a little further back. Did the
ancestor derive his feeling (or hers) from nature
pure and simple ? In the case of these poor chil-
dren what education, except that of nature, have
their ancestry received ? One coal-black lad,
with a broad square face and features contrived
to hide expression, when asked for his age replied,
" Three times seven." He did not allow his mus-
cles to smile, but his eye twinkled.
One youth, giving his name with pompous man-
ner— a talented fellow, by the way — rose near the
close of the session to inquire in behalf of several
persons who wished to labor part of each day
what would be the regulation hours of school ses-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 83
sion, the hours having been already announced
as from eight to one. In answer to his in-
quiry the announcement was repeated. Where-
upon he characteristically desired to know "if it
was in de fo'noon." There was a ripple of laugh-
ter throughout the house, which the teachers
quietly ignored, and the young gentleman was in-
formed that they who wished to labor could be
excused at 1 2 M., and " all was quiet along the
Potomac."
FATHER GREEN (REV. HENRY GREEN).
FATHER GREEN, the pastor of the Lord's flock
in this place (La Teche), his " Southdowns," as
some say, is an earnest Christian and very wise in
the discernment of character and in the exercise
of judgment in practical matters. Being much
annoyed by hawks killing his chickens, instead of
procuring a gun and going for accipiter latro, he
set up a martin box on the top of a pole. There-
after when the hawks came the -martins flew out
and after them, as is their wont, and the hawks,
annoyed, left for more congenial shores.
Father Green has a rich store of the memories of
the time of bondage. He used to preach in slavery
84 GILBERT ACADEMY
days, and, being a good man, was often borrowed
by his master's neighbors. This gave him oppor-
tunity to form extensive acquaintance among the
slaves and to do good among them. On one par-
ticular plantation the slaves were of bad character,
dissolute, profane, and violent. Green, being
among these irreligious slaves, from whom all re-
ligious observances had been driven away, began
to hold meetings secretly in a cabin remotely situ-
ated, and in the most quiet manner, so that no
noise could be heard, even by one at the door, ex-
ercises being carried on sotto voce. (This would
seem almost impossible, but so it was related.)
This went on successfully for a time, but, to use
Green's expressive language, " the Spirit of God
cum from somewhar," and the excitement and
noise drew the attention of the overseer. Most
of the attendants had time to escape before the
overseer entered the cabin ; but the convicted
souls, wrestling with God, " lay on the flo'." They
were quickly hustled out to a place of confine-
ment and reported to the master as " drunk."
" Drunk ? " said the master, " where'd they get
the whisky?" No smuggling of whisky was
allowed. However, the master's doubts were al-
layed, and the penitents were sentenced to work
AXI> AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 85
in the field with an empty whisky bottle tied
around the neck and swinging under the chin.
This was said to have occurred in Mississippi.
A FUNERAL.
April 6, 1875. — Down the road toward the
schoolhouse, which is used as a church, comes a
long, quiet procession of black people, old and
young, men and women ; the men, some with hats,
and some without ; the women, some with turbans,
some with hats, some with mere flowing ker-
chiefs ; girls and boys, some of them barefoot.
Their friend, newly arrived and from a distance,
looks on with a keen, sympathetic interest, wait-
ing for indications of their sentiments toward
death. If they have any thought of the presence
of a stranger they would seem to think that he
must be too familiar with death and grief to be
out of harmony with the occasion. The humble
procession arrives at the front, and there is a pause
until the sexton has opened gate and doors. The
coffin, without hearse or bier, has been carried a
long distance in the hands of willing men. It is
a plain box of cypress boards, but they are wholly
86 GILBERT ACADEMY
covered with black muslin, and grief is as appro-
priately and tenderly expressed as by a pall of
broadcloth or silk. There is neither silver plate
nor the deceased's name, nor silver-headed nails,
nor silver-mounted handles. It is brought into the
church quietly and placed endwise on two chairs.
There is present a large circle of relatives, but
no show of sorrow, no moans and tears. These
expressions, if indulged, are witnessed at the grave.
The hymns selected are solemn and are sung with
subdued feeling. There is no outward evidence
of deep grief. But in the prayers and in the
minister's words, as well as in the bearing of
the entire assembly, is to be observed the lan-
guage of relief and satisfaction. " The end of
life is its best part " seems to be the sentiment
of all. " He's gone to glory " is their comfort.
The mention of his departure was responded to
with " Glory to God." So everywhere the poor
and lowly look on death as the escape from a
sad lot.
These poor people find their blessedness in
the anticipation of glory. They thus stand where
stood the early Christians and the holy martyrs.
They sing with fervor :
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 87
" O, breclren will you go ?
Will you, will you,
Go wid me to glory ? "
A protracted meeting, so called, or, as gener-
ally designated here, a mourners' meeting, was in
progress. The evening following the funeral four
persons presented themselves for prayers. As the
exercises advance it is evident that the " mourn-
ers " are not very intelligently guided. Ah, poor,
lost sheep ! where shall ye find your shepherds ?
The kind of preaching in vogue does not seem
to reach the young. They are not in sympathy
with the religion set forth to them. They come
to Sunday school and leave before the sermon
begins. At night they sit as near the door as
may be practicable, and look on with criticism
and sometimes with rport.
The next generation will be very different from
those wrho have come out of bondage. They will
be either ruined by freedom or saved by knowl-
edge and the grace of God. Which shall it be ?
The latter, we pray. To this end we shall labor.
We shall hope to witness the disappearance of
the superstitious notions about dreams, witches,
devils, etc. We cannot, on the other hand, desire
88 GILBERT ACADEMY
the disappearance of the precious songs of this
people. But go they will. They belong to an un-
tutored age. They can neither be produced nor
reproduced among an intelligent and reflective
people. They are outbursts of childish feeling,
conveying often beautiful and touching truth.
Here are some specimens that we have never seen
in print. When sung to their peculiar airs they
are unutterably affecting.
" The puttiest thing that ever I done,
I'm on my way ;
I served my God when I was young ;
I'm on my way.
I never can forgit de day
When Jesus wash my sins away ;
I'm on my way.
" One mornin' at de broke of day
De Mornin' Star burst on my soul ;
I'm on my way.
Ef 'ligion could be bought wid money,
De rich 'ud lib an' de' po' 'ud die ;
I'm on my way."
" You may hunt all roun' dis unfrien'ly world,
'Mong all de nobles' men you'll find,
Dere's nary 'nudcler one like Jesus."
" De preacher's gwine to preach aroun',
De preacher's gwine to preach aroun',
De preacher's gwine to preach aroun'
De new buryin' groun'.
" De mourners gwine to mourn aroun'," etc., etc.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 89
"My time is come an' I mus' go ;
Hope I may jine cle ban'.
Don' grieve lor me 'n I'm dead an' gone ;
Hope I may jine de ban'."
" He lied in de grave that sinners might be saved-
Dere's nary 'nother one like Jesus,
Like Jesus,
An' dere's nary 'nother one like Jesus.
" You may hunt in all dis sinful worl',
You may hunt it tro' and tro',
An' dere's nary 'nother one like Jesus.
»
" Go all among dem noble men,
You may search among dem all,
An' dere's nary 'nother one like Jesus.
" O, he hunged upon de cross
Dat de worl' might not be los',
An' dere's nary 'nother one like Jesus."
WE ALL SHALL BE FREE.
" De Father look at de Son an' smile,
De Son he look after me ;
De Father redeem my soul from hell,
An' de Son did set me free.
CHORUS : We all shall be free, we all shall be free,
When de Lord he set us free.
" He done more than Moses done,
Our Prophet, Priest, and King ;
From bonds of hell Christ freed my soul,
An' taught my lips to sing.
CHORUS : We all shall be free, we all shall be free,
When de Lord he set us free.
90 GILBERT ACADEMY
" When de moon run down in de purple stream,
An' de sun refuse to shine,
An' ebery star it disappear,
King Jesus shall be mine.
CHORUS : We all shall be free, we all shall be free,
When de Lord he set us free."
" Dere's a foursquare city,
Where Jesus Christ do dwell ;
Dere's a foursquare city,
Gwine to anchor by an' by."
THE PREACHER'S SEVERITY.
" DE trubble in yo' case, de hind'rin' cause of yo'
salvation, is keepin' foolish company. Ye walk
about and wisit each other Sundays, clappin' juber,
laughin' at all manner of silly talk, and laughin'
in de church at ev'rything, runnin' away from
de preachin' an' shunnin' de ole preacher, jes' like
a flock o' sheep leapin' one after another out of
de pen. I thank God de ole preacher don' have
to preach to please de young women."
A PUZZLE.
April 12, 1875. — I spent many minutes this
morning trying to fix in the mind of a girl thirteen
years old the knowledge that seven and three make
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 9!
ten. She would say : " Seven and one are eight ;
seven and two are nine; seven and three are ten,"
when following my pointer on the blackboard ; but
the moment her attention was taken from the board
she would say, " Seven and one are ten ; seven and
three are eight," or " Seven and three are twenty."
What case is this? Want of memory ? Want of
abstraction ? Lack of imagination, or want of at-
tention ? It would seem a congenital defect.
A TOUCHING RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
ONE sister, black and tall, and of a genuine
African type, with her blue and white striped
dress, and her red and white turban, which pro-
jected formidably backward, and with her long
neck, prominent eyes, and big lips and chin, be-
gan to swing her body and throw her head and
arms in singing — all gracefully and solemnly.
Other sisters swayed and sang and clapped their
hands gently. Then came prayer, and the tall,
black Corybant led. She said : " You know,
Lord, what I cum to yer fur. O, Jesus ! Look
on my po' soul ; bless my sistahs and bruddahs ;
come wid sin-killin' an' devil-drivin' powah ; let
dese po' sinnahs feel dat dey mus' all die, an* can't
92 GILBERT ACADEMY
live. You is a man o' wah ; you fit de battle in de
wildahness ; you fit roun' de walls ob Jericho. O,
you is a man o' wah ; fight our battles for us. O,
po' sinnahs, yo' mus' die an' can't live. Jesus die
for yo' sins ; he live high up in hebben. O, po'
sinnah, don' stay away! don' stay away!"
These words were uttered with musical ca-
dences, sweet, weird, ravishing. The other sisters,
kneeling all around, as she paused, responded
antiphonally, with unutterable pathos : " Don' stay
away ! O, don' stay away ! " Another time it was,
"Jesus is ready, is ready !" Another time it was,
"You are weary, po' sinnah, weary, weary ! "
Here was nature, art, inspiration, all combined,
without any technique to produce some of the
highest conceivable effects. Beautiful is human
nature, no matter about the complexion. Great
is the spirit, whether in- the cultured or the un-
tutored heart.
A NOISY MEETING.
AT one time four persons had "the power,"
jumping and shouting. I doubted for a moment
"whereunto this thing would grow," but concluded
the Lord could guide the storm. He did. The
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 93
old preacher, never at a loss, remarked that " he
liked to shout as much as anyone, but that he
generally held in what he got so as to keep some
for another time." This had the desired effect.
SOME PREACHING.
May 2, 1875. — The preacher to-day exhorted
the people not to be afraid of white folks. He
told them that the white people, at least those
whom they had to deal with, were their friends ;
that he was satisfied that if the colored man was
to be lifted up so as to be more and better than
he is now it must be " through de white people."
" We mus' not stay in de woods, bred'ren, an' keep
away from de white folks 'kase we's afeerd of 'em ;
ef we do we'll be like some animals dat stay in de
woods an' die dar, an' nuthin' comes of 'em."
At the close they gathered around us with warm
greetings.
THE DEVIL TAKETH AWAY.
THE pastor's sermon to-day was on the Parable
of the Sower. He was at a loss, evidently, for
matter for some minutes ; said, as he usually does,
94 GILBERT ACADEMY
the length of his " disco'se " would depen' a good
deal on the "Sperrit." He made the first part of
this memorable " disco'se," after he got well
started, on "The devil cometh and taketh away."
"We mus' hev an understandin' of de truth, you
know ; mus' understan' what de Gospel is, and
what de Lor' do for us. But de devil always in
de church; he never stay away from church;
he knows his case. Ye can't see him comin' to
church ; ye can't see how he looks an' what he's
a doin'; it'd be agin him fur to be seen. But
when de po' mo'ner gits to thinkin' on de truth
of Jesus, then the devil jes' come an' sort o' tangle
him all up in his thoughts so he don' no mo'
understan' what he hear."
The second division related to " unfruitfulness."
"Ye see, we many times fin' ourselves down low
in dis worl' an' we see somebody what's higher, so
we jes' takes a big leap an' tries to be as big as
de udder man. Or dere's some case or udder we
fix up, an' we think dat's jes' de thing for us to
shine; so at it we go, but dere's no Jesus in it, no
Jesus in it, not a bit of it ; an' so we are unfruit-
ful, jes' as dat ar pignut tryin' to be a pecan ; it
can't be did."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 95
SOME SAYINGS.
May 2, 1875, Night Service. — A young broth-
er : "I love de Lor'. How we ort to love him,
brethren ! He lengthen out the brittle thread of
life an' lets our golden moments roll on."
A woman of middle age : " I have a word to say
about my Jesus too. I don' wait 'kase I 'feerd to
speak ; but I was thinkin' I believe Jesus hear
prayer. O, I know he do. He has hyur lately
heerd some Christian prayers ; some Christian
prayers right hyur went clar up to de hebben's
throne, an' dey been answered. I mean to pray
on, an' we all ought to pray for de conversion of
sinnahs, an' our prayers will be answered. Wy,
de prayers of Christians '11 jes' plow up all de fallow
groun' of dis 'ole place, an* de people be converted."
A young woman : " I means to say how-d'ye to
Jesus, sooner in de mornin'."
REV. STEVEN DUNCAN,
Presiding Elder of Shreveport District, La.
REV. STEVEN DUNCAN was born at Cote
Blanche, La., A. D. 1849. He was taken as a serv-
ant to the house of the plantation agent at the age
96 GILBERT ACADEMY
of six years. His occupation at this time was to
carry meals for mechanics daily to the sugar-
house. At an early period he learned much from
these mechanics by working for and with them.
He became a subject of converting grace, as
was believed, in the year 1856, and was baptized
by the Rev. Mr. Craven. One of the remem-
brances of this period (precise date not dis-
tinctly remembered) was this : The Rev. Mr.
Craven said on one occasion, " This night will be
a night long to be remembered." That night the
house of one of the workmen was burned, and a
young woman was burned in it. The subject of
this sketch says : " They kept me about the house
until the war. The agent was a Christian, and
often preached to us. He had two texts : ' Thou
shalt not steal ; ' ' Servants, obey your masters.'
His successor preached with the whip. One day,
the war having come, all the servants left, includ-
ing the house servants, and I was required to do
cooking, washing, etc. One day a firkin, filled
with gold and silver coins and silverware, was
put into my charge to be buried so that the Yan-
kees might not get it. I buried it under a tree
in the garden and hid the spoons in a hollow log.
After the Yankees had come and gone the agent
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 97
and his household took the oath of allegiance,
and I was requested to return to them the money
and the silver, which I did. My mother was in
the quarters.
" One night, while the family were asleep, the
men being away to war, and the madam and her
daughters being alone in the house, I rose from
sleep, went to the stable, took a mule, and went
to the quarters, where I found my mother with all
her bundles packed and in readiness to leave the
place. While I was inside getting some things
together my mother was holding the mule. The
mule, being frightened, ran. My mother, holding
by the bridle, was dragged about an acre and a half.
She was badly injured, but still able to ride. I
walked by her side, and we traveled eighteen miles
to the Byrne plantation, afterward known as the
Orphans' Home, where the Yankees had a camp.
We went on to Franklin, and thence I went
with the Yankees to New Orleans, mother re-
maining behind in Franklin.
" We camped at the Touro building, in the lower
part of the city. On the 4th of March, 1864, we
received orders to leave camp, crossed the river
at the Jackson Street ferry, and thence went on
horseback — being cavalry — to Mansfield, La. I
98 GILBERT ACADEMY
was servant to Captain Pierce, of New Hampshire.
General Banks was defeated and driven back ; the
whole of - - Battery was captured, besides a
brigade of commissary wagons. We retreated
that night to Pleasant Hill, thence to Natchi-
toches, thence to Morganza, crossing the Atcha-
falaya, and having, at the crossing, a severe en-
gagement with the Confeds. The Yankees
whipped and went on to Morganza, stopping there
a week. We went thence by the river to Carrol-
ton. The company was soon mustered out, and I
remained in New Orleans.
"The spot where I now live, Pine and Beurthe
Streets, is about where we were mustered out. I
found my mother, grandmother, and sister in New
Orleans ; went to work in the swamp, down Har-
vey's Canal, wheeling wood to the bayou ; was
occupied in this way about two years ; was after-
ward employed one year in the government serv-
ice, draying about the city.
"In 1866 returned to Cote Blanche, my native
place, my mother and grandmother with me.
Grandmother died there in 1866, at the age of
one hundred and five years. I commenced going
to night school, being instructed by Emerson
Bently. Here I learned the alphabet. The same
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 99
year (1866) I was married to Sylvia Ann Clay,
who is still my companion in life, and the mother
of my six children. In June, 1867, 1 was reclaimed
from a backslidden spiritual condition, and my re-
ligous life began anew through the labors of Rev.
Marcus Dale. I felt deeply impressed the latter
part of the year with the duty of preaching the Gos-
pel. Against this I fought until 1871, when I ran
away to Texas, hoping to hear no more from the
call. Yet it sometimes seemed as though I should
die from misery. I worked for a time for a party
of carpenters on a building. I would sometimes
burst into tears, and my fellow-workmen would
say, ' Wat's de matter wid ye ? Ye must ha'
murdered somebody/
" Intense agony continued for a time. On a Sun-
day night I read the first chapter of Job, hoping
for comfort ; went to bed ; had a vision. Two
men seemed to be after me with a pistol, resolved
to kill me. Somehow I overcame them and com-
pelled them to walk before me until I came to a
white house. Here I saw a throne. On the
throne was Pilate ; before him stood the Saviour,
bound with a new grass rope. I said, ' They've
crucified my Lord and Master again.' The
Saviour seemed to speak and ask, ' Are you not a
IOO GILBERT ACADEMV
Christian?" I shook my head saying, ' No.' The
third time of the question and answer, he said,
'Yes, you are a Christian; follow me.' He then
burst his bonds, and, walking away from Pilate's
judgment-seat, said, ' I've chosen you to preach
my word.' I refused. He then seemed to lay a
cross on me. My shoes came off my feet and I
fell on all fours. Coming to a narrow pass I was
barefoot but going on my hands and knees among
briers. The merciful Redeemer walked by my
side, having a book in his hand, and would say,
every now and then, 'I've chosen you as one of
my disciples to bear my word to sinners.' Then
we came to a river. When I saw it, and .that I
could not cross, I said, ' Lord, if you'll jes' take
this cross off me, whatever I fin' in your cause to
do I'll do.' He spoke and the cross vanished.
He handed me the book, saying, ' Go preach my
word.' The vision was ended.
"Monday morning I left for home, not stopping
even to collect my back pay. Reached home
Tuesday, and preached Tuesday night. Forty-
one persons came forward as mourners. More
than one hundred and fifty were converted about
there in six months. For certain reasons satis-
factory to ourselves left Mr. Dale's church and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 1CM
came over to join Father Green, at the Home,
which was opened in 1867.
" I was licensed as a local preacher by the Quar-
terly Conference July 7, 1874, and was recom-
mended to the Annual Conference in December,
1874. Was admitted to the Annual Conference
on trial in January, 1875, at the session held in
the First Street Church, New Orleans, Bishop
Foster presiding. Was not elected to orders on
Saturday, but was elected on Monday, and was or-
dained deacon on Monday, being alone. The class
had been ordained on Sunday. Was appointed
to Cote Blanche and Week's Island. Made my
residence this year at the Home ; attended La
Teche Seminary, and recited theology to Dr. W.
D. Godman. I sought the experience of holiness,
being much influenced thereto by Mrs. Godman.
The night that I experienced that great salvation
we had public service in the chapel. A hymn
was sung that I never heard before, thus :
" ' My God, I know I feel thee mine,
And will not quit my claim,
Till all I have is lost in thee,
And all renewed I am.'
The great joy of the blessing came to me after I
went to my home. The next year, 1876, I was
IO2 GILBERT ACADEMY
reappointed to Glencoe and the islands, and re-
moved to Cypremort. I studied at the public
school at the island under Mr. Thompson. Was
reappointed in 1877 In 1878 was appointed by
Bishop Harris to Clinton Street Church, Carrol-
ton. This was the year of the appearance of yel-
low fever in New Orleans. I visited among the
sick constantly until I was myself taken with
the fever. After much suffering I recovered. At-
tended the New Orleans University, which was
then at the corner of Camp and Race Streets.
Dr. J. H. McCarty taught theology part of the
year, and Rev. A. A. Johnson part.
" During the time of my youth, when I was con-
templating the ministry, Mr. H presented me
with a set of Clarke's Commentary, and Miss
H — - gave me a fine Bible, urging me to stay
and preach to the people of the Island. During
the ten years from 1866 to 1876 I worked much at
sugarhouses. I learned the cooper's trade, and
could put up two and one half hogsheads in £
day. I had in boyhood among the mechanics
learned how to manage an engine. I was second
engineer for five years during the sugar season,
and first engineer about the same length of time.
I could take an engine apart and put it together
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 103
again. Sometimes did farm work, plowing and
cutting cane. Have cut three and a half cords of
wood many a day from 6 A. M. to 3 p. M."
NEW ORLEANS UNIVERSITY.
January, 1876. — A colored preacher, address-
ing the students : " Young men, remember these
privileges have been twice bought with blood —
with the precious blood of Jesus, 'as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot,' and with the
blood of our fathers and brethren, who fought and
died for our freedom."
CONVERSATION ON STEAMER— TWO SOUTHERN
WHITE MEN.
ONE said, addressing the company : " You
know me, gentlemen. You are well aware of my
circumstances before the war ; that I lived in afflu-
ence, and my family knew no want. The war
made me a poor man ; but I reflected that I had
a wife whom I had sworn to provide for, and chil-
dren whom I loved and must take care of. I felt
that I could not respect myself and neglect them.
I therefore resolved to do whatever I could turn
1O4 GILBERT ACADEMY
my hand to for a living. I have done various
things to earn my bread and feed my family, and
always with success. I am now on my way up
the bayou to take charge of another man's plan-
tation and to take off his crop. I can do it, and
expect to do it well. Who knows but that some
change of affairs may yet make me a rich man
again ? "
The other said : " The war deprived me of my
slaves and of all my wealth. I had no trade, no
sure way of making a livelihood ; but, seeing a
man repairing some cane-seat chairs one day, I
watched him carefully, and at the end concluded
I could do as much. Putting aside all pride, I
went about in New Orleans and sought jobs, and
in a short time found myself the proprietor of a
second-hand chair shop, with a pretty fair busi-
ness. When the Union troops were occupying
New Orleans there came to my shop one day a
Union officer, who said he needed a secretary, and
had learned that I was a good penman. He in-
quired if I would serve him. He offered one dol-
lar and fifty cents per day. I replied that I would
give him an answer Monday evening, this being
Saturday. He replied that he must have my
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 1 05
services Monday morning, if it all. I reflected
that this Union officer must have something:
O
good in him to offer the position to me, a Con-
fed., and I concluded that, inasmuch as I should
be dismissed from secretarial duties at 4 p. M., I
could give some hours every evening to my trade
so newly acquired, thereby retaining the business.
Therefore I would enter his service Monday
morning. I continued in his service until the
troops left the city, and thereby, in addition to
my chair-mending, I got a start in business, to
which I owe my present success."
A DAY'S OCCUPATION.
March, 1876. — Rose to-day at 6 o'clock A. M.
Went to market ; bought bread, celery, and beef-
steak. After a few little settings to rights of
books and papers, went to the office and wrote and
dispatched notices of a meeting of the Orphans'
Home Society for next Friday night. Then or-
dered sweeping of the school gallery ; inspected
the rooms and halls ; ordered the bell rung ; had
some conversation with a couple of students ;
bell rang again ; chapel service ; led students
IO6 GILBERT ACADEMY
below who belonged in the lower rooms ; went
above and addressed the young ladies ; dismissed
them and returned to the lower rooms ; addressed
the young men and dismissed them ; Mrs. G —
sick ; sent boys to designated rooms with song
books for an hour of practice ; paid Miss M ,
a teacher, five dollars ; went to Mrs. G 's reci-
tation room and heard her classes, except the
French, namely, first arithmetic, second arith-
metic, physiology ; omitted my Greek class, as
they were unprepared. Ordered silence and de-
corum in the room about forty times ; went once
to the door to see a caller ; went below once to
jerk a lawless boy. At 12 M. called all the stu-
dents together in the chapel ; singing and prayer ;
addressed them, while they listened with eager
interest, on attention, progress, and examinations;
dismissed them ; went to the office and wrote four
or five receipts for fees ; gave advice to sundry
persons, and sent some home.
Dined at i p. M. on beefsteak, jelly, bread and
butter, and tea ; rested twenty minutes, sitting in
a rocking-chair ; shaved my chin ; went to St.
Charles Street ; took car to Perdido Street ;
thence walked to 73 Carondelet Street ; had an
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. IO7
interview of one half-hour with Mr. R , and
arranged to go with him a week from next Satur-
day, to view properties ; went thence via Perdido,
St. Charles, Commercial Alley, Camp, Poydras,
and Pedee, down to Old Levee, and thence
around by some other street to New Levee, mak-
ing inquiries at numerous places for the prices of
flour and of shoulders. Found a good firm to
deal with in A. F. Hickman, 35 New Levee.
They seem disposed to understand one's wants,
and then, if possible, to meet them. They also
talk English — that is, American, and that is a de-
sideratum. I therefore purchased of them for
Seelyc, superintendent of Orphans' Home at La
Teche :
1 bbl. shoulders $19 74
2 bbls. flour ii oo
Drayage 40
Freight prepaid I 95
$33 09
For F. Patty :
\ bbl. flour $3 25
65 Ibs. shoulders and sack 6 25
Freight 50
To be shipped this evening. $10 oo
Thence to Fellman Brothers, 133 Canal Street
— Dr. Hartzell now accompanying me — to re-
IO8 GILBERT ACADEMY
quest them not to sue a claim against Mrs. Rob-
erts, the former matron of the Orphans' Home,
until we could make an effort in her behalf. They
promised to wait only until Saturday. Thence alone
to F. L. Richardson's office, to learn whither to go
in order to pay costs (Dr. Hartzell being presi-
dent and the writer corresponding secretary of
the Orphans' Home Society, we often tramped
together to raise money, pay debts, etc.) on suit
of McHugh & Co.; thence to Gresham's, Camp
Street, and then made a bill of stationery for
Seelyc, as follows :
i ream note Si oo
i ream note . i 75
£ ream cap % I oo
Pk. of blotters ... 25
Freight 50
$4 5°
Thence, by street car, home, at 188 Race
Street ; sat down to write Seelyc ; Professor Col-
lins called a moment. I remembered that I had
left somewhere three valuable newspapers pur-
chased at Haley's as I went through Commercial
Alley. Collins promised to call at Gresham's and
inquire for them; Jimmy Lynch called to ask for
two stamps for Drew and Davis, two of our the-
ologues ; they were sent ; proceeded with my let-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 1 09
ter; finished, inclosed the bills, and sent the
letter ; then wrote part of a report for the Or-
phans' Home Society ; next mailed my letter to
Seelyc ; went to Beck's and purchased some lemon
crackers ; returned and sat down for a few min-
utes to ruminate ; brought in the canary from the
gallery; Inie brought in my cup of tea, as she
had done my breakfast and dinner ; wife is ill and
in bed; Professor Collins called and talked over
his invention of a tourist's umbrella — very inge-
nious and destined to succeed — of which the
peculiarity is that it slides so as to be in small
compass when not in use. After he retired I
took up my book and made this day's memo-
randa.
It is now 9:45 P. M. and I shall soon to bed.
A busy day has it been, but not much more so
than other days.
April, 1876. — One of the students came to the
door and said, " Mrs. G wants her Nadde-
mack." "What on earth can that be?" I asked
her to repeat two or three times. Still I could
not imagine it; but Inie put her head out of the
bedroom door and said, "It's on the table so and
so." Then I discovered it was the Anatomy that
was wanted.
110 GILBERT ACADEMY
March, 1876. — Colored people are averse to
children's church membership — don't like to have
anybody pray in public except baptized church
members. A man refused to pray yesterday,
when called on by a sister in a small assembly,
because he did not consider himself authorized.
An old church member, on one occasion, refused
to pray when called on. Afterward he relieved
his mind by saying that he was troubled because
some children had prayed at the request of their
teacher, a white woman.
One woman, chiding some children who essayed
to talk about religion and church membership,
and had been trained by a missionary teacher,
said, "You ? What you know about 'ligion ? You
bin to hell ? You bin to he'v'n ? No ? Den
you knows nuttin' 'bout it." They usually "go to
hell " when under conviction and " to he'v'n " when
forgiven.
A PREACHERS' MEETING IN NEW ORLEANS.
February, 1877. — It *s trie practice of the meet-
ing this year to study a Bible lesson for an
hour, all the preachers, white and colored, taking
part, and many interesting questions being raised
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Ill
are discussed from divers and original points of
view.
At the time now in mind we were studying the
account of Peter's visit to Cornelius (Acts x).
The question was upon the relation of Cornelius
to the Gospel and the kingdom of Christ — whether
he was a heathen, a Jewish proselyte, or a Chris-
tian. There were among us representatives of
these several views. Dr. M was inclined to
think him (Cornelius) a believer, if not a full-
born Christian. Several brethren thought he
must have been acquainted with the Gospel story
at least. Some of the many who witnessed the
scenes of Pentecost might, it was thought, have
informed Cornelius. Brother K thought him
a heathen, and quoted Paul's words, that, " The
Gentiles, having not the law, are a law unto them-
selves."
The chairman, Brother H , raised the ques-
tion, which, he said, was of great interest to him,
whether there is in the doctrine of the lesson a
philosophy of Christian missions — whether Gen-
tiles need the Gospel in order to their salvation ?
Needing it, does the Spirit prepare their hearts
for it, and raise up the instruments for sending it
to them ?
112 GILBERT ACADEMY
On the first question all agreed that, although
some heathen may be saved in obedience to the
light already in possession, the vast majority of
them so violate their own moral convictions as to
be subject to condemnation already, and in need
of the proclamation of mercy.
The second question opened a wide field of
thought, and every mind was quickened with the
persuasion that the Holy Spirit does now convey
truth to our minds — an intimation, at least, of
the divine will.
The chairman gave direction to thought by-
raising the inquiry whether we should expect
visions and voices now, his intention probably
being to fortify the minds of the colored brethren
against the excessive leaning among the colored
people to that kind of experience.
One of the colored pastors told of his experi-
ence in repressing the habit of his people to sup-
port all their opinions and advices by revelations
and visions. He thought the whole suffered evil
from it. He was doubtless correct.
One of the white brethren, not willing that
skepticism should be supported by admissions too
large, advanced the belief that God, or the Holy
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 113
Spirit, who, according to the divine word, does
teach us, adapts his teaching to the needs of
his disciples, and no doubt finds some who are
more teachable through the imagination than
through the other powers of the soul. To such
he may vouchsafe a vision, which is equivalent to
an allegory. He cited the well-known case of an
African girl brought to Boston many years ago
in a large company of slaves, and mentioned by
Mrs. Stowe in her Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin.
This aroused the colored brethren. Brother
V— - said : "In the year - - I was on the
district and held Quarterly Meeting at Houma.
When about to preach there, Sunday morning, I
was startled by the appearance before me of Sam
Turner. He was a local preacher, a pertic'lar
friend of mine. He alluz said he wanted me to
preach his fun'ral sermont when he died. I was
sho' now 'ut Sam wuz dead, though he was alive
and well as ever when I left home Friday. I
turned and said to Brother - — , ' Sam Turner is
dead, and I must go right back to-morrow mornin'
and 'tend his fun'ral.' Next mornin' I did come
right back to New Orleans and found 'ut Sam
Turner was dead. I 'tended his fun'ral an'
114 GILBERT ACADEMY
preached the fun'ral sermont. Now, I've no more
doubt that I saw Sam Turner a Sunday mornin'
'an I doubt 'ut I'm a sittin' right hyur, nor never
had."
Then it came Father G 's turn. He was now
living in the city, having removed from La Teche.
He is a veteran. Threescore years and ten have
marked themselves on his brow, and he has seen
all the mysteries of the slave period, as well as en-
joyed the glories of the present freedom.
He said: " I kin tell yo' what I knows. 'Bout
twenty years ago, or more'n that, — — came to me
and wanted me to buy the freedom of his child.
I'd bought myself, and he know'd how I could
tend to't for him. He jes' put two hundred dol-
lars in my hand fur to buy that girl. Well, I tol'
him not to be in a hurry an' I'd see 'bout it.
That wuz fo' de wah. And 'bout dat time I wuz
thinkin' an' prayin' I saw a flock of people a
comin' up de Miss'ippi River wid bluecoats on
an' wings right up de river, an' I know'd de free-
dom wuz comin' ; so I kep' de two hundred dol-
lars, an' sho' nuff yeahs arter come de bluecoats
an' Gen'ral Butler, and de rebs had to clar out,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 115
an' I said, ' Now it's a cominV When Mr. Lin-
coln's proclamation come, den I said, ' Here it is,'
an' I went an' got de girl an' took her to her
father and give him de two hundred dollars and
tole him, ' Hyur's yer girl, an' de money too.' "
During the same conversation Father G
illustrated the teaching of the Spirit in those who
could not read by the case of a girl whom he
bought in times of slavery, and who became his
wife, by paying for her seven hundred dollars.
When a slave she would attend religious meet-
ings against her master's will. Every Monday
she was whipped. While the lashes fell on her
back she responded, " You may whip me, but
give me Jesus."
CONVERSATION WITH MR. R , NEW ORLEANS.
April, 1877. — G. — "Mr. R , do you think
political matters will soon be adjusted ? "
R. — " Yes. They are coming round slowly. I
tell some of our people that I believe it is best
that these things were not arranged as soon as we
desired, for we are a very excitable, passionate
people, and we might, in our excitement, have
Il6 GILBERT ACADEMY
done some bad things. Now I think it will all be
settled peacefully."
G. — " I think Mr. Hayes will do what is right.
I know him. He is slow to reach conclusions,
but firm in the ground once taken. This problem
is too great to be solved in a day."
R. — "We have no right to expect Mr. Hayes to
do anything for us. We did all we could to de-
feat him, and it's very generous in him to do any-
thing for us."
G. — " I'm not much of a believer in carpet-bag
government. I think a people who are regarded
as citizens, and not as outlaws, should have the
management of their own affairs. But I am con-
cerned that the rights of the colored man should
be regarded as exactly equal to those of a white
man, and he be treated fairly."
R. — " The Negro is a very fiendish creature.
When angry or drunk he is the most terrible of
all beings."
G. — " The low German or Irishman is just as
brutish as the lowest Negro. We all have a low
origin, and have become improved by long ages
of culture; but I hope there is a good future
for us."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. I I/
CONDITION OF SOME.
THERE are a few colored folks who would rather
like to be slaves again, " 'kase they had better times
then ; " but these are the fellows who have no
ability in taking care of themselves and their
families, or who have been demoralized by drink,
or they are women demoralized by lust.
There are some who were born free and hold
themselves aloof from those who they know were
born slaves. These are generally so proud of
their blood as to make little effort for self-support
and profit. They have their reward — poverty.
Of those who were born slaves and were eman-
cipated, many are industrious and successful. A
friend said he could count about one hundred
and twenty-five in New Orleans who were worth
twenty thousand dollars each, or more. In the
parishes are similar facts. Some of them own
farms and give chanty to the high-bloods who
won't work.
NEW ORLEANS UNIVERSITY, 1877. '
WHEN the cart and hose of the Sanitary Ex-
cavating Committee came round they placed their
hose as usual and undertook their merciful busi-
Il8 GILBERT ACADEMY
ness. The man in charge of the cart was neg-
lectful, not removing, as he should have done, the
cap to an escape pipe. The result was that un-
der pressure an explosion took place, which had
most odorous consequences. The sound was
shocking. The mules took " French leave " and
went galloping up the street — Camp Street. The
cartman followed their example and sought their
capture. The neighbors came to their doors to
investigate, which required but a moment, and
the doors were quickly shut. A colored man who
was superintending the business, full of fun at
public expense, kept shouting to all interested
listeners, " De Yanks hab' come." The listeners
were too much convulsed with laughter to hold
their noses any longer.
A CRANK.
A GENTLEMAN from New York, proprietor of
plantations, was a consumptive. A young colored
girl told him that alligator flesh would cure con-
sumption. The gentleman ordered an alligator,
which was soon forthcoming ; had the tail, which
is the edible part, first parboiled, then fried to per-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. IIQ
faction. When the dainty dish was brought be-
fore our consumptive friend he hesitated, could
not quite stomach the thing, so he offered a col-
ored youth who was in his employ a dollar and
fifty cents to eat some of it first. The offer was
promptly accepted, and cauda crocodili began to
disappear. " Hold on there," said our friend, and
.took the remainder himself. His final conclusion
was, " I am a fool for paying that money."
A LAD WHO BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
JOHN is a mulatto ; the writer knows him well,
having been sometime his teacher. Years ago he
was a stable boy for a livery keeper in the village
of . He was faithful to his duties, the pro-
prietor leaving all in his charge — twenty horses,
many carriages and buggies, etc. Sunday was
the great day for the business. John received
twenty-five dollars a month and board. He one
day rode a man's horse in a race outside the vil-
lage limits. The horse became frantic, ran away
and rushed down the village streets, until at length
he turned up to the jail door and stopped. Run-
ning a horse thus in the village was in violation
of an ordinance, and the penalty was three dollars
I2O GILBERT ACADEMY
and fifty cents, or imprisonment for twenty-four
hours. The constable, coming up, said, "John, I
arrest you. You will have to go to jail or pay me
three dollars and fifty cents." " But," said John,
" I could not help it. The horse runned away
with me. I done all I could to stop him." " Can't
help that." " Well, I'd ruther pay three dollars
and fifty cents than go to jail ; I reckon Mr. —
will pay it for me." So they went to the stable.
The constable was inexorable, and the money was
paid.
John continued his service awhile longer, to the
great satisfaction of his employer. One day he
seemed to himself to hear a voice from within
saying : " Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy
work : but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work,"
etc. — Fourth Commandment. John was not a
Christian, but the commandment came. It trou-
bled him. In a few days he told his employer that
he wished to leave his employ ; that he might get
some one in his place. The employer was sur-
prised, and asked many questions. The young
man told him he could no longer work on the
Sabbath ; if he wished, he could work for him six
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 121
days, and until nine o'clock Saturday night, but
he could not work any more on Sunday. The
employer declined the suggestion ; he could not
spare him Sundays, that was the best day of the
week, etc. The young man said, " I must
leave your service next Saturday night." " Well,"
said the employer," it is the middle of the month,
and I owe you twelve dollars and fifty cents."
" Very well," said John, " you may keep the money,
I don't care about it, I must go." The liveryman
secured John's half-brother to take, his place.
Sometime afterward, meeting John, he said, " I've
given the money I owed you to Charles." " Very
well," said John, " I'm willing he should have it"
Months passed by ; they met again. The quon-
dam employer said, " You're a Christian, ain't ye ?"
John answered, " I was not when I left you, but I
am now." " What are you doing?" "I'm chop-
ping wood, and make about thirty-five dollars a
month." " Well, here's the twelve dollars and
fifty cents I owe you ; come to see me whenever
you come to town."
6
122 GILBERT ACADEMY
BOY SOLDIERS.
DURING the war, while the white men were
slaughtering each other, the colored boys
thought to take lessons in the art of war. The
boys on two adjoining plantations organized
themselves into companies and made war against
each other, the canal between the two plan-
tations being the line of attack and defense.
They began with wooden swords. A Union
officer was at 's house. Our boy, John, see-
ing the officer lay by his sword and go to din-
ner, took the sword, laid it on the floor, and
marked out its outline on the floor with a coal.
From that pattern he whittled out twenty-five
swords for his company and kept them supplied.
He was the drummer. Afterward they found
some muskets that had been left by Union
soldiers. These they cut in two by means
of files, plugged one end of each with a plug
of live oak, drilled a pinhole in each half mus-
ket for a touch-hole, and so furnished them-
selves with cannon. They found a piece of
large iron tubing in a sugarhouse, and of
that they made a cannon of larger caliber.
They procured powder, loaded with nails, buck-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 123
shot, etc. They made real war now, shot one
or two persons almost fatally, and then were
stopped.
A PRESCRIPTION.
A CONSUMPTIVE white man, visiting in Louisi-
ana, was informed that a certain gentleman had
cured himself of consumption by riding a hard-
trotting horse three times a day. He thereupon
purchased an old horse and rode him one
day. Thereafter he proposed to give away the
horse, and charged his friendly adviser with intent
to kill.
November 28, 1881. — A beautiful day. Ther-
mometer sixty-five to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
The sun, with gentle ray, warms up the world.
Air, as balmy as was Eden's, makes it a luxury
to breathe ; yet at dawn was a heavy fog. Suc-
cession and contrast make the charm of life. I
am supremely happy in thee, O Lord. Many
things adverse — so esteemed, so they appear.
But I am not in their power. I am in thee, thou
Sun of righteousness, thou Beauty of Holiness.
What a joy to do something, and do it for thee!
124 GILBERT ACADEMY
DAILY GLEANING.
" THE love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by
the Holy Spirit which is given unto us " (Rom. v, 5).
The natural heart does not love God ; only the
soul that has been begotten above nature.
We have spirit, soul, and body in our constitu-
tion (See i Thess. v, 23).
Caste, malice, every form of selfishness, origi-
nates in the soul (psyche), the pig part of our na-
ture. Such things are foreign to spirit. When
spirit goes down from its own sphere and becomes
subject to soul (psyche), to piggishness, then it
becomes depraved. This is " the fall." Sin is both
hereditary and habitual. Tt is natural; therefore,
it is the subjection of spirit to soul.
November 29. — An exalted and holy friend
writes : " The earth grows dark and extremely
dreary to me toward the end of my journey. It
seems very empty, and, what distresses me more,
my faith is not cheerful. There is nothing for
me but the future, and the vision of that is griev-
ously clouded. The way appears obscure."
These are touching words, the language of a
very wise man. If I mistake riot he has brought
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 125
darkness on himself by striving to understand
what is at present beyond mortal ken. Thou,
heavenly Teacher, dost thou not teach me that
my understanding is as much to be renounced as
my appetites ? Thou givest me joy in listen-
ing to thy voice and waiting for the explanations
until I am prepared for them. Thou bidst me
learn what I can, and cheerfully submit to be
ignorant of some things. My beloved friends
thou hast taken away. They have never, to my
knowledge, revisited these terrestrial scenes ; have
never made themselves known to me, although I
would fain believe they have sometimes minis-
tered to me. But I am sure thou hast them in
safe-keeping. They are not lost.
I know God personally as I know my fellow-
man. I see no man's spirit with corporeal eye. I
discern the thinking, spiritual something in a fel-
low-man. I apprehend it with a spiritual percep-
tion, which involves or includes no specific organ
subjective and no form objective. One thinking
essence simply cognizes another — just as I cog-
nize myself — in thought. Thus man cognizes
God, and has no more doubt of the divine ex-
istence than he has of his own. This is just as
126 GILBERT ACADEMY
true of savage as of civilized man. This is the
light that makes man receptive of the new
birth, the witness of the Spirit, the Good Shep-
herd, etc.
December 4. — No doubts, no fears that are de-
liberative and reflective. These, I thank thee,
divine Teacher, were long ago silenced. Doubts
are of myself ; fears, lest enemies should be more
"prudent " than I. Enemies? Yes. Thou know-
est. They are as numerous as the blackbirds in
the marshes. Do they not arise because of my
adhesion to thee ? Are they not thine enemies ?
They strive daily to break down our work for
thee. O Lord, give them a better heart and a
wiser judgment. I am trusting thee. Thou art
stronger than all that are against us.
December 1 1. — How many are thy thoughts
toward us ? (Psalms.) Blessed be thy name be-
cause thou dost not forget me. Thine ears are
toward my heart. Thou art fully sensible of my
joys and trials. I ought to be glad if thou
shouldst neglect me in order to attend to others.
I am glad this neglect is not necessary ; that in
giving heed to me thou needst not neglect an-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. I2/
other. I am consoled in the knowledge that the
enmity of men cannot prejudice thee. I rejoice
that while thou seest they are unjust to me still
thou lovest them and wilt not suffer them to go
too far for thy glory.
November 27, 1882. — Yesterday Brother L
preached from " Let this mind be in you which
was in Christ Jesus." He made the lesson of the
text that we should have the disposition of Jesus;
that disposition was, i. Gentleness ; 2. Self-denial ;
3. Humility. The Sunday school contribution
for missions, taken in envelopes, was four dollars
and fifty-five cents.
In the evening was this conversation :
Mother. — " G is so unbelieving; has a habit
of doubting ; you know there's a heap of devils.
You know — what's his name ? — Milton speaks of
little devils comin' through the small holes in the
gates."
G. — " Why, ma ! that's poetry."
Mother (turning away with disgust and lifting
her left hand repulsively). — " Ah, nonsense, G ."
I laughed with uncontrollable laughter, while the
mother went on to say, " If it's poetry, it's just as
things are. Now, doctor, what do you think?
128 GILBERT ACADEMY
Don't people sometimes go so far in sin that
they can't be saved, and God gives 'em over ? "
Dr. — " I don't know exactly ; I hardly know
what to say. I think God will save anybody that
will repent, if it's the devil himself."
Mother. — " But then, doctor, they can't repent."
Dr. — "How do we know that? It seems
out of their power ; but suppose them to be in
different circumstances and perhaps they would
feel differently. Don't you suppose G. L ,
the man that was recently killed in the midst of
his gambling, would have repented if he had
been taken up, removed from his associations
here, and placed under entirely different influ-
ences ? "
Mother. — " O, yes, it seems likely ; but then I
somehow had made it up in my mind that folks
might go so far in sin that they couldn't repent
and God couldn't save them. Well, what do you
do with that place in the Bible where God says, ' I
will delude you that ye may be damned ? ' "
Dr. — " I don't think that there is any such
passage."
Mother. — " Yes, there is ; or else some one of
you has read it wrong to me. G you read
it that way to me."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 129
G. — " No, ma, you're mistaken."
Then was read, from 2 Thessalonians, " God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie."
Mother. — " That's something like it."
December 13. — It is discouraging to see how
little the years of thy discipline have achieved
toward perfecting the good in me and straight-
ening the crooked. One thing I believe thou
hast accomplished. I am not so double-minded
as once I was ; but I may delude myself even in
this thought. Nothing is so treacherous as my
heart. I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast given
us some souls of our neighbors. They have come
into the fold — some of the more hopeful kind.
This seems to be the seal of thine approbation
upon the work of our pastor, and an answer to
our prayers. O my God, multiply the number of
thy slain. Confound the wicked and uphold the
righteous. Has thy world always been so wick-
ed ? Have we always been such haters of each
other? Have men always been such plotters of
evil? Have they always thus conspired against
each other, apparently from the pure love of the
evil ? Canst thou make any good thing of us ?
6*
130 GILBERT ACADEMY
Ah, how long! Eternity is thine; immortality
is ours. Maybe thou canst change us for the
better. Wilt thou try us again after we die ?
Shall some of us have another chance beyond
this perilous shore ?
December 17. — After Sunday school a sermon
by G. W , on Gal. vi, 14, " God forbid that I
should glory," etc. He (G ) has fought much
against his convictions of the duty of preaching.
He announced at the close of his discourse, with
tears, that the wisest, nay, the only course for a
Christian is to lay down his opposition to God's
will, and if Christ says, " Go preach," to do it at
any cost, and in it find the crown. The people
were touched. As soon as he sat down a sister
began singing " Nearer, my God, to thee." Then
the pastor, Rev. E. L , opened the doors of
the church, with some impressive remarks on the
swift passage of life, and the importance of de-
ciding our allegiance to God before we die. Then
was sung " Almost persuaded," and amid the sing-
ing, Mr. - — , an old and faithful servant of Satan,
a very smart, capable man, and a well-to-do man,
considering the antecedents of slavery, came for-
ward, with tears and evident struggling of soul,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 131
and threw himself on his knees in the presence
of the congregation. All were profoundly moved.
There were several prayers. Then came hand-
shaking and rejoicing ; then some notices.
At this moment there came toward the pulpit,
from the door, a poor man, roughly clad, toil-worn,
sad-looking, sober, and apparently honest. He had
something to say, and was requested to make his
wishes known. He said, " I's a stranger, and a
poor man. I's in a tight place, now." Turning
toward the minister, he said, " My mother-in-law
is a Methodist ; I am not, but I want you to bury
my child that is dead." " I will do it," said the
minister, " and I hope this will show you that it is
the Lord's will that you yourself 'should prepare
to die, for your turn to die may come within
twenty-four hours. Where do you wish your
child to be buried, sir?" "In your burying-
ground." " Very well, I will attend to it."
This in the presence of the listening congrega-
tion. Thus do all throbs of the human heart
come into God's house.
December 20. — Went to New Orleans to meet
my family. Conversed with L. P. C ; he
132 GILBERT ACADEMY
spoke of a Conference in Tennessee, no member
of which uses tobacco. I inquired whether it
was a white Conference. " Colored, of course,"
he replied. I requested him to publish the fact,
with the "of course " emphasized. He repeated
an incident related by Bishop W . The
bishop slept in a house in Tennessee where the
bedroom door had no fastening, and was kept in
place by a stone placed against it on the outside,
so that the occupant of the room had to push
away the stone when he emerged in the morning.
The people of that region did not seem to know
how to whittle out a wooden latch. " Were they
colored ? " I asked. " White folks, of course," he
responded.
REV. J. W. E. BOWEN.
REV. J. W. E. BOWEN, A.M., S.T.B., Ph.D., was
born in New Orleans, December 3, 1855. Began
attending the New Orleans University (known
at that time as the Union Normal School and
Thomson Biblical Institute) in 1870; was gradu-
ated A.B. in 1878; was professor, first of mathe-
matics, then of history and languages, in the
Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn.,
REV. J. W. E. BOWEN, A.M., Ph.D.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 133
1878-1882 ; was converted in the midst of a revival
in New Orleans, in 1873, and united with the
Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, in Jack-
son Street, under the pastorate of Rev. James Hay-
ward. Received license to exhort, 1874 ; licensed
to preach, 1879; ordained deacon, November 20,
1 88 1, at Franklin, Tenn., by Bishop Wiley; had
been a member of Ames Chapel Sunday school
in early boyhood.
Leaving Nashville, eager for higher education,
he went to Boston and entered the Boston Uni-
versity, taking courses in the School of Theology
and in the School of All Sciences. In so doing
he was transferred from the Tennessee Confer-
ence and became a member of the New England
Conference. He received appointment as pastor
of the Revere Street Church, and was continued
therein for three years. His summer vacations
were spent in labors among the churches, white
as well as colored. He served one white church
in Massachusetts an entire month.
During these years he was invited, in view of
his scholarly attainments, to prepare, in Hebrew,
a young man who belonged to the Park Street
Congregational Church (Dr. Withrow pastor), for
the theological seminary of Princeton University.
134 GILBERT ACADEMY
This duty he discharged with great accepta-
bility.
He was graduated from the School of Theol-
ogy June 3, 1885, with the degree of S.T.B., receiv-
ing first honor at the commencement. He was
the first colored man ever chosen by the faculty
for orator on commencement day.
He was graduated from the School of All Sci-
ences, June 1,1887, with the degree of Ph.D., being
the first colored man of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and the second in America, to receive
that degree pro merito.
He was now transferred to the Newark Con-
ference, and appointed to the St. John's Church,
Newark, where he remained the successful and
distinguished pastor for three years. One hun-
dred and twenty-five persons were converted to
Christ and united with the church during this
pastorate.
March 13, 1888, he was sent to the Centennial
Church, Baltimore. His labors here were sig-
nally owned of God and blessed. A revival of
spiritual life in the church was accompanied by
a great awakening among sinners, and, as the
outcome of labors protracted through twenty-
three weeks, seven hundred and thirty-five per-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 135
sons received the grace of salvation and were
added to the company of believers. It seemed
like a return of Pentecost, so manifest was the
divine presence, and so quick and thorough was
the work of faith. During this long-continued
reformation the pastor preached twice daily and
three times on Sunday without failure or inter-
ruption by sickness. The grace of God abounded.
After two years of splendid service here it was
held by the " powers that be " that Dr. Bowen
was more needed in another place, where the
Church was less able to run itself than here in
Baltimore. He was accordingly sent to Asbury
Church, Washington, D. C., March 17, 1890.
Here Dr. Bowen remains pastor at the date of
this writing, September, 1892, having succeeded
in bringing peace out of discord among his peo-
ple, and having bought and nearly paid for a su-
perior minister's home, or parsonage.
He was chosen Professor of Systematic The-
ology in Morgan Institute, Baltimore, during his
charge of the Centennial Church, and still retains
that position. The class in church history has
also been committed to him. In thje year 1891 he
was, during four months, the Professor of Hebrew
in Howard University, resigning at the end of that
136 GILBERT ACADEMY
time because of the multiplicity of engage-
ments.
Dr. Bowen is also a member of the American
Institute of Sacred Literature, and is a devoted
student of the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic lan-
guages. Mrs. Bowen, a cultured lady, is the in-
spiration of her husband, a true helpmeet, and
thoroughly efficient in church work.
In the year 1882 Dr. Bowen revisited his
native city, New Orleans, and while there, by
request, addressed the alumni association of the
university in commencement week. His philoso-
phy of life is impressively stated in the following
extract from that address :
" It is worthy of remark that true manhood is a
natural sequence of persistent effort; it is made,
and does not grow of itself. It is made in the
workshop, on the farm, in the schoolroom, in the
pulpit, in the ' bivouac of life,' as natural a result
as the physical. Animals become perfect by the
gradual upholding of the divine law inherent in
them ; but manhood is a product. And it is
only to real manhood that men commit grave
interests. Men try their fortunes on the deep in
vessels tried and true, that have plowed with
steady momentum the ocean waves, and not in
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 137
the light and beautiful yachts of the harbor, that
ply only about the port in the clear sunlight days
and silvery nights on the placid lake, when the
moon is shining amid the twinkling stars that add
•luster to the firmament. Beauty for ornament
and pleasure, but utility for real worth.
" Observe the horizon of the heavens in the twi-
light, when the sun is sinking beneath the hills
and occasionally showing his golden face, shoot-
ing his golden pencils of light into broad immen-
sity, tinging the clouds and heavens with his livid
light, and the whole firmament is aglow with
beauty ; how our hearts are enwrapped and our
imagination quickened and elevated as we con-
template the sublime beauty of twilight ; or when
the king of day comes peeping over the hills,
glorying in his might and rejoicing in his course
to run! This is indeed a pleasing picture of the
heavens, but what is all this worth in the conflict of
life ? Man was made for something nobler than to
enjoy the beauties in nature. This is incidental,
" ' Not enjoyment and not sorrow
Is our destined end and way,
But to act that each to-morrow
Finds us further than to-day.'
"The difficulties and solid problems of life are to
be solved, and every man more or less finds him-
138 GILBERT ACADEMY
self struggling with its untried realities. In him is
a consciousness of strength which, under proper
discipline, will, if turned in the right channel,
bless the world. While it may be said with
force that genius is not acquired, but is to some
degree innate, yet were it not for a rigid ob-
servance of the laws that pertain to human de-
velopment, and by constant discipline that the
hidden powers might be drawn out in its exercise,
the most lofty genius would lie secret and un-
thought of.
"How wisely Providence has arranged the time
and scheme of development is to be discovered in
the order of life — that in the springtime of life,
while the body is undergoing its incomprehensible
and intricate growth from youth to maturity, the
mind likewise passes through its disciplinary
stages of gradual development from fickleness to
firmness and stability. Gradually unbudding
into beauty and symmetry, fortifying itself by all
the resources within its reach, appropriating to
itself every thought and idea, and, so to speak,
mounting by its own exertions upon the ruins, it
brightens up to the philosopher one of the grand-
est truths in human economy, namely, that mind
is of God and necessarily self-acting."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 139
He further proceeds to commemorate the
teachers and guides of his collegiate years :
" It is now my purpose to give you a sketch of
our Alma Mater — the New Orleans University.
Situated on the corner of Camp and Race Streets,
pleasantly located in the heart of the city, on the
beautiful Coliseum Park, it commands the notice
of friends and foes. Its first and familiar name,
and which clung to it tenaciously after its incor-
poration as a university, was the Union Normal
School. This school was organized in the year
1870, under the principalship of Miss Coit, a truly
blessed woman. Its fame rapidly spread over the
city, and students from the public schools filled its
halls. Under the care and direction of Miss Coit
and her assistants the school began its history,
which, I trust, will be a proud one. In the next
year the Freedmen's Aid Society, under the wise
management of that sage, Rev. R. S. Rust, called
to the head of the school Rev. I. S. Leavitt.
President Leavitt, coming from the great State of
Wisconsin, brought with him benedictions for this
people; his three years' administration was fruitful
in the fullest sense. By his faithful discharge of
duty and conscientiousness in minute obligations
and rare ability he won the esteem of student and
I4O GILBERT ACADEMY
parent. To his skill, fruitful brain, and broad
spirit we are largely indebted for the name New
Orleans University, and the side building. Aided
by an earnest and vigorous corps of professors
and teachers he marked out the courses of the
university, established its departments, and, so to
speak, cleared away the rubbish and debris, and
laid the foundation for future greatness. We are
safe in saying as long as the New Orleans
University shall live, aye, longer, and a love for
education be cherished by our people, Rev. I. S.
Leavitt's name will be held in veneration. In
the year 1875 the university finds itself under
the presidency of Rev. W. D. Godman, a man of
known and honored standing to-day, not only in
our midst, but throughout the Church ; a man
compounded of gentleness, firmness, and possess-
ing great wisdom. His special calling seems to
have been to the training of youth, and his
intrinsic value and adaptability shine out in the
schoolroom with a brilliancy second to no educa-
tor in the land. Under the wise guidance of this
master educator the university acquired an envi-
able reputation for thoroughness, and the students
vied with each other in literary progress ; and the
inspiration given by the burning words of the
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 141
president was a mighty impetus to wade deep in
the languages, mathematics, and the sciences. It
has been said that the Latin, Greek, and mathe-
matics recited under President Godman equaled
any good recitation in like branches in any
Northern university. Time will give to this ven-
erable man his place among the benefactors of
our race."
LA TECHE TRACT, NO. i.
Opening of New Hall for the La Teche Seminary, W. D.
God/nan, D.D., President.
ON Monday, March 12, 1883, about two hun-
dred persons, including teachers, scholars, and
citizens, assembled for the opening exercises of
La Teche Seminary, La Teche, La., in the new
hall, which is a part of the reconstructed Orphans'
Home.
After reading a portion of the Holy Scripture
prayer was offered by John F. Patty, Esq., of New
Orleans. After a song, Mr. Patty addressed the
audience as follows :
" I am very glad to be here this morning, to see
so many persons here, and to recall the time when
I myself, then a young lad, was a member of this
142 GILBERT ACADEMY
school. There are enemies to this school, as
there are to everything that is good ; but they will
not prevail, and I look to a glorious future. Let
me tell you, you are greatly favored. You have
a faculty that is second to none in the State, and
there is no educational hall in the State equal to
this in which you meet this morning. This school
has done more for the education of the Negro race
than any other in the parish, and as much as any
in the State. I had the pleasure of attending the
political convention held in Donaldsonville last
year. It was there remarked that in Louisiana a
greater number of representative men came from
St. Mary than from any other parish. Now, this
is true. It is also true that the greater part of
those representative men received their education
at this seminary. To be useful to your race you
must be educated. Be true, then, to yourselves in
using faithfully your great advantages."
Rev. Ernest Lyon, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in La Teche, was then intro-
duced, and said : " You are accustomed to hearing
me, and you already know my views of the excel-
lence of this school and our duty toward it. You
yourselves, students, know that to be men and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 143
women you must be educated ; that your improve-
ment and success in life depend on yourselves ;
on the good use you make of present privileges.
I know that, in my own case, no power so molded
my mind and character as my teacher. You are
favored as few are. I am happy to be myself a
student here, reciting daily, and perhaps no man
in the parish studies more than I do. Use your
privileges. Why, there is no school like this any-
where, so far as I know, where you can enjoy such
advantages without a dollar's cost. You cannot
find another such hall as this where you will
daily meet. Stand by your school and by your
teachers."
Professor George W. Wells having been called
out, said : " I cannot express my happiness to-day
in seeing the evidences of the prosperity of our
beloved school. For two years I have toiled here
because I love the work. You know, scholars,
that I seek your best interests. I require you to
keep the rules of the school ; this you must always
do. I am sure you aim to do it. Brother Lyon
speaks of his studying. I think I am not far
behind him, as my studies late at night and early
in the morning bear witness. I assure you I know
144 GILBERT ACADEMY
what an opportunity I have, and I intend to im-
prove it. Let us press forward to the glorious
future."
Dr. Godman, the president, then read a finan-
cial statement, as follows : " When we came South,
in 1875, we were under appointment by the
Freedmen's Aid Society to preside over the New
Orleans University. We were requested to spend
the spring and summer of that year at the Orphans'
Home, going to New Orleans in the fall. We
were under instruction to organize a school pre-
paratory to the New Orleans University, which
we did, naming the school the La Teche Semi-
nary, after the name of our village. This school
was from the first patronized by the Freedmen's
Aid Society, and has always had a place in its list
of institutions, as published in the Annual Report."
The number of scholars in 1875 was 138, of
whom 32 were of academic grade. In 1876 this
school was in charge of Mr. R. L. Thompson. In
1877-78 it was taught by Miss Mahaffy. In
1878—80 it was suspended — that is, during our
absence in the North. In 1881 it was reorgan-
ized, and the number of scholars was 2 1 5 — the list
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 145
being published in the catalogue of the New Or-
leans University. In 1882 the number of students
became 255. The neat little church in which our
people worship — largely the gift of the Church
Extension Society — has been occupied by the
seminary until now. Thank God ! We can say
now that we are in our home, the new room
prepared for us — a part of the reconstructed
Orphans' Home — a commodious and beautiful
room, 60 feet by 24 feet, with outlook directly over
the Bayou Teche. The La Teche Seminary has
furnished the New Orleans University with ex-
cellent recruits every year, and some -of our youth
have been among her best students. In 1876 we
acted for the Freedmen's Aid Society, taking its
collections within the limits of the Philadelphia
Annual Conference. We were instructed to de-
vote the collections to the New Orleans Uni-
versity and the Orphans' Home — one half to each.
Collections of that Conference in 1876-77 $3,968 oo
Collections for the previous year 2,650 oo
An increase of 1,318 oo
Paid to the New Orleans University 2,136 oo
Paid to the New Orleans Orphans' Home 1,832 oo
83-968 oo
146 GILBERT ACADEMY
A report of this year's work was presented to
the Orphans' Home Board in the spring of 1877,
and was by them accepted and filed. We were
thus able to meet all the current expenses of the
New Orleans University that year, excepting
six hundred dollars paid to one of the teachers
by the Freedmen's Aid Society, besides afford-
ing so much relief to the Orphans' Home. In
the years 1877-80, we were traveling in the
Northern States with a company of singers in
order to raise money for the Orphans' Home, its
further existence being threatened by debts.
Forwarded on debts, December 31, 1880 $4,i°4 oo
Paid for school requisites and seminary library. . 102 86
For Mason & Hamlin organ 50 oo
For hardware for Home building 19 16
For moving expenses, insurance, etc 248 07
Cash in hand 676 oo
$5,200 09
Adding the amount for 1876 1,832 oo
$7,032 09
We thus show record of moneys raised and
paid at the beginning of 1881 of more than seven
thousand dollars. The figures rather understate
the actual result. Besides the above, myself and
Mrs. Godman, during 1875-76, gave the Home,
in payment of some of its debts, five hundred and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 147
thirty-four dollars, of which we made no formal
report. We have also in hand the gifts of the
Methodist Episcopal Tract Society, Harper
Brothers, New York, of Richard Worthington,
Esq., New York, and of H. M. Ingham, Esq., of
Cleveland, O., about five hundred excellent books
for the seminary library, the value of which can-
not be less than five hundred dollars.
Donation $534 oo
Books 500 oo
$1,034 oo
Professor W. G. Fischer, of Philadel-
phia, contributed to the organ 25 oo
Messrs. Mason & Hamlin 100 oo
125 oo
$1,159 co
Add for beginning of 1881 7,032 09
Total for beginning of 1881 $8,191 09
In 1 88 1 — i. General Account.
Cash in hand from various sources $900 2 1
Expended 940 16
Excess paid from our own means 39 95
2. Building Account.
Bricks and lumber sold 380 ^o
Expended on building $1,038 09
Excess paid from our own means 657 39
Amount carried forward 697 84
148 GILBERT ACADEMY
Amount brought forward $697 34
3. Plantation Account.
Expended wholly from our own means 2,207 69
4. Seminary Account.
Received from Freedmen's Aid So-
ciety $159 oo
Paid to teachers, and incidentals 240 oo
Excess paid from our own means 81 oo
Total from our own means in 1881 $2,986 03
Deducting the amount expended on
the plantation as an investment,
the income of which, subject to con-
dition of the lease, is for the support
of the orphans 2,207 69
Balance given the Home by us, 1881 778 34
Add amount at the beginning of year 8,191 09
Total contribution, Dec. 31, 1881 $8,969 43
These figures show the standing of our work
financially at the date of December 31, 1881.
The reports for 1882 are not quite ready, but will
soon be presented to the Orphans' Home Board.
They will show a considerable increase of the con-
tribution. It may be observed we have served
without salary for a number of years. In 1876,
when we had to preside in New Orleans and take
collections in Philadelphia, we had a salary of
twelve hundred dollars. Since then we have paid
our own way by the hardest kind of work. If we
REV. E. LYON, A.M.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 149
had received twelve hundred dollars per annum
for the last six years we might have achieved much
more for the Home. As it now stands we are in
great need of help.
Not only have we given our time, but wife and
daughter have done the same. In 1881 they
taught diligently in the seminary for four months
in addition to the toil and travel of other years.
The showing above of the expenses of the semi-
nary in 1 88 1 does not include the aid received from
the Parish Board of Education, which aid was
very helpful and very gratefully received. It
amounted to two hundred and forty dollars, but
was paid directly to the teachers, and was not
handled by us. We are thankful for the coopera-
tion of the gentlemen of the school board, who are
among the best friends of the education of the
colored race. W. D. GODMAN.
La Tcc/te, La.
REV. ERNEST LYOX, A.M.
Now Pastor of Sf. Mark's Methodist Episcopal Church, New
York.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Belize,
British Honduras, on the coast of Central Amer-
ica, September 22, 1860. His early education
I5O GILBERT ACADEMY
was obtained at the English school in that place,
through the provident care of his mother. His
father died while Ernest was but a child. He
became a Christian by experience October 24,
1875 ; came to the United States to find a
fitting sphere of action and to advance his edu-
cation. In 1880 he attended Straight Univer-
sity, New Orleans; 1881-1883, inclusive, Gilbert
Seminary, being at the same time pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, Baldwin, as it was
then called, but now Winsted. Here he first met
Miss Abbie J. Wright, who at length became his
wife. They were married by Rev. W. D. Godman,
the president of Gilbert Seminary.
Going thence for residence and labor to New
Orleans he entered, and was finally graduated
from, the New Orleans University as Bachelor of
Arts, and has since become, in cursu, Master of
Arts. He was pastor in New Orleans, succes-
sively, of Mallalieu Chapel, Thomson Chapel, and
Simpson Chapel. In every case they grew under
his administration and the efficient cooperation
of his wife. The church property, too, underwent
enlargement and improvement. He left a shining
mark in every field of his labors.
In 1891 he was, by appointment made in an-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 15!
swer to the urgent request of the Conference, the
General Sunday school Agent for the State of
Louisiana. He was reappointed for 1892. In
discharge of the duties of this office he traveled
through the State, preaching, lecturing, organiz-
ing new schools, holding Sunday school institutes,
etc. His labors were very fruitful, and attracted
attention far and near. But in the spring of 1892
it became evident that there was a demand for
his valuable services among the people of his
race in the Northern States. He was transferred,
and appointed to St. Mark's, New York, where he
now labors so efficiently. He, by request, made a
tour in some of the Northwestern States, laboring
for the Freedmen's Aid Society. He has been
twice chosen by his Conference for reserve dele-
gate to the General Conference ; was for years
the Conference statistical secretary, and for years
also edited the Sunday school column in the
Southwestern Christian Advocate.
FRESH BENEFACTIONS.
1885.— The Hon. W. L. Gilbert, of West Win-
sted, Conn., gave five thousand dollars in 1884;
the Freedmen's Aid Society gave five thousand
152 GILBERT ACADEMY
dollars (binding themselves to perpetual main-
tenance) ; and this cooperation resulted in two
large and very commodious buildings — one
for school work and one for boarding. The
number of scholars the last term was two hun-
dred and ten. The progress of the pupils was
most encouraging. A large committee of minis-
ters and laymen pronounced their approval of
the work done. The two representatives of the
parish in the State Legislature, both of them for-
mer pupils in the seminary, were present at the
closing exhibition, and one of them distributed the
prizes. They expressed unqualified satisfaction.
One of these representatives said : " This
school has done more for the education of the
Negro race than any other in the parish, and as
much as any in the State." It is the purpose of
the Freedmen's Aid Society to establish indus-
trial departments and a normal department as
rapidly as a generous Christian public shall enable
them to do so. There are about one thousand
two hundred acres of land, the income of which
is pledged to the support of the seminary. In the
present depressed condition of agriculture the land
yields about one thousand dollars. With returning
general prosperity it will be made to yield more.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 153
WEST WINSTED, CONN., August i, 1886.
This is to certify that nearly two years ago I
gave the sum of five thousand dollars to aid in
the erection of school buildings at La Teche, La.,
for the education of colored children, under the
charge of Rev. Dr. Godman, and under the control
of the Freedmen's Aid Society. In the spring of
1885 I made a personal examination of the insti-
tution, and became satisfied that the work is a
good one, and is worthy of the help and support
of those who desire to benefit and uplift the col-
ored race. And I am also pleased to bear wit-
ness to the earnest, careful, and judicious efforts
of the Rev. Dr. Godman and his wife in the man-
agement of the seminary, and that the aid which
may be rendered will be faithfully applied, giving
results which will be both satisfactory to those
who give and to those who are under their charge.
WILLIAM L. GILBERT.
FINANCIAL HISTORY, 1875-1892.
W. D. Godman, by balance Dec. 31, 1875 $287 99
1881 8,978 43
Account for 1882.
Expenditure on building $704 1 1
Contra 442 oo
Balance to credit on building 262 1 1
7*
154 GILBERT ACADEMY
Brought forward $9,528 53
Expenditure for crops $3,447 60
Contra 18 50
Balance to credit on plantation 3,429 10
Paid on general account for orphans, etc 190 93
Expenditures for seminary 676 13
Contra : From Freedmen's
Aid Society $i 50 oo
Parish Board 275 oo — 425 oo
Balance to credit on seminary 251 13
Total of credits [net] to Dec. 31, 1882 $13-399 69
Accotmt of 1883.
Expenditures on building $267 55
Contra: By Cash donated 267 55
Expenditures on plantation 3,028 48
Contra: By crop of 1882. . .$2,184 92
By crop of 1883 673 07— 2,857 99
Balance to credit on plantation 170 49
Expenditure, seminary 562 80
Contra 562 80
Expenditure, general account 806 82
Contra : By donations 161 oo
Balance to credit on general account . 645 82
Total of credit to Dec. 31, 1883 $14,216 oo
Account of 1884.
Receipts : Corn, 375 bbls $281 25
Potatoes, 70 bbls 70 oo
Wood, 56 c 70 oo
Cane, 98 t 236 62
657 87
Expenditures — cash 2, 100 oo
, Balance to credit i ,442 1 3
Total of credit, Dec. 31, 1884 $15,658 13
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 155
To this date, with the exception indicated
above, all moneys used were from the private
means of the president. In the figures following
the excess of expenditures over receipts has been
provided for from the following sources, namely :
Public School Fund, income of the boarding hall,
incidental fees, income of the farm, personal con-
tribution of the president.
Received for and paid to teachers :
1884-5. — Paid to teachers $400 oo
Received from F. A. Society. .. $150 oo
From the president 250 oo
400 oo
1885-6. — Paid 1,200 oo
Received from F. A. Society.. . . 1,200 oo
1886-7. — Paid 2,030 oo
Received from F. A. Society. . . 1,000 oo
Slater Fund 500 oo
School Fund 270 oo
Private means 260 oo
2,030 oo
1887-8. — Paid 2,370 oo
Received from F. A. Society. . . 1,380 oo
Public school 190 oo
Slater Fund 500 oo
Other sources 300 oo
2,370 oo
1888-9.— Paid 2,807 oo
Received from F. A. Society. . . 1,500 oo
Slater Fund 800 oo
Public school 210 oo
Other sources 297 oo
• 2,807 °°
156 GILBERT ACADEMY
1889-90. — Paid $3,643 50
Received from F. A. Society ..$ i ,600 oo
Slater Fund 1,000 oo
Public school 257 50
Other sources 786 oo
3.643 So
1890-91. — Paid 3,660 oo
Received from F. A. Society. . 1,600 oo
Slater Fund ... i ,000 oo
Public school 250 oo
Other sources 81000
3,660 oo
1891-92.— Paid 3,455 oo
Received from F. A. Society.. 2,540 oo
Slater Fund 800 oo
Other sources 1 1 5 oo
Public school
3-455 oo
PROPERTY.
THERE were originally in the plantation one
thousand five hundred and twenty acres of land.
After seven thousand and thirty-two dollars were
paid by the president and his colaborers toward
the extinction of debts accumulated by his pre-
decessors, the remainder of the debts were settled
by conveying to the Freedmen's Aid Society, in
return for borrowed money, five hundred acres
of land, valued at five thousand dollars ; to Mrs.
J. S. Roberts three hundred and thirty-seven
acres of land at the same rate per acre, three
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 157
thousand three hundred and seventy dollars, the
balance of the tract remaining with the Orphans'
Home Society.
The Orphans' Home building was wrecked by
the wonderful wind storm or hurricane of 1879.
When, therefore, we came in 1881, with our faith
and our lease, and six hundred and fifty dollars in
money, we had a large tract of land worth but
little in the market, and but little fence that
would stand the shock of the most inoffensive
animal or the most moderate blow of wind. The
building could not be occupied in any part, and
had to be taken down, except a part of the
lower story outer wall. There was a village
called by us La Teche — beautiful, precious
name — but our friend, Mr. Gilbert, could not
easily wind his tongue about its Gallic fluidity,
and so we parted with it. There was a little
one-story brick hovel that had once been a planta-
tion store building, and we utilized it for the
same purpose as of yore. There was across the
way from the store a little church, 25 feet by 40
feet, and therein we reopened La Teche Seminary.
Mr. George Wells, A.M., now the Rev. Professor
George Wells, of Wiley University, Marshall,
158 GILBERT ACADEMY
Tex., was our assistant teacher. We were
invited to receive the public school, and we ac-
cepted it. Mr. J. T. B. Labau, now the Rev. J. T. B.
Labau, pastor of the Baptist Church, this place,
came as teacher with the public school. We did
some teaching ourselves, but we gave much time
to rebuilding the Home and cultivating the farm.
Notwithstanding the dreary outlook and our
small means we looked at the inevitable, and never
had one despairing thought. Glory to God ! To
him is ascribed now and always every degree of
our success. Every building, desk, book, fence,
tool, machine ; every teacher and every scholar,
has been the answer to prayer. Sometimes the
answer, especially in the form of teacher, has been
a thorn to distress us, but, at the same time we
acknowledge it thankfully, to discipline and bless.
The reconstruction of the Home building cost
us eleven hundred and eighty-six dollars and sixty-
six cents. It was not finished, but we could occupy
three rooms.
Since then we have expended in buildings not
far from thirty thousand dollars. The property
is now one of the finest in the State of Louisiana,
and bears not one dollar of indebtedness.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 159
As it now stands, with due consideration of
market values, the property may be truthfully and
conservatively estimated as follows :
i ,000 acres, at §30 per acre ..... . ............... $30,000
6 buildings and their several attachments ......... 30,000
1 3^ acres, at $300 per acre ...................... 4,050
6 lots, at $700 each ............................. 4,200
27 lots, at $150 each ........................... 4,050
Furniture and machinery ....................... 3,5°°
The above includes the land belonging to the
Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society
and that which belongs to the Orphans' Home
Society.
PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT.
We do not stand still. Life means growth.
Gilbert Academy and Agricultural College is a
live thing.
Twelve hundred acres of land, six good com-
modious buildings, efficient teachers, comprehen-
sive organization, both academic and industrial —
these things, taken together with the condition
and prospects of the country, furnish an outlook
of progress and success.
There will soon be a new building for church
l6o GILBERT ACADEMY
and chapel to cost about two thousand five hun-
dred dollars, of which one thousand five hundred
dollars are already secured.
There are hundreds of magnificent cypress
trees in our swamp awaiting the axe, the saw, and
the plane. In them is a good source of revenue.
We should have a saw-mill beside the swamp,
and a planing-mill near at hand.
A stock farm is a very great desideratum. Our
arable land being preoccupied with the culture of
sugar cane and rice, we need to buy a small tract
of land whereon we can produce our own milk
and beef.
We can make revenue from the pecan tree,
which produces the most desirable of all nuts in
the market — a nut that always commands a
good price. A small tract of land is needed for a
pecan orchard.
At present we sell our sugar cane. It would
be better to have a mill for the manufacture of
open-kettle sugar and molasses. These articles
are going out of the market with the prevalance
of refineries, but they will always command a
good price, especially the New Orleans molasses.
Nothing so good for domestic use is as yet
known.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. l6l
We need steam power in our industrial build-
ing. With that we can enlarge the scale of our
industries, increase production, and teach many
more things that are practical to our students.
In short, here, in the richest part of Louisiana,
with all facilities of transportation by rail and
by water, is a place for the great industrial
institution.
December 10, 1881. — The presiding elder held
Quarterly Conference. Among his duties was
the examination of some men who applied for
license to preach. The following are some of the
questions and answers :
Presiding Elder. — " How do you know that
God exists ? "
Candidate. — " I know it because I have faith in
him."
Presiding Elder. — " What is God ? "
Candidate. — " He is a spirit."
Presiding Elder. — " How do you know that
God is a spirit ? What does the Bible say about
it?"
Candidate. — " It says, 'God moves in a myste-
rious way.'"
Presiding Elder. — " No, no. I'll give you two
bits if you'll find that in the Bible."
1 62 GILBERT ACADEMY
Candidate. — "I don't know whether it's in the
Bible or not ; but I can find it in this book."
He took down the pulpit Bible and began to
search.
Presiding Elder. — " No, no. We can't take
time to look now; just find it when you have
time, and let me know."
Another was examined :
Presiding Eider. — " Do you believe in a general
judgment."
Candidate. — " I do."
Presiding Elder. — " Why do you so believe?
What says the Bible ? "
Candidate. — " It says, ' I shall come in my chariot
to judge you.' "
Presiding Elder. — " Ah ! No, no. That's not
in the Bible."
The presiding elder afterward inquired,
" Brother , what do you think of the exami-
nations?"
Answer. — "They reminded me of a recitation
at the university in New Orleans. A young man
was requested to define the word 'ancestor.' He
said ' It's something to dig with.'"
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 163
SOME OF THE SHADOWS.
December 31. — I sought to aid a young man
who had been brought up at the Home by taking
him into my household, providing for all his wants,
and educating him in return for what services he
might render. He made indecent proposals to a
young lady in the seminary, and was incorrigible.
He had to go.
I took another young man to be his successor.
He proved dishonest, and had to be discharged.
I employed two men to make shingles. They
contracted to make thirty thousand. After mak-
ing about sixteen thousand, and getting their pay,
they went on a spree. One of them broke into
his father-in-law's house by night, stole one hun-
dred and thirty dollars, and disappeared. The
other soon dropped work and left.
One brave Union soldier, who gloried in coming
from New York, did some good work. He ran in
debt at our store to the amount of sixty dollars,
and then ran clear out of sight, not returning. We
levied on his shanty and boat. Sometime after
164 GILBERT ACADEMY
he came by night, stole his boat, and sailed away
— whither? We only know that he and his boat
were lively on Grand Lake.
One man stole fifteen bushels of oats from our
warehouse; came and reported the theft to us
as a discovery, made known out of neighborly
kindness. He never knew that we learned his
guilt. He prayed well, and stole well. We
hope the mercy of God may be such that he
will have a good store of treasure laid up in
heaven after due deduction is made for the stolen
oats.
These incidents are given, not to magnify the
bad traits of an unfortunate people, not to carry
the implication that they are all of them, or even
a majority of them, of that character, but to illus-
trate the reverses experienced by us enthusiastic
people, who began by enveloping the race, that
had been well-nigh crucified by slavery, with a
halo of sanctity and a supernal beauty. We were
disenchanted. But we love the dear colored
people, as they actually are no less than as we
dreamed them to be.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 165
AN ENTRY IN THE JOURNAL.
"THOU the tormenter dischargest us from the
present life, but the king of the world will raise
us up unto an immortal renewal of life when we
have died for the sake of his laws" (2 Maccabees,
vii, 9). These sublime words are those of a young
man — one of seven brothers — who, with their
mother, suffered martyrdom under Antiochus
Epiphanes. The conquered was conqueror.
Thanks to God for faith's victory.
January 2, 1882. — A. A — — is a young man
who was in our school in 1875, a boy of fifteen
then, and not bad. Of late years, like many
others, he has been spoiled by association with the
wicked. The coming of the railroad has cor-
rupted our provincial simplicity. Many crimi-
nals and men of the baser sort came to work on
the roadbed. Our orphan youth and village
boys and girls — the seminary at the time hav-
ing been suspended — were led into evil ways.
A had become addicted to drink, and when
intoxicated was violent. When his sister died a
few weeks ago he was drunk, beastly so, unable
to realize the entrance of death into the family
1 66 GILBERT ACADEMY
circle, too drunk to be at the funeral service. A
few days later he came to work for me, as he had
done before. Said I, " A , you took the money
I paid you the last time and wasted it in a spree.
It did you no good. As a friend I would advise
you not to take your money at the end of the
week, but leave it with me and save it. Then let
drink alone and be a sober man ; make the most
of yourself."
He promised, and actually quit drink.
February i. — A. A died the other day.
He was clearly changed, penitent, hopeful, trust-
ful, ready to die.
Planted a couple of bay trees in my garden
the other day. Riding along the road to-day
Newman M walked beside me. Said I :
" Brother M , you see that I set out a
bay tree the other day ; it is alive ; it does
not seem harmed by transplanting." " O, no,"
said he ; " dey's a tree dat nebber dies. Pros'
doan* hurt dem." This is a comment on the
"green bay tree" of Scripture. The leaves of
the bay tree are used here for making tea.
Many prefer it to " store tea." The root is used
for poulticing.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 167
November 18, 1882. — Overtook an old colored
brother this morning a little this side of Franklin.
He wore a slouchy old hat, and various old rags
patched and tied together. He drove two thin,
starved little Creole horses — one bay and one gray
— fastened with bits of rope and leather harness
to a wee bit of a cart, of which the body was part
boards and part shingles He had some boxes
and some hay, and was selling vegetables, eggs,
etc. He often stopped to sell something from
the rear of his chariot to some dear Dinah under
a sun-bonnet, and with each held a delicious con-
versation interspersed with joke and banter and
jolly ejaculations — not remitted until distance
bade him look forward to another customer and
entertainer. When I overtook him, he shouted
gayly, " Good mawnin', docter." I inquired if he
had eggs.
" Yes, docter, but dey's two bits, now."
" Very well," I said ; " keep two dozen for me,
and leave them at my house when you come
back."
" I will, ef I kin. Ah ! Ah ! I knows ye, doc-
ter ; I'se Austin. I'se been intadoosed ter ye."
" O yes," I said ; " I know you and your wife
and your boys."
l68 GILBERT ACADEMY
" Yes, sah ; yu lives in de same place, an' I
wants to do as neighbors livin' in de same place.
Ort to be good to one 'nuther. Folkses down
yer's kin' o' ignorant. Ye has ter learn 'em. I
war brought up in de Norf to be good to one
'nuther. I goes fu yer larnin' an' eddication.
Yah ! Yah ! "
November 27. — G buried to-day ; a mur-
dered man. He was gambling with a companion
yesterday, Lord's Day ; a friend rode up and en-
tered into conversation. Altercation ensued ;
then came the revolver. One of the most tal-
ented of our youth lay dead. Gambling, drink-
ing, horse-racing on the Lord's Day associate
themselves with the state of moral sentiment that
sets low value on human life, and carries deadly
weapons as manly outfit. The devil has a big
mortgage here. I mean to dispute it with him,
the Lord willing.
November 28. — Cold this morning. Thermom-
eter stood 47° above zero at 9 A. M. No frost last
night by reason of clouds. Have ground the
cane from nine acres and obtained nineteen hogs-
heads of sugar. There will probably be twenty-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 169
two to twenty-five barrels of molasses from it
Nearly all the balance of cane is cut and wind-
rowed to preserve it until we can get the use of
the mill to grind it. This will cause some loss,
but I must submit. My wood is already drawn,
and I have no other place to grind. Do not
know that I could now sell the cane to advan-
tage. I might possibly substantiate claim to legal
remedy and secure damage, but this would be,
in every sense, a costly relief; besides, I think my
partner in the grinding is honest. He delays me
because of the danger to his own crop. He owns
the mill. He made contract to deliver his crop of
sugar and molasses December 31, in New Orleans,
to his merchant, who is embarrassed by many
loans and advances. I seem, therefore, shut up
to the duty of waiting, which involves loss. Thou,
O Lord, knowest all this. I commit it to thee.
To-day we're building a little temporary kitchen
to our dwelling. Wood-cutting, plowing, and
wood-hauling are going on. The school goes for-
ward daily and the work on the Home.
My God! Has thy world always been so
wicked? Have men always been such haters of
170 GILBERT ACADEMY
each other? Have they always been such plot-
ters of evil ? Have they always so conspired
against each other, apparently from the pure
love of the evil ? Canst thou make any good
thing of us ? Ah, how long ! Eternity is thine.
Immortality is ours. Maybe thou canst change
us for the better. Wilt thou try us again
after we die ? Shall some of us have another
chance beyond this perilous shore ? O, spare
us ; try us again, if thy goodness be not clean
worn out.
December, 1882. — Order of ordinary day's oc-
cupation, i. Rise at 6 A. M. Private devotion.
2. G. W— — recites Greek one hour. 3. Breakfast
7:30 A. M. 4. Correspondence 8:30 to 10 A. M.
5. On horseback. Visit the Home building and
advise about work going on there. Visit the
cane field and the sugar mill. Directions to give
and consultations to hold everywhere. Frequent
stoppings at the plantation store for business.
Return at noon. Dinner somewhere between
12 and i. 6. E. L — - recites Latin, Greek, and
Algebra from i to 2:30 P. M. 7. Running over the
day's mail. 8. To the store at 4 P. M. 9. Return
at 7 P. M. 10. Tea. 11. Reading and conver-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. I Jl
sation. 12. Prayers with the household. 13. Re-
tire. In sugar-rolling time up at 4 A. M. and off
to the mill.
December 1 7. — After Sunday school a sermon by
G. W . He has fought much against his con-
victions of duty. He announced for his text Gal.
vi. 14. At the closing of his discourse, he said, with
tears in his eyes and a tremor in his voice : " The
wisest thing for a Christian, nay, his only course, is
to lay down his opposition to God's will ; and, if
Christ says, ' Go preach,' to do it at any cost, and
in it find the crown." The people were touched.
As soon as he sat down a sister began singing
•" Nearer, my God, to Thee." Then the pastor
opened the doors of the church with some im-
pressive words on the swift passage of life and
the importance of deciding our allegiance to God
before we die. Then was sung " Almost per-
suaded," and amidst the singing an old and faith-
ful servant of Satan, a smart, capable, well-to-do
man, came forward, weeping, and threw himself
on his knees in presence of the congregation.
All were profoundly moved. After prayers, ad-
vices, singing, and handshaking, and before the
pastor was quite ready for the doxology and the
172 GILBERT ACADEMY
benediction, there came forward from the door a
poor man, roughly clad and toil-worn, looking
sad, but sober and sincere. He wished to speak,
and the pastor assented. He said : " I'se a
stranger, an' a po' man, an' in a tight place,
'jes' now." Addressing himself directly to the
minister, he added : " My mother-in-law is a
Methodist, but I is not I don' know 'at I ever
shall be ; but I want you to bury my chile 'at is
dead."
" I will," answered the minister, " and I hope
this event will show you that it is the Lord's
will you yourself should prepare to die, for
your turn to die may come within twenty-four
hours. Where do you wish your child to be
buried, sir ? "
"In your buryin'-groun'."
" Very well ; I'll attend to it." This in the
presence of the listening congregation. Thus do
all the throbs of the human heart come into
God's house.
December 22. — Received some days ago tele-
gram announcing the coming of my family, and
repaired to New Orleans to meet them. The
blessed company arrived according to program,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 173
and we returned to this place, our home. The
register of the party is thus : Mrs. A. H. God-
man, Miss Inez A. Godman, Rev. W. R. Web-
ster, of Mount Vernon, N. Y. ; Mrs. S. W. Dex-
ter, of Dexter, Mich.; Miss Abbie Wright, of
New York; Miss Emma Fisher, of New York;
Miss Victoria Sutton, Miss Maria Jackson, Miss
Susie Kinchin, Miss Corinne Comb, and Master
James Jackson, of La Teche, La.; Master Frank
Clermont, of New Orleans.
The through Texas train would not stop. We
had, therefore, to leave at Franklin, and come
home in hacks. Here we are in our own hum-
ble home, just as happy as if .inclosed in castle
walls. Our Father's work is its own most glori-
ous reward.
December 23. — At home. We are overjoyed to
have our mother with us. Mrs S. W. Dexter
has been a great friend to the Home. Busy at
the store. Everybody is astir in the preparations
for Christmas. At night the fair began in the
Home. What a marvel ! Thank God ! The
Home is so far restored that we can occupy
one large room. We'll soon have the Seminary
in it.
174 GILBERT ACADEMY
December 24. — The Lord's Day. The pastor
preached the morning sermon from the " white
horse and his rider." The sermon in the after-
noon was by the Rev. William R. Webster, on
" This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with
them." i. The receiver. 2. The received. 3. The
reception. The effect was very happy. At the
close the parents came forward to pray for their
children.
December 25. — Merry Christmas. Stockings,
stockings ! Every one has stockings, and every
stocking has contents. Every face is bright ;
every heart is light. A merry Christmas. If the
human heart has any cause for gladness it is
the event proclaimed by Christmas. We ought
always to be happy, and on Christmas may be
" merry." The Father is glad to have us so. Re-
ception in the church at night.
January 6, 1883. — Commenced potting sugar
to-day. Quality good. Sent to Franklin for mo-
lasses barrels ; received twelve.
At night a concert at the church in Frank-
lin, Rev. Emperor Williams, pastor. A num-
ber of white citizens were present ; among
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
/ 0
them Mr. Homer Smith, formerly from New
Haven, Conn. Mr. Smith expressed great de-
light in the singing. He was surprised and
pleased to witness the evident culture of the col-
ored youth. Encouraged us to persevere. In
such work the compensation lies chiefly in moral
effects. The financial result is most frequently
trifling. We have tried to do a part toward dem-
onstrating the colored boy's and the colored
girl's capacity for culture. There is no question
about the capacity of the white boy. There will
soon be no question about that of the colored.
Late rains made the roads almost impassable, and
we risked life itself in the darkness of the night.
Reached home at midnight. Thanks to thee,
Father, for opportunity to do some work for thee.
No work of thine is either high or low. It is all
noble and fine.
January 7. — At the sugar mill some days ago
it was discovered that a valise and other valu-
ables, as well as nine dollars' worth of labor tick-
ets, had disappeared from the possession of certain
parties. Thefts about the mill have been fre-
quent. The tickets were traced to a certain Negro
lad, found in his possession, and identified.
176 GILBERT ACADEMY
Discovering a crowd to-day in a certain part of
the sugar mill I advanced to make observations.
A bold colored man of twenty-five or thirty
years, or more — for I'm not good at judging the
age of color — with strong and decided African
features, had the aforesaid lad down on the floor,
confining him, despite his struggling and scream-
ing, holding him down with his knees, and with
his hands fastening a rope around the neck of the
wrathy, struggling boy. Here, then, was a scene —
a black man bulldozing a black boy, and a large
crowd of both blacks and whites gazing intently
on. I stood by resolved to see fair play, being
aware of the antecedents. The boy had belonged
to our school, was a bad fellow, and frightening
him might be wholesome. The man fastened
the rope, snatched up the body in one hand and,
holding the rope with the other, walked out un-
der the cane shed, ostensibly to hang the squirm-
ing, yelling creature to one of the many posts.
He threw him first on the ground and pommeled
him, and the boy rolled and foamed and cursed.
The man made as though he would adjust the
rope preparatory to hanging, and the roar of the
cub was more fearful than ever. Then said the
man, " I won't kill you ; " untied the rope from
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 177
his neck, let the boy up, and then struck him a
terrible blow on the back with the doubled rope,
and the boy screamed hideously. The rope was
raised for a second blow, but I stepped between,
putting my left hand on the boy, giving him a
push, and saying, " Go home ;" then looked around
silently on the excited, bold and angry man, who,
with uplifted arm, restrained himself, and said,
with softened tone, " Docter, get out of the way."
I only turned again to the boy and hurried him
away.
Later in the day, while in the purgery, I ad-
vanced toward the remote end of the room where
two Negroes were potting sugar, and a white
youth was not far away engaged in the same em-
ploy. One of the Negroes was the bold man of
the morning who had chastised the thief. When
I was near him he said, " What I don't like is
to have dese yer wite folks interferin' when a
fellow has a fight Some of dese days dey'll get
hurt."
I interrupted, saying, " Now you would not
hurt me for saying you must not fight, would
you ? "
" Ah," said he, with a grim smile, " I doan' know,
8*
178 GILBERT ACADEMY
docter, it's putty hard wen a man has to whip a
lyin' thief like dat to be interfered wid ; a man's
got to whip him."
" Well, I've read in a certain book, ' If a man
shall smite thee —
" Yes, docter, but — "
" No, don't interrupt me; wait till I get through.
I've read that if a man shall smite thee on one
cheek turn to him the other also."
" Yes, but the book says, too, ' the wicked must
be punished ;' and, docter, I knows 'at if I turn de
other cheek to the man that strikes me he'll jest
kill me ; that's all dey is of it ; that's de way it is
wid us fellows."
" Well, I know there is much in that ; much
truth in what you say ; but if we have done no
wrong, have said no provoking word, have done
nothing to justify violence, then the man will not
strike the second time when we give him the
other cheek. The trouble with us is that we say
angry things and bring on retaliation ; but, after
all, if we have done no wrong we can trust in
God if the man does kill us." The man was
silent, not knowing what to say for a time. At
length, he said, " I doan know about bein' killed ;
I'll hev to think 'bout that." So we parted.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 179
The most picturesque place I have ever seen
is the sugarhouse — the old-style house — at sugar-
rolling time. The motley crowd of Negro men
and women, their strange attire, their weird songs,
their wild and simple manners, their coarse and
lively perennial drollness and mirth ; the mules,
the carts, the dogs, the picaninnies, the Creole
boys and girls, the odd, fantastic lanterns, the
varied sounds of boiler, engine, rollers, and kettles
— all is confusion subdued into harmony, with a
prevailing grotesqueness suggestive of Egyptian
architecture, Oriental tales, and European culture.
If I were a painter I should find scenes for the
easel. The painters, if they come not soon, will
be too late ; for the old is rapidly giving way to
the new.
A VISIT.
February, 17, 1883. — Yesterday a visit from
Benny, the cripple. We have provided for him
since 1880. He is now twenty-seven years of age,
and enjoys the watchful care of Aunt Millie— Mrs.
Millie Augustus — a most faithful and competent
woman. A paralyzed tongue makes Benny's
speech thick and almost incomprehensible. " I
ISO GILBERT ACADEMY
lov'th 'e Lawd, an' I know he lov'th me. I can't
do much for him, but I reads his word and keeps
it hy'ur in my chair all day." " Well, Benny, does
the Lord stay here with you all day ? " " Ye'th
he do," said Benny, convulsively, with a glowing
countenance and a suppressed feeling of grief be-
cause he could not express himself easily. " What
is your greatest trial, Benny ? " " Dem boys 'ut's
all de time a teasin' me. Dey makes me so
mad."
" Ah, Benny, we, as Christians, must endure all
things."
" Not from dem bad boys," with a shake of the
head and a rumple of the lips.
At this visit Benny said with a smile, " Doctor,
I 'sink I keeps my temper better now."
He sat for hours on the gallery, looked out
into the grove, watched the mocking-birds wor-
rying the dogs, enjoyed the sports of the chil-
dren and the gayety of their music on the flageolet
and harmonica. At 6 p. M. I took him back to
Sister A's, both of us feeling we had not lost
a day.
We have now in our household George W.
Wells, professor in La Teche Seminary, an alum-
nus of New Orleans University ; Mrs. Mary A.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. l8l
Hall, Professor Wells' adopted mother; Miss
Abbie Wright, organist, and Miss Emma Fisher,
sopranist, from New York; Master James Jack-
son, Master Henry Williams, Miss Maria (Yi)
Jackson, Miss Marie Frangois Alphonsie Nar-
cisse. Duca Comb has gone North ; likewise
Melinda Bowles. Some of the remaining children
may go North.
December 2. — Home from the North Septem-
ber 21. The cane looked pretty well, better than
written accounts had led me to expect. I was
disappointed, though, in finding it short, averag-
ing about ten mature joints.
The outcome is now (December) before us —
one fifth of a crop. What a failure ! Well, so
much for land unsubdued, that had lain so long
uncultivated, and had been overrun by wire grass ;
so much for lack of fertilizer ; so much for inex-
perience ; so much for an unfavorable season —
excess of rain in June and July. We are in the
same boat with other planters, but we scarcely
dare hold up the head and say that from thirty
acres we have as net results only five hundred
and fifty-five dollars. Were I an unbeliever, or a
man of the world, I should be mortified, indeed.
l82 GILBERT ACADEMY
But I shall suffer neither grief nor mortification.
I've done the best I knew how, and done it for
the Lord. His will be done. Perhaps next year
he will give us more.
" They that wait on the Lord shall renew their
strength." I find in a Kempis what meets my
case this morning : " Come thou unto me when it
is not well with thee." " Is there anything hard
to me, or shall I be like unto one that promiseth
and performeth not?"
" I know the secret thoughts of thy heart, and
that it is very expedient for thy welfare that thou
be left sometimes without spiritual enjoyment,
lest perhaps thou shouldest be willing to please
thyself in that which thou art not"
" When I give, it is still mine ; when I withdraw
it I take not anything that is thine ; for every
good and every perfect gift is mine."
February 17, 1884. — "There is none good but
God." I renounce myself and utterly abhor
the being named " I." I despise my learning. I
hold in contempt my little talents. It is all bosh,
whatever a man can do. God only does any-
thing but sin. Man can but be carried onward
by the arms that encircle him. The only thing
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 183
man does is to rebel, and that is unavailing. I
am content. I am nothing. I am held at all I
am worth.
CASTE.
CASTE means, when the word is strictly used, a
division of men into exclusive classes — perma-
nent, hereditary, and recognized by law or usage.
But the word is used with laxity, and often rep-
resents, in these days, any social classification
that makes an approach or effort toward exclusive-
ness, and is generative of prejudice.
When a social circle becomes exclusive, " high-
toned," as it is called, it does not for that reason
constitute a caste. Its members die, and there
is no provision for succession. Any man or
woman who gains enough money or reputation
will be admitted. There is no stigma resultant
from exclusion. There is just as much loss by
the membership in one way as there is gain in
another.
When a church sets itself up for the rich, dis-
couraging the poor, it does not thereby erect a
caste. When the church opens her doors to
white and black, and allows them to go together,
184 GILBERT ACADEMY
or apart, as they choose, she is not thereby cater-
ing to caste feeling.
POWER.
GOD has done all things well and has implanted
in us all our natural propensities and affections
for the attainment of good ends. The love of
power, meaning the desire to exert our energies
and achieve something, is a pure motive, and is
capable of most exalted holiness and refinement.
But the desire for superiority, which is in many
cases the essence of the desire for power, is in
most men a selfish, unholy thing. It generates
pharisaism throughout the Church, and in every
part of human society is degenerated into the
most hateful of all things — the meddling with
other people's affairs for the simple sake of power
or advantage over them.
A calm, conscious goodness has no desire to
regulate other people. A wise man has enough
to do to regulate himself. It is a low type of
character that cannot feel assured of its own use-
fulness and validity except as it meddles. Author-
ity, except what emanates from character, is a
bogus coin.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 185
May 25. — Of the gladdest moments, methinks,
in human life is the departing upon a distant
journey into unknown lands. Shaking ofifwith one
effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of
routine, the cloak of carking care, and the slavery
of home, man feels once more happy. The blood
flows with the fast circulation of youth ; excite-
ment gives new vigor to the muscles, and a sense
of sudden freedom adds an inch to the stature.
Afresh dawns the morn of life ; again the bright
world is beautiful to the eye and the glorious face
of Nature gladdens the soul. A journey, in fact,
appeals to imagination, to memory, to hope, the
sister graces of our moral being. — Captain Bur-
ton, " Zanzibar, and Two Months in East Africa"
Exordium.
There is a long journey before me. For the
first time in my life I begin to contemplate it as
near. Imagination, memory, and hope are busy.
They do throw their charms about the vision. I
am " rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, in-
stant in prayer."
August 2, 1884. — Bears and coons invading
the corn fields at night. The bear stands on his
I 86 GILBERT ACADEMY
hind feet, tears off the ears of corn with his fore
paws as if they were hands. After he has gath-
ered a pile he takes it away part at a time, as
rapidly as he can, and stores it at his lodging in
the woods. I engaged two men to watch for the
invaders by night, paying them extra wages.
Brother N— — said, " I is not perduced fur dat
kin' 'o work, kase I ain' got no shoes fitten fur it."
" Any snakes out there ? "
" Snakes ! " said A , a famous ditcher, also a
bricklayer, " Snakes ! " — with a shake of the head
and a grin — " I'se seen snakes in de grass on dat
turn-row as big as a man's leg."
"Well, how about the bears? How do you
know there are bears there ? "
" Kase," said N , " de bar, he's a mighty pa'-
tic'lar animal. He pull de cawn, an' tote it away,
an' piles it up afo' he eats it. Yes, sah ! "
" Yes," said B , " dat's jes' wat dey done
bin doin'."
August 3. — An "express" meeting to day. The
pastor stated the object and duty of the hour,
and announced the hymn —
" There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 187
One said: " Brethren and sisters, I have some
acquaintance with that fountain. In that precious
blood my sins are washed away, and the love of
God is shed abroad in my heart. I know that
my name is written in heaven. Besides, I love
the brethren — all — I don't know any person whom
I do not love."
This seemed to furnish the keynote to the
testimonies that followed. All said, one after
another, with varying expression, " I know noth-
in' 'bout hatred. No use fur me to say I love
God an' hate somebody. Can't do it."
After a while rose one who had done a great
deal of talking, and had said many hard things
against the pastor and the doctor. She said, " I
know an ' open confession is good for the soul.' I
came here to-day a-purpose to make my confes-
sion to you all. I came to La Teche a Christian ;
and I thought myself a tried Christian. But I
didn't know anything about it. I was never tried
befo'."
Here she broke down in tears, and the people
sang. After a time the singing ceased ; the sister
had recovered herself, and continued her utter-
ance :
l88 GILBERT ACADEMY
" I came to make my confession. This is not
of myself. The Lord compelled me to it."
She came forward and asked forgiveness, and
received it.
Then came the melting hearts and the flowing
eyes all over the house. There was too much
feeling for anything but tears ; otherwise was
profound quiet. After a lapse of minutes two
sisters, Miriam-like, with bursts of joy, with clap-
ping hands, with songs of praise, skipped between
the seats and through the aisles, to the meas-
ure of
" Gwine to jine dat heavenly ban'."
And a tumultuous rush of praise made up the
refrain for the foregoing tears.
SUPERSTITION.
August 7. — Q had white swelling; limb
had to be amputated. The patient grew better.
People say that a snake, by evil spell, had gained
a residence in the victim and produced the dis-
ease. The place where the snake lay in the limb
was visible, they say, at the amputation, but the
snake himself" had dived up and got out of sight."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 189
A woman is very ill. It is alleged that her
husband put an evil spell on her by telling her
when she was about to eat something that she
would pay hard for it.
A woman has been going to the mourners'
bench for many nights. The matter is popularly
explained by saying that some one standing at
her gate cast an evil influence upon her, and that
she goes to the altar to exorcise the evil one.
At the approach of a childbirth a mother con-
tinues her work, but the father grows sick, and
often goes to bed. A man said to-day, when I
inquired for his health, " O, slow! slow! Wife is
in family way, an' of cose it makes me sick."
Is this superstition ? or is it a device to keep
the woman at work and let the husband loaf?
August 8. — Planters are becoming discouraged.
Imported sugars are so cheap and in such quanti-
ties that American producers cannot compete.
Some are going out of cane, and will take rice
instead.
Augttst 9. — Thermometer 96° in the shade.
Cisterns empty. The people resort to the bayou
IQO GILBERT ACADEMY
for water. It is thus a river of life. There's not
much cooking in this country, consequently not
much firewood. What is is " tooken."
I asked X if I might tell him something
that he should never tell to another.
"Sho'ly, Brudder T , I won' tell."
" Well, Brother X , I know that K— - was
ruined at 's, and I want you to keep Si away
from there."
"I knows it, Brudder T ; I knows it. I
keeps a clos' han' on Si. K got away from
me by gwine off to odder place to work an' git-
tin' in bad company. He went down to
and work all season, an' den had lawsuit, an* didn'
get a third o' hes wages. Yes, sah."
" Well ; now keep Si away. That so-called
' night-school ' was just a trick to ruin the boys.
Keep him away from those women."
" I does ; only wen he's dar wid odder young
folks I can' help dat. I tole 'em to keep away
from de 'night-school'; 'er was no p'int in hes
gwine to school to a young lady as didn' know as
much as he do. An' he say he done hired her
an' paid her, an' he didn' like to 'scharge her now.
Yes, sah."
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. IQI
A NIGHT'S EXPERIENCE.
Sunday, August 10. — I supposed the rain last
night had put an end to the exhibition of the
school — a private one — which was appointed for
eight o'clock. Went to bed at nine. About ten
o'clock I was roused from sleep by a voice : " Fe-
licity Wright ! Felicity Wright ! "
I went to the door and inquired what was
wanted.
Moses said : " Mis' P sent me to ax you to
come to de exhibition."
He (Moses) had a horse and buggy for my con-
veyance, as I've learned this morning; but I was
ignorant of it last night, for he said naught of it.
I answered : " Please tell Miss P that I am
sorry that, under the circumstances, I cannot go."
After lying down and courting sleep awhile the
dogs began barking fiercely, as if some one were
in the yard. Rose and looked out the windows,
but saw nothing amiss. Retired again. No long
time had passed when the little cat jumped out
of a box containing chemicals in an adjoining
room, and ran around the house as if possessed.
He had been occasionally acting thus for some
time. The cause of it became now evident. He
IQ2 GILBERT ACADEMY
has been stealing nightly into that box to escape
being sent into the garret ; has slept on the chem-
icals, which are in wrapped packages directly
over some demijohns of nitric and sulphuric acids.
The fumes of the acids have escaped enough to
put the " divvil " into the kitty-cat.
He ran back and forth for a long time at inter-
vals into my bedroom and out again.
" Ah ! if wife and daughter were only at home.
They can manage cats so much better than I.
Alas!"
I rose and shut the bedroom door. After a
time the air was too close. I rose and opened
the cloor. Then, since the cat was still " obstrop-
alous," I dressed myself and went into the draw-
ing room — if any room in my cot may be so called
— and proceeded to investigate the feline develop-
ments. Took a small broom, fearing I might do
grievous damage to life and property with a big
one, and proceeded to the dining room, after clos-
ing the bedroom door and opening the front out-
side door. In the dining room found the two
cats — mother and child — sitting demurely on the
floor. As soon as old " Mab " saw the broom she
lighted through the broken pane and was soon on
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 193
the outside. Young " Frisk," possessed, of course,
hied into the parlor. I very sagely supposed he
had embraced the inviting opportunity and had
gone out to his mother by the wide open door.
Thinking myself now free I sat down to read.
Becoming absorbed in an interesting subject I
forgot all my troubles, and knew not whether I
was in Jerusalem or in La Teche. Perhaps a half
hour had elapsed when a faint scratching was
heard under the table at which I was sitting.
" Can that be a mouse ? What a pity ! These
cats are of no use in destroying vermin ; they just
eat their feed and loaf." But curiosity led to in-
vestigation, and behold, " Frisk " is there under
my table, gently pulling the papers to let me know
I had done him no harm. " Bewitched ! " is he ?
Whack ! goes the broom ; rip ! goes " Frisk "
straight into the bedroom, for I had once more
thrown open the bedroom door for ventilation.
Now, it comes to this : surrender, or fight it out
on this line. Shall it be felicide, or homicide?
The candle is once more on the floor in the bed-
room. Experimental research reveals his majesty
under the bed in sovereign composure. "Grand,
gloomy, and peculiar "he seemed, like the First
194 GILBERT ACADEMY
Consul. How far to his Waterloo ? Here's at
him. And now, " Where's he at ? " as the school-
boys say.
The bedroom is closed again with wise hind-
sight, and candle on the floor again — after the
manner of conductors — but this time in the parlor.
Herr " Frisk " is happy under the sofa. A wave of
the besom, and — " Where's he at ? " again. There's
an old oat sack that had been used to stop a hole
in the window before the new pane of glass was
put in. It hangs, partly so, in the corner, at the
end of the sofa and near the window. The broom-
handle is utilized and the sack is punched, as we
used to punch the corn sack to persuade the rats
to get out. No discovery. The whole room is
searched and carefully examined, and there is no
" Frisk." He must be bewitched. He is here, but
invisible.
Hold ! there is one spot untried. The sofa is
drawn away ; a fold of the sack is gently drawn,
and lo ! there is " Frisk," quietly pretending to
snooze between the folds, just as if he had never
been punched or any way disturbed. What a
sage this cat must be. He is worthy to be First
Consul of the Feline Republic.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 195
For his dignity's sake, and remembering the
high consideration wherein cats were held by the
ancient Egyptians — the pioneers of civilization —
we therefore very tenderly applied the broom-
handle, and away goes " Frisk," striking himself
against every side wall as a beetle, buzzing blindly
about at night, beats against the ceiling, the wall,
and the floor. At length out of the door he
shoots into the moonlight, not intending so to do,
and now, at the last, quiet reigns again, and the
student once more loses himself in study and
writing. But alas ! for human calculations ; after
some minutes " Frisk " is back, but not inside now,
for the door is shut ; he is at the Venetian blind,
trying his chances to invade our privacy. But he
is no fool. Having concluded that discretion is
the better part of valor he retires to meditate, un-
der the sweet influences of the moon, new schemes
of dalliance with the tyrant, who seems for the
present to have the better of him.
This Sabbath morning, however, he is meditat-
ive, and might be taken for a Stoic. As for me,
I got to sleep about 4 A. M., had breakfast at
9 A. M., and now I am cheerful as a lark, rejoic-
ing not in myself, but in thee, O God.
196 GILBERT ACADEMY
ART AND CHARITY.
RUSKIN says: " Fifth rate, sixth rate, to a hun-
dredth rate art is good. Art that gives pleasure
to anyone has a right to exist."
For instance: If I can only draw a duck that
looks as though he waddled I may give pleasure
to the last baby of our hostess ; while a flower
beautifully drawn will give pleasure to her eldest
girl, who is just beginning to learn botany, and
it may also be useful to some man of science.
The true outline of a leaf shown to a child may
turn the whole course of its life. Second rate art
is useful to a greater number of people than even
first rate art ; there are so few minds of a high
enough order to understand the highest kind of
art. Many more people find pleasure in Copley
or Fielding than in Turner.
It may be doubted whether Mr. Ruskin felt
thus in the earlier stages of his culture. When
he was denouncing the falsehoods, the criminal-
ity of modern artists generally, it is hardly con-
ceivable that he should have been so lenient
toward bunglers, pretenders, and all low-grade
artists.
But the old man, the man of experience and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 197
wisdom, the man who has discovered the short-
ness of human sight and the greenness of human
virtue — not soured himself, but sympathetic, expert
in the eye that keeps watch o'er man's mortality,
rich in all tenderness, charity, and helpfulness —
this man, who is living for the poor, discovers
and appreciates the mission of low-grade art. He
speaks now like one who " has been with Christ
and learned of him." Before he spake as one
who had been at the schools, had become a mag-
ister, and looked on mankind as pupils, tyros,
blunderers, humbugs.
Ru skin ism was a craze a few years ago. Plat-
form and pulpit chattered a la Ruskin in the
flowering period of his genius. Ruskin, in the
fruitage of ripe wisdom, attracts few and has no
following. Then " Ruskin clubs," " Ruskin read-
ings," critiques according to Ruskin, illustrations
and quotations from Ruskin, were thick as leaves
in Vallombrosa. Ruskinism was the mark of
culture, the open sesame to the highest literary
circles. A metropolitan preacher found that it
paid to Ruskinize his sermons. Sometimes the
gospel preached was a gospel according to Rus-
kin. The lady or gentleman who, in the social
198 GILBERT ACADEMY
circle, showed the greatest familiarity with Mod-
ern Painters was lionized.
Being at a summer resort in 1863, when tour-
ing for health, though I ought to have been at
the front with the Christian Commission, a cer-
tain prominent Baptist divine entertained a com-
pany of ladies and gentlemen in the large and
tastefully decorated drawing-room. The little
church in the village among the mountains had
been recently dedicated to the worship of God.
Our critic, in attending worship there, had ob-
served that the walls were frescoed, and that,
instead of real wooden frames to the windows,
were painted imitations. With the manner of
cultured pride, the Ruskinized divine, like the
old Grecian Protagoras, swelling, said, " The man
that did that ought to be hung up to the first
lamp-post."
Sir Oracle seemed to carry everyone with him.
What an Apollo he was the writer of this knew
not, only wondered. Perhaps that disciple, like
his master, would now admit " that art which
pleases anyone has a right to exist." Such is the
force of wider thinking and deeper knowledge.
Charity is the highest wisdom.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 199
August 1 7. — Three children baptized, or christ-
ened, to-day — Maud Amelia Lyon, the pastor's
daughter, Louisiana Bowles, and Abraham Will-
man. The first was baptized by the doctor, the
other two by the pastor. There were two god-
mothers for Maud — Mrs. Kinchin, of Franklin,
and Miss Rose Janez, of Baldwin — the former
colored and the latter white. The godmother,
Mrs. Kinchin, took the child from its mother, pre-
sented it to the minister, and answered the dis-
ciplinary questions, the parents being silent.
When Louisiana Bowles was baptized her mother
sat in the audience, the father stood at the ex-
treme limit of the circle about the font, and the
godmother, a young woman twenty-one years of
age, took all the responsibility. This style of
ceremony seems a relic of slavery times, and a
compromise with requirements of the new era of
freedom. White people used to be sponsors, and
the ceremony was usually performed by Catholic
priests. Many colored people, now Protestants,
once the slaves of Catholic masters, still go to
the priests for the christening of their children.
Freedom seems to them to mean Protestantism ;
but old faith and usage will often assert its
power.
2OO GILBERT ACADEMY
August 20. — My horse, Don, is a beautiful
mustang, of light bay color. He has to be broken
anew if not used for a day or two. He has several
times thrown me, but I like him, and am not
afraid of him. I get health from him.
Returned from Franklin last evening — a horse-
back trip — dismounted, and passed through the
bars. While putting up the bars, holding the
bridle-rein in my left hand, Don gave a spring
without any provocation, unless that of a buzzard
in a tree near by, whirled himself about and ran,
dragging me with him. Holding to the rein,
struggling to my feet, I was violently jerked, and
lighted heavily on the heel of my left foot. Don
stopped at length ; some one took charge of him,
relieving me. After an hour found that I was
lame and suffering acute pain in the foot ; applied
tincture of arnica ; retired at the usual time ; in
the night suffered so intensely that sleep was out
of the question, and concluded to try the arnica
again. Getting up found myself slightly nause-
ated and of unsteady head. Reached the bureau
and sought to get a match ; my movements were
uncertain as those of a blind man or of an infant.
Lost my consciousness ; aware of falling on the
floor by reason of the shock ; consciousness be-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2OI
yond that gone. After awhile was aware of feel-
ing about in the dark and trying to rise, at the
same time wondering where I was and how I
came there. Then came the thought, " Who will
help me ? " My mind growing clearer I remem-
bered that my wife and daughter were distant,
and that it would be difficult to rouse Mrs.
Wright ; I must therefore help myself. It seemed
vain to struggle, but at length I got my hands on
a partly open door, and so pulled up slowly. Re-
membering there was a chair near by I drew it
to me by one hand and pulled myself up on it.
There I sat, almost falling off, holding on by the
back of the chair and wondering what could be
done next. Finally I thought of the camphor, and
that I could get only by getting on my feet. So
I threw up both hands and caught by the top of
the bureau, and, being familiar with the shape of
the camphor bottle, knowing just where it was, I
secured it, dropped down into the chair again and
began smelling the elixir. Ah, what a relief! In
a few moments I could light the candle and pro-
vide other things for my comfort.
Thursday, August 21. — Rev. E. Lyon, Mrs.
Lyon, Miss Maud Amelia, and the Hon. J. F.
9*
2O2 GILBERT ACADEMY
Patty called; were present at evening worship,
Brother Patty leading in our prayers.
August 28. — The execution of a Negro for
murder in Franklin to-day. The case was a plain
one ; the murder was confessed ; it grew out of
gambling; the murderer surrendered himself; he
was supremely happy despite his guilt. He said
that when the drop should fall he would fall
into the arms of Jesus. Perhaps he is mistaken.
But how transcendent, how marvelous the power
resident in man to make a triumph and a glory
out of misfortune and disgrace. Indomitable
spirit of man ! Thou art a spark of the eternal
fire.
SOMETHING FOUND.
To Night, September 7, 1884.
THOU placid Night ! with crown of countless gems
Dost sit majestical on Nature's throne,
And with the imperial Lord of clay divid'st
The gorgeous empire of revolving worlds.
The deep,
My homage is to thee. Spellbound I own
The witchery of thy starlit face, the awe
That steals from thy unfathomed mystery,
The joy of contemplation too profound
For sleep.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 203
Where 'gins thy realm ? What term to thy domain ?
What waveless sea doth lap thy silent shores ?
Hath time the tireless wing to bear him o'er
The trackless wild and find where thou art not?
Jet queen !
Meridians mark thee not, nor poles, nor zones ;
Hyperbolas are native to thy breast,
And infinites the measure of thine arms.
Nor round, nor square, nor up nor down in thee
Are seen.
Tore thee what was ? In thee God slept ; and not
One ray of light, one drop of dew, one dot
Of molecule or atom swung or shot*
It's fiery path, elliptical, athwart
Thy depths.
No angel's trumpet waked thy wilderness,
No seraph's wing thy vastness soared, nor moved
A spirit through thy heart, nor stirred one thought :
But God, in self-sufficient slumber, filled
Thy breadths.
O Night ! the sleep of God thou art, and thou
The vacancy of light no more. When God
Aroused and breathed creative breath and said,
" Let there be light ! " thy realm thenceforth was rent
And blessed.
Streamed forth the glory, waked the form of life
Of useful plant and beauteous flower, and grace
And power and dignity of animal
And man. O beauteous realm inclosed, by thee
Caressed !
LET the evening be dreary
That morning be cheery ;
There's no bloom of beauty
But it's rooted in duty.
2O4 GILBERT ACADEMY
BIRTHDAY.
September 8, 1884.
MY soul !
Thou art to-day
Upon the way
To glory.
Thou, spark
Of primal fire,
Dost still aspire
To glory.
*For five
And fifty years
Of smiles and tears —
To glory.
Hie on !
The way is straight ;
O do not wait ! —
To glory.
THE following is found in Blackwood's Magazine,
March, 1870, and is published as a Negro compo-
sition issuing from South Carolina. It has the
aroma of white blood, is interesting as a phenom-
enon, and just the thing to be accepted as genuine
by a senile monthly on a foreign shore :
" We's be nearer to the Lord
Den de white folks, and dey knows it ;
See de glory-gate unbarred —
Walk in, darkeys, past de guard !
Bet yer a dollar he won't close it.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2O5
" Walk in, darkeys, troo cle gate :
Hark ! de kuller'd angels holler ;
Go 'way, white folks, you're too late !
We's the winning kuller ! wait
Tillde trumpet blows to foller!
" Halleloojah ! tanks to praise !
Long enuff we've borne our crosses ;
Now we's cle sooperior race,
And, wid Gorramighty's grace,
We'se going to hebben afo' de bosses ! "
PRAISE.
September 15.
AWAKE, my soul ! and sing his praise
Who crowds with blessings all thy days.
He gives thee health with morning light,
And brings thee rest with shades of night.
'Tis he thy hands with work employs,
Tis he thy bosom fills with joys ;
All sweets of sense doth he bestow,
And mental treasures from him flow.
When worldly cares thy soul oppress,
When crucial pains thy frame distress,
Who takes the cut and gash of woe,
And bears thee up his grace to show ?
When sickness comes with blighting breath,
And nigh thee stands the form of death,
Who plucks the sting of parting pain
And calls to camp th' angelic train ?
O Christ, my Lord ! soul-healer thou !
O loving Fount of every good !
Thy praise shall all my powers employ,
And thou forever be my joy.
2O6 GILBERT ACADEMY
October i. — In the canefields and the corn-
fields, where the ground has been cultivated, is
the greatest profusion of wild beauty in August
and September. Not to mention other things,
there are two varieties of convolvulus — one like
the common sort grown by cottages in the North,
with large blooms of purple, pink, white, or
mixed ; the other has a globe of flowerets that
open one at a time, each small as a blue-
bell and of like color, except that the calyx —
which is adherent — is a very light blue.
These exquisite little things cover the long mili-
tary ranks of corn and sugar cane. They are
known to the workmen as " tie vines," and have
to be removed from the stalks of cane lest they
suffocate it.
GLORIES.
"GLORIES," ye are my flowers
To morning and to man ;
A gladness to the hours,
A smile upon the land.
O, cups of joy !
There's no alloy
In the fleet
Dewy sweet
Of your lips.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2QJ
Whence come ye, pretty ones ?
Did pearls take root and grow?
Do diamonds spring in zones
Beneath, and in ye blow?
O, cups of joy !
There's no alloy
In the smart
Of the heart
That looks on ye.
Mayhap the hidden power
That quickens the abyss
Hath shed an Iris shower
Of tears that utter bliss.
O, cups of joy !
There's no alloy
In rapture fine
'Twixt soul of mine
And thine.
I have 't. On morning ray
Of yon imperial sun
Ye slid into our day,
And made the glory one.
O, cups of joy !
There's no alloy
In thoughts of love
Shot from above
In your glance.
December 21. — Solstice. Thank God that after
to-night the days lengthen, I hope, for an eternal
day. Never did like night.
Emperor Williams, a genuine black man,
preached to-day. His text was Luke xxiii, 42 :
" Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
2O8 GILBERT ACADEMY
kingdom." The preacher expatiated on the mar-
velous faith of " the thief on the cross "—as great,
in the circumstances, as that of Abraham or Job.
His talk to the Sunday school was character-
istic.
Some one, in days of old, offered his (Will-
iams') master five thousand dollars for him, but
without avail. " I wuz a mechanic, a fust rate A
No. i workman, ef I am a poh preacher. I'se
been three months an' two days 'thout tobacco,
an' I don't think I'll use it any moh. I weighs
moh'n I ever did befoh. The bishops an' doctors
of divinity often asked me to quit tobacco, but I
said I'd chew an' spit jes' as long 's I pleased.
But the cholera tuk hole of me last fall, an' that
persuaded me to quit.
" I wuz not, in my young days, in the habit of
takin' drams. But once in New Orleans I went
with some young men, of a Sunday, on an excur-
sion to Lake Pontchartrain. There came up a
shower, and, getting wet, we went into a house by
the roadside to take refreshments. I did not pur-
pose drinking, but they shamed me into it, and, so
as to be a man, I tuk two drams.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 209
" As we walked 'long the shell road by the bor-
der of the canal the road began to swell an' roll,
an' they tole me I wuz drunk. I said, ' No, I
ain't;' an' to prove it I mounted the rail between
the road and the canal an' walked on it. But the
plaguey road rolled wuss 'n ever, an' I fell over
into the canal, as it happened, by the side of a
termendius alligator. He jes' flopped an' I flopped,
an' to save my head I jes' made fur the other side
of the canal. The alligator wuz so astonished he
clar disappeared. I done quit drinkin' after that.
Didn't like the company.
" When a young man I wuz a fine dancer. One
time when performin' a mazourka, whirlin' roun'
with my pardner — jes' at the head of an open
stairway — she let go o' me, an' away I went,
pell-mell, down to the lower flo' ; an' that ended
my dancin'.
" In 1852, after the Dred Scott decision, my mas-
ter said one day, ' Emp., you're nuthin' but a chat-
tel ; no more 'n a mule.' I jes' wouldn' stan' that,
an' we cum together — fisty-cuff an' tussel it wuz,
an' we cum nigh goin' to judgmen* that day. But,
ye better believe it, that same man, three weeks
after, gave me my papers, an' sho' I wuz free."
210 GILBERT ACADEMY
The Sunday school took the annual collection
for the Freedmen's Aid. Amount, twenty dollars.
"The Little Soldiers" reported the largest
amount, and received a prize banner. Simie Hirst
brought in the largest individual amount, and re-
ceived a gold medal.
Thermometer 76°.
Sunday, January 10, 1886. — During the past
year — the heat of summer and the excessive rains,
the toil and tribulation of poverty, the neglect of
friends, the malice of enemies, the ingratitude of
beneficiaries, the failure of plans, the disappoint-
ment of hopes — all these things have crowded our
path and checkered the year ; but in them all the
Lord has been with us. " The horse and his rider
have been thrown into the sea."
We have left our home and taken dwelling in
the Boarding Hall. We have but few boarders,
and live in hope.
As to the results of our labor, there are some.
Some ignorant boys and girls have become intel-
ligent ; some teachers and preachers have been
trained ; the tone of morals about us is much im-
proved. Whether the results are commensurate
with the labor, whether they should not have been
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 211
much greater, is a question we cannot answer.
It is left to the divine judgment.
died . . . days ago. He might have been
entitled "Satan's Prime Minister."
O R is an African youth, about twenty-
five years of age, who thinks he has all the wis-
dom of the ages in his head. Aristotle is small
fry in comparison. He is a disciple of Robert
Ingersoll. He does not recognize any authority
but that of O — - R . He tried being a stu-
dent in this Seminary, but found it necessary to
"emancipate himself."
" Eddication " does wonders.
Now and then, in front of an assembly of teach-
ers and scholars, intermingled with some who
have had no opportunities, there suddenly bobs
up a frowsly specimen of an ex-slave who glories
in having acquired the power to read and write :
" Some ob ye what ain't eddicated jes' haf ter take
a back seat dese days. Reason why I'se noticed
by de white folks an' got an ofHs, kase I'se
eddicated. I tells ye, folks, ye's dpne got ter be
eddicated ef yer wants to be 'spected an' to git a
good livin'."
212 GILBERT ACADEMY
January n. — One woman, a church member,
lives with a man who is of no church, in a state
of concubinage. The woman's former husband
was a soldier in the late war, and she is an appli-
cant for a pension. She therefore declines to be
married lest she lose her chance for a pension.
The church tolerates; Uncle Sam will probably
do the same.
January 18. — Many decline entering our Board-
ing Hall because we require the work of the house
to be done by the boarders. They are afraid of
the ghost of slavery ; but that ghost will be laid
in a year, and they will come.
January 25. — Telegram Saturday, 23, from Dr.
Hartzell, saying, "We shall arrive Monday at
noon." The " we " included, besides himself,
Bishop Bowman and Dr. Albert. Bishop Bow-
man preached this p. M. and dedicated the chapel
to the service of Almighty God. His showing
that educated labor is held to be worth twenty
per cent more than uneducated produced a pro-
found impression.
January 31. — To-day the sermon contained an
exhortation to be more watchful of the moral and
religious training of the children, to bring them
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 213
to church and to Sunday school. One of the
leading brethren — a very good man, too — in mak-
ing an exhortation, said, " Somehow it seems as
ef, when de chil'un goes to Sunday school, they
gits away from us ; they's too smart for us ; they's
goin' to hell."
" Too smart for us !" That is the truth. Par-
ents who have no parental government, who
really have no home for their children, such see
the young going in platoons to destruction.
Their best escape and safeguard is inside the
Christian school.
February 20. — Brother D , the new pastor,
preached well. Among other good things he
said, "In order to do well the Lord's work I
must keep Morris Dyer down, and when he is
down put my foot on him, so that the Lord may
have his way and use me for it."
We elected Mrs. Dyer superintendent of the
Sunday school. Brother D appointed a
teachers' meeting for Thursday night next at the
close of the prayer meeting. If we should suc-
ceed in having a " teachers' meeting " it will be
the first time in the history of this Sunday school.
We are solving the problem of a boarding-
214 GILBERT ACADEMY
house — the most hazardous of our experiments.
We put board nominally at ten dollars per month.
We allow those who work one hour per day a
credit of three dollars per month, and those who
work two hours per day receive a proportionate
credit.* Very small children, who are cared for
by older ones, are charged only three dollars
cash. The people are exceedingly poor. We
are feeling our way along. They who are not in
the extreme of poverty are yet unused to their
children being sent away from home. If they
send them to us they come often to visit and stop
a day, and we make no charge for that day's
board. Twenty-five dollars is the entire amount
of cash received by the boarding department this
winter to date. The remainder paid is work. We
could not run it at all if it were not for the avails
of the land. One of our household has been re-
cently converted, and one more is seeking a relig-
ious experience. We are praying that all may be
saved. I wish we could witness deeper thought-
fulness and spirituality in our meetings. There
is a prevalent shallowness in religious experience.
Night school now ; two hours per night.
* This was after substituted by the rule that every one must work
two hours per day, and should receive five dollars per month credit.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 215
February 24. — Sabbath observance is not pain-
fully exact in this country. Many seem not to
understand us when we refuse to do business on
the Lord's Day. This morning a man came to
me, while on the way to the Sunday school, and
inquired about the rent of a house. He was
told to come next day, as I did not do business
on the Lord's Day. When this incident was con-
joined with a sermon preached some two or three
weeks ago — in which we held that nations that
have been destroyed were so dealt with as pun-
ishment for disobeying God's commands — the
impression was made and maliciously fostered by
some persons that we were making war on the
" 'Cadians." These are an innocent and unfortu-
nate people who occupy extensive regions here,
and were originally colonists from " Acadia," now
Nova Scotia. We've been glad to learn of them,
and to do them good in some instances ; never
dreamed of ill-will toward them.
February 28. — Had a pleasant talk this p. M.
with Leonard, Edward, Dan, Nehemiah, and
Madison, about going to Africa as missionaries.
Some of them, particularly Edward, Nehemiah,
and Madison — nay, even Dan — seemed much in-
2l6 GILBERT ACADEMY
terested. They would go with me. I wish I had
the means to go and found a mission in the lower
valley of the Niger. If the Lord would give the
means I would go at once. One of the boys
said, " Doctor, why don't you go?" I answered,
" For lack of means." Perhaps some time I
should be able.
The "teachers' meeting" appointed for last
Thursday night failed from lack of teachers.
Another appointment was made for Saturday,
i P. M., and that failed. Now it is to be tried for
Wednesday next, 4 p. M.
Do I love thee, my Lord, more than these my
brethren ? I can see that they lack in depth of
experience and fervency of piety. But do I love
more than they ? If I do not I am more at fault
than they. To be a very deep and earnest Chris-
tian is to be a cultured person, or the child of
one such. This I have learned. Those who
have not inherited the tendencies to culture, and
have as yet had little or no opportunity to ac-
quire it, may have, and often do have, great sin-
cerity of piety, but the depth, the earnestness, the
consistency are not there.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 217
The totally uneducated man displays a lack of
moral sense. One of the ordinary things among
them is for a person to contract, to-day, to work
for you, and to-morrow to contract with another,
abandoning you without notice or excuse. When
you meet him next time he seems not conscious
of a broken obligation, does not offer an explana-
tion, nor seem to dream that you could expect
one.
To abandon one man or woman and take an-
other seems just the thing, and he that calls it
in question speaks an unknown tongue. The
younger generation are taking higher ground.
Some fine instances of domestic virtue and
Christian conscientiousness are found among the
parents. Some of the young men and women are
beautiful examples of purity, modesty, and up-
ward aspirations.
To solve the problem of moral purity for the
colored race involves the cooperation of the white
race. Said a white citizen of Louisiana, an estab-
lished and well-known man, " There is no saving
the men of the white race in this country until
you first save the women of the colored race."
God knows how to balance the guilt of the past,
10
2l8 GILBERT ACADEMY
and how to secure cooperation in habilitating the
virtues of the future.
An invitation was extended to the Women's
Christian Temperance Union of— — to assist in
organizing a Women's Christian Temperance
Union among the colored people. No response.
After a lapse of some time there came an invita-
tion to the ladies of my house to attend a bal
masque in . We know not the source of the
invitation, and care not to know. We only pray
that God may give our friends — and they are our
friends — the love of better things.
March 3. — L preached to-day from "It is
finished." He is the best sermonizer among the
young colored men of this part of the State, so
far as I know. I pray the Lord to cure his self-
conceit.
VIVENS, MORIENS.
March 7.
I AM dying, daily dying.
Low life's fire is burning ;
Just a glow,
Fitful, slow,
Still doth show
The breath of God is blowing
On the coals.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2 19
I am passing, swiftly passing,
Down life's turbulent stream.
Just a throw
Of the billow
And a throe —
And I'll be happy floating
On the sea.
SUFFERING.
SUFFERING is the badge of sainthood. Suffering
is a gift from God. It is the lancet to an ulcer,
the twelve labors that make a god of Hercules,
the cross that perfects Jesus. Teach me, eternal
Spirit, to make it welcome. O let me not rebel !
March 26. — Friends from New York called to-
day. They manifested a lively sympathy. They
brought us a gift of sunshine. Not many sun-
beams come.
One of the girls to-day was found weeping.
Said she should have to leave the school. We
knew no reason for it ; she had maintained a
good standing. The matter seemed mysterious,
but at length we learned that the trouble was a
color line. This girl was fair. The black ones
envied her, and persecuted her in various annoy-
22O GILBERT ACADEMY
ing ways. She retorted by calling them " nig-
gers," and they paid her with blows. The girls
are belligerent. They know how to use their
fists. We found a way to settle the business
quickly. Our general principle of administration
— simple and safe and effective — is that stu-
dents are not to settle their own grievances.
They are to come always to the teachers. This
applies to all, older or younger, male or female.
March 28. — He that seeketh wealth seeketh a
snare. Worldly prosperity is nearly always moral
ruin.
Hebrews xii, 2 : " Who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the
shame." Strike out " for," insert "instead of,"
and you have the meaning of the writer.
A STRUGGLE UPWARD.
"HE ain't got nothin' but seminary religion,"
and the old sister's eyes filled as they followed
him up the aisle, and her white turban bowed as
he knelt at the communion table. Her black vel-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 221
vet cheek rested upon her hand in reverent atti-
tude, but her eyes still clung to her boy. She
held her breath as he took the bread and wine,
and drew a sigh of relief when nothing unusual
happened. His eyes, full of peace and content,
met her troubled ones a moment when he rose,
and then he was lost in the crowded church.
She forgot her trouble for a moment as after
service she listened to the admiring crowd around
him.
" Say, June, is you really gwine to be graduated
nex' year ? "
" What's dat wite ribbon fur ? "
" Has you really got religion ?"
" You been baptized, June ? "
" I wuz jes' gwine ter ax dat question myself,"
and the pastor crowded his way through and took
Junius's hand in both of his. " I'se mighty proud
to see yer at de Lawd's table dis mawnin', an' I
laid out ter see ef yer'd been baptized."
Junius's face clouded. " Father don't want me
to be baptized at present ; I shall return to the
school in the fall."
" Dat doan make no diffrunce, not de leas' bit.
Yer needs ter be baptised jes' de same. I'll
222 GILBERT ACADEMY
come aroun' dis evenin' an' hear how yer came
through, an' I'll hab a talk wld yer father."
Junius withdrew his hand, turned away and
walked silently beside his mother.
"June," she said, presently, "You mustn't think
hard o' me 'bout bein' baptized ; ef you thinks you
got religion I won't hinder."
" Now, mother, we will drop the subject. I shall
not join. the church or be baptized this summer,
since you and father object ; but let us have
peace."
Nevertheless there was not peace, and when
he arose in church and testified in these words,
" I am trusting in my Saviour, who forgives my
sins ; pray for me, that I may be faithful," a ripple
of astonishment spread over the congregation.
As the brothers and sisters gathered around
him after service they exhorted him to tell his ex-
perience, and how he came through, saying that
they would gladly stay an hour to listen. But he
excused himself and went out into the night alone.
Halfway home the pastor overtook him.
" Brudder June, O, Brudder June, wait ; tell me,
my dear boy, has you been to hell ? "
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 223
" No, thank God, and I hope I never may."
" But, my brudder, you can't get religion
widout gwine to hell an' habbin' yer chains struck
off."
Junius was silent.
" Has yer been to heaven, brudder? "
" No, but I hope to go in the future."
" You mus' go now, deed you mus' ; you can't
get true religion 'less you do."
Again Junius was silent.
" Brudder June, I doan think you oughter go to
de Lawd's table 'less you got true religion."
Junius turned and faced him.
"The Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven my sins,
and I love him, and have a right at his table."
The pastor sighed, and dropped the attack for
the night only to renew it the next chance.
The majority of the people as the weeks went
by dropped the subject, and, although unconvinced,
were silent. But some of the deacons could not
reconcile their consciences to his partaking of
the sacrament. They reasoned thus: " Ef he's a
Christian he oughter be baptized, an' ef he ain't
he oughtn't to take sacrament."
224 GILBERT ACADEMY
Nevertheless the tender-hearted pastor could
not refuse the kneeling boy and pass him by.
Often when he gave him the bread and wine a
big tear would fall on the boy's head, and the old
man's voice would break on the customary words,
" May hit preserve yer soul an' body to everlastin'
life."
The pastor's heart yearned over this, the jewel
of his flock, the one educated boy in the little vil-
lage. Many times he pleaded with the Lord " To
sen' dat boy home a Christian an' prepare him to
fill de place of yer unprofitable servant." When
Junius had, the first Sunday on his return from
school, knelt at the communion table, the pastor's
joy knew no bounds. But now he felt that he had
on his hands a problem greater than he could
manage.
He had first thought that the boy would not
relate his experience, through pride in his educa-
tion, and a desire to hold himself above his people,
but as time passed he saw that could not be, and
he began to fear that Junius had no experience.
His heart shook within him as he thought of
giving sacrament to such a hypocrite. Therefore
he resolved not to do it again, but when he spoke
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 225
to Junius about it the boy looked him straight in
the face and said, "In what am I a hypocrite?
What do I profess that I do not live up to ? "
When next communion Sunday came the boy
went forward ; the pastor dared not refuse.
Meanwhile Junius was not idle. He formed a
temperance society among the young people, and
held weekly meetings in the church, holding forth
so eloquently upon such occasions that the village
was stirred, and his parents elated beyond words.
He organized a literary club among the most in-
telligent boys and girls, and, holding meetings
from house to house, carried joy with him.
But in the boy's heart was an ache that no
one guessed. It is no easy matter to take a new
step, and all alone to face your own people and
friends, particularly upon a question of religion.
When he thought of the Saturday afternoon
meeting in which he gave his heart to the Saviour
peace would return, and he would rest content
until another wave struck him, and then the un-
rest would return.
One great cause of trouble was a schoolmate,
Adele Johnson. She accepted Christ in the same
10*
226 GILBERT ACADEMY
quiet, trusting way, but on reaching home she,
with a woman's quick tact, rose to the occasion,
and wonderful indeed was the experience related.
It abounded in thrilling scenes, such as hanging
over hell on a cobweb, and closed with such a
realistic description of her entrance into heaven
that the whole church swayed with emotion and
shouted for joy.
Then came the baptism, and Adele, in white
robes, went singing into the river, and was borne
out in a death-like trance amid the shouts of the
sisters.
Think you there was no cross in this for the
boy who had all his life looked forward to it and
was now left out ? His temperance and literary
work, yea, even his graduation was swallowed up,
and doubt and misery held sway until a letter
from one of his teachers cheered him a bit and
helped him to hold on. But a new resolution
formed in his heart. He would get the religion
of his fathers.
One Sunday night he spoke bravely in his own
home church of the hope that was in him, and the
next Thursday night in his school chapel he took
his seat with the unsaved. At the first invitation to
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 22/
go forward he knelt at the altar, but while others
found peace he was still there.
Weeks passed. At last a kindly soul detained
him after meeting, and, with much persuasion,
drew from him the story of the whole summer's
trouble in one short sentence : " I haven't back-
slid ; I want religion like my folks have." After
an hour of Bible reading and prayer Junius, once
more convinced of the correctness of his position,
took his place again among the Christians. But
when he returns home ?
THE VOICE.
THERE was once, in rehearsing for a concert,
need of a strong child voice, which was found in
as restless a piece of ebony as ever " chunked a
coon with a brickbat."
The voice suited to a " T," but the appurtenances
were rather troublesome. For instance :
The little black feet that ought to have brought
the " Voice " to rehearsal three times a week were
more often to be seen swaying just above the tall
grass in the front meadow, than dangling in front
of the big arm-chair in the music room. Once,
228 GILBERT ACADEMY
indeed, an attempt at seizure was made ; but
although the little black feet swayed on con-
tentedly until the teacher's hand was on the
blue cottonade shirt-collar, then freedom was
obtained with a deft twist ; the little black
feet went twinkling up the dusty road beside
a swinging kerosene-can, and a cheery voice
floated back, " Mar's got ter hab dis yere culloil
fo' dark."
Hastily the teacher retraced her steps to be
greeted by six grinning sets of ivory belonging to
the rest of the " company." The rehearsal, un-
dertaken without the aid of the " Voice," pro-
gressed but slowly, until interrupted by a gentle
knock at the door, which, on being opened, dis-
closed a very complacent young gentleman, cov-
ered with dust, who smiled sweetly, with, " Did
yer want me, Miss Annie?"
The teacher, with becoming patience, began all
over again, and the house and yard rang with the
echoes of that " Voice " until, with hand to her
weary head, the teacher demanded diminution.
This resulted in such whispered tones that
no word in the dictionary could express her
despair.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 22Q
At last came the night of the concert, and the
teacher, ready to begin, found the owner of the
" Voice " — gorgeous costume and all — fast asleep
on a bench.
But all the care, anxiety, trouble, and worry
were forgiven. For, once roused, he trotted upon
the stage, bowed, smiled, scowled, and sang all at
the proper time, and carried his audience captive ;
and " thereby hangs a tale."
The captivated audience were not content that
he should be covered with honors that night and
cover up a stomach-ache all the next day, but
they made it their business to praise and pet him
everywhere they met him.
As a result the little black feet dangled in
front of the big arm-chair when they ought to
have been in school, and the " Voice " talked con-
certs instead of geography so incessantly that the
teacher's conscience began to prick ; for was not
she the cause of it all ?
Wondering what could be done, she was greatly
relieved when in the course of a revival her young
friend was powerfully converted.
For a week he was in school and ceased to
trouble her. Then the pastor started a subscrip-
230 GILBERT ACADEMY
tion for a new church, and gave each member a
five-dollar list which they must give or raise.
As our young friend had no money to give he
started out to raise it, skipping school to do so.
He counted much on his lately acquired popu-
larity, and not in vain, for he raised his subscrip-
tion in one day, and then, instead of returning
to school, took another list and went into the
business.
Now, this was all very well for the church, but
not very beneficial to the boy's education. While
his poor teacher was in the depths of despair
over this new freak an angel of mercy, in the
shape of Mrs. P , descended.
Now, Mrs. P— - meditated a journey to the
land (as she said) where God lives, otherwise
the " North." Hearing of the teacher's troubles,
and being one of the captivated audience, she at
once proposed to delay a day and take the boy
along, which — skipping the details which would
make a story in themselves — she did.
Now, if the reader knows anything about K —
he knows what a dismal place it is even in the sun-
shine ; and, perhaps, he can imagine how utterly
unbearable it is in the rain. Mrs. P and her
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 23!
young charge arrived about six A. M. and missed
the east bound train.
If you ever do this let me advise you to take
the next train into the city. Mrs. P — - was
tired, hungry and cold, and she started out in the
wind and rain to see what she could find. Now,
I think that I am right in stating that there is not
a place in K except liquor saloons. Should
there be one place not so used I most humbly
beg its pardon.
Mrs. P , after tramping until she was muddy
halfway up, wet halfway down, and cold all over,
found a saloon with a parlor over it, which was
placed at her disposal, and, in consideration of
her condition, a fire was built in the barroom
below that the pipe in the parlor might be warm.
She sat on the floor back against the pipe
until sleep overcame her. Seeing her young
charge artistically engaged on the floor with a
piece of wrapping-paper, a broken lath, and a
pencil, she stretched out on the couch and was
soon fast asleep.
Awaking with a start, she found the room
empty. Not a vestige of the boy, but the lath.
232 GILBERT ACADEMY
It was not reassuring to hear talk below of the
circus, and great oaths because of the weather.
A vision of a small black boy flying around a
tent on a vicious horse passed before her, and she
meditated a wild flight after him. But before she
raised courage to venture out into the wet there
came heavy steps on the stairs, a rough knock at
the door, and a burly policeman tramped into the
room.
To his rough demand as to whether she was
Mrs. P , and had a colored boy with her, she
answered, faintly, that she was Mrs. P , and
that she did have such a boy.
" Why in thunder didn't you keep him, madam ?
I'll tell you we won't have him working on our
streets, and if that is what you brought him for
you had better take him back."
Mrs. P looked in amazement through the
window. The mud did not look as though it
stopped short of China, and the plank walks
were partly floated by the overflowing gutters.
What could the boy do on these streets ! She
turned to the policeman. " I don't understand."
He drew from his pocket and placed on the
table a piece of damp, crumpled wrapping-paper,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 233
which still showed a rough sketch of an imposing
church with a tapering spire.
" Did you ever see that before ? " he demanded.
" I think so."
"And this?" producing a very dirty subscrip-
tion-list.
" O, yes."
" Well, I—"
But here the boy burst into the room with
dripping clothes, bulging eyes, and open mouth,
which he closed abruptly at the sight of the po-
liceman.
" Here he is, a nice young rascal, taking his
dirty paper into the stores, singing for money, and
stopping people on the street this awful weather
to beg for a miserable church down South."
Mrs. P 's eyes sparkled. "Now, see here;
you need not talk about his dirty paper. Your
saloons are too dirty to mention in the same
breath ; and what's more, there is nothing in this
miserable town but saloons, and if there is any one
here decent enough to give money for a church I
am astonished.
" If you had a church here it would be some
234 GILBERT ACADEMY
credit, and there would be a decent place for me
to go to, where my ears would not be filled with
oaths that no word in the dictionary is vile
enough to qualify. If you are so wicked that a
church can't exist here you had better get down
on your knees and thank the Lord that he was
good enough to honor your town for a few hours
with the presence of a boy who loved his Maker."
By this time the policeman had backed into the
hall and shut the door.
While the boy hugged the stovepipe with one
wet arm and counted his money, she heard the
policeman say below that he would arrest anyone
who swore there while the lady was above.
REV. MADISON C. B. MASON, A.M.
MR. MASON was born on a sugar farm near
Houma, La., March 21, 1859. At ten years of
age he entered school and mastered the alphabet
the first day. Reaching the limit of the country
school in the fall of 1874, he entered the State
A. and M. College, New Orleans, La., in January,
1875. This was a mixed school, and Mr. Mason
received no little persecution and ill-treatment
on account of color. He refused to leave, how-
REV. MADISON C. B. MASON. A.M.,
it of Freedmen's Ad and Southern Educa
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 235
ever, and stood at the head of his class from
March till the close of school in July. He was
principal of the town school of Houma, where he
was once a student, from 1877 to 1880. In the
fall term of 1880 he entered New Orleans Uni-
versity, but left in the spring of 1881 to become
postmaster of his native town. In 1883 he joined
the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, a<id was stationed at Haven
Chapel, New Orleans, when he entered New Or-
leans University, graduating from the classical
department in May, 1888. In the pastorate Mr.
Mason has been highly successful, as his work in
church-building, paying debts of long standing,
and conversions at Haven, Thomson, and Mallalieu
chapels will show. He is now pastor of Lloyd
Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Ga.,
the largest in the Savannah Conference, and the
church is greatly prospering under his charge.
He delivered an able address at one of the an-
niversaries of the Freedmen's Aid Society, and
preached a sermon that attracted much attention
at the time of the recent session of the General
Conference in Omaha, Neb.
He is now the field agent of the Freedmen's
Aid Society.
236 GILBERT ACADEMY
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD.
Sermon by Andrew L. Jackson, one of our students, also an
assistant teacher.
THERE is nothing that cheers me more than the
Bible, and particularly the life and character of
John the Baptist. When John appeared it was as
black as midnight. The Old Testament had been
sealed up by Malachi's proclamation of the Lord
and of the forerunner who should introduce him.
We are told that with Malachi prophecy ceased
for four hundred years. Then John came preach-
ing repentance, preparing the way of the Lord.
He looked back upon the past and forward to the
future.
I will not dwell upon his birth, although it is
interesting to read, in Luke, the conversation of
the angel Gabriel with Zacharias, his father, when
he was executing the priest's office before God,
and what took place when John was born.
As in the case of Jesus, his name and his birth
were announced beforehand. When John was
born there was a great uproar of the people, but
it soon died out. The death of Christ would
have died out of men's minds had it not been for
the Holy Ghost.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 237
After the wonders attending John's birth for
thirty years he dropped out of sight.
Many events had taken place during that
period. The Roman emperor had died. Herod,
who had sought the lives of young children when
he heard that Jesus was born " King of the Jews,"
was dead. The shepherds were gone. The father
of John the Baptist was gone. Simeon and
Anna, the prophet and prophetess, were gone.
John was forgotten among men. All at once
there was " a voice heard " in the wilderness, and
a cry came, " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand." There had been a long line of
prophets. John was the last prophet of the law.
He stood upon the threshold of a new age, with
one foot upon the old and the other upon the
new dispensation. He told them what had taken
place in the past, and what should take place in
the future.
Now, there were two Johns, the apostle who
gave us the " Revelation," and John the Baptist.
We would like to distinguish these two Johns.
All the evangelists speak of John the Baptist.
Matthew says, "In those days came John the
. Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea."
238 GILBERT ACADEMY
Mark says, " The voice of one crying in the wilder-
ness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his
paths straight." In Luke we read, " The word of
God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the
wilderness." John, the beloved, says, " There was
a man sent from God, whose name was John."
That is the way these four men introduce him.
His dress was much like Elijah's, which was of
camel's hair, with a leathern girdle. His preach-
ing was like that of Elijah. No name could stir
the people like Elijah's name. And when the
news had reached from town to town, and at
last reached Jerusalem, that one had risen like
Elijah in the appearance of his dress, and the
power of God was upon him, the people flocked
to hear him. It seems very strange that he never
performed any miracles, nor healed any sick ; and
yet he moved the whole nation. And when his
fame had spread abroad you could hear the tramp
of thousands flocking from the towns to the wilder-
ness to hear a man who had no commission from
men ; a man who had gone through no college or
seminary; who had no D.D., LL.D., or any other
handle to his name ; but was simply John, a
heaven-sent man, with a heaven-given name.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 239
And many of the people believed on him be-
cause he was sent from God. In Boston or Lon-
don any great man can gather a large audience ;
but let him go away into the forest and see if he
can draw a crowd from the cities to hear him, as
John did.
The bank of the Jordan was his pulpit, the
desert his home ; his food was locusts and wild
honey.
Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea
and all the region round about Jordan. Think of
the whole population going out into the wilder-
ness to hear an open-air preacher, and to be bap-
tized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
He only preached two sermons. His first text
was, "Repent." Perhaps no lips ever uttered the
word "repent" as John the Baptist. Secondly,
" Behold the Lamb of God." Day after day when
he walked out on the banks of that famous river
you could hear his voice rolling out, " Repent ye :
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." We can
almost now hear the echoes of his voice as it
floated up and down the Jordan.
Many wonderful things had taken place on that
stream. Naaman had washed away his leprosy
240 GILBERT ACADEMY
there. Elijah and Elisha had crossed it dry shod.
Joshua had led through its channel the mighty
host of the redeemed, on their journey from Egypt
into the promised land. But it had never seen
anything like this. Men, women, and children ;
mothers with babes in their arms, scribes, Phari-
sees, and Sadducees, publicans and soldiers flocked
from Judea, Samaria and Galilee to hear this
wonderful preacher.
John preached his first coming, so we are to
preach the second coming of Christ. It is safe
for us to preach it. If you remember he said he
is coming again, and no one can hinder it.
John was not like most preachers, who preach
to be praised of men. He preached to please
God. He had several chances to make himself
great among men, but did not. One day there
came down from Jerusalem a very influential com-
mittee, appointed by the chief priests, to ask him
if he was the Messiah, or Elijah, or what he was.
And when they asked was he the Messiah, what
an opportunity he had to pass himself off as Christ.
John the Baptist was very little in his own
estimation, but the angel had said before his
birth, " He shall be great in the sight of the
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 24!
Lord," and this was why he cried, " Behold the
Lamb of God."
I don't know why John called him a lamb, but
of all creatures a lamb is the humblest.
Take a lamb and a goat, for comparison,
to put them to death, and one goat will make
more noise than a hundred lambs. So it is
with sinners. They dread death, but a Chris-
tian don't. Abel offered a lamb unto God for
a sacrifice, and it was accepted. Abraham offered
Isaac, his son, upon the altar, but God provided
a lamb.
We will use this lamb as the second person in
the Holy Trinity, and in the objective case and the
object complement. In reply to them that were
sent from Jerusalem when they asked him, " Who
art thou ? " he confessed and denied not, but con-
fessed, " I am not the Christ." They asked him,
" What then, art thou Elijah ?" and he said, " I
am not." " Art thou that prophet ? " and he
answered, " No." Then said they unto him,
" Who art thou ? that we may give an answer to
them that sent us; what sayest thou of thyself?"
He said, " I am the voice of one crying in the
11
242 GILBERT ACADEMY
wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,
as said the prophet Esaias."
And the next day, while John stood on the
banks of the famous river Jordan, and the people
were standing around him from every quarter,
hearing every word he spake, he stopped sud-
denly in the middle of his sermon ; his appearance
changed, and the people began to wonder what
was the matter with him.
No doubt they asked the question, " Has he
lost the thread of his discourse? Is sickness
stealing over him ? Has death laid his icy hand
upon him?" But John stood with his eyes fixed
upon a man who had no extraordinary appear-
ance different from any other man. He ap-
proaches the Jordan, and, addressing John, asks
to be baptized of him. The Master says, " Suffer
it to be so now : for thus it becometh us to fulfill
all righteousness."
After being baptized by John, as they came
out of the water the Spirit descended like a
dove and abode upon him ; and the voice of
Jehovah, which had been silent upon the earth
for centuries, was heard saying from heaven,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 243
" This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased."
From the time of the fall of our first parents
God could not say that he was pleased with
man. But as Jesus came up out of the water
the heavens were opened, and God himself bore
witness that he was "well pleased with his be-
loved Son."
John said that he saw and bore record that
" this is the Son of God." And the next day
John saw Jesus coming to him and said, " Behold
the Lamb of God."
From that day John changed his text. He had
preached " Repent," but now his text is, " Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world." Now John's mission was near about
accomplished. He did what he came to do.
His mission was to rebuke sin. And because he
rebuked the king and told him it was not lawful
for him to live in adultery, and because he was
not ashamed to deliver God's message just as it
was given to him, he was beheaded for his testi-
mony, and buried in the land of Moab, just out-
side the holy land, near where Moses, the law-
giver, was buried. His ministry was very short;
244 GILBERT ACADEMY
it lasted only two years. But he had finished his
course ; he had done his work.
Now, my dear friends, we have meant here to
point out to you the way that leads from earth
unto heaven ; the King's highway — the way of
holiness.
Our text says, "Behold the Lamb of God."
You that know anything about language know
that "behold" means to look. So we want you
to look upon Jesus, " the King of kings," and the
" Prince of peace." A generation ago the Prince
of Wales made a tour through America, and did
not tell anyone his mission until he returned
home. But this Prince tells us he did " not
come to call the righteous, but sinners to repent-
ance."
Yea, behold him in the garden ; in agony he
prays. Behold him led before Pilate, and from
Pilate to Herod.
Isaiah said at one time, while looking down the
broad lane of time, seven hundred years before
his appearance, " He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth : he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 245
sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth
not his mouth. He was taken from prison and
from judgment : and who shall declare his gen-
eration ? for he was cut off out of the land of the
living : for the transgression of my people was he
stricken."
Behold him nailed upon the Roman cross,
hanging between heaven and earth, bleeding and
groaning in order that you and I might inherit
eternal life.
We are told after he was dead Joseph begged
his body and laid it in his own new tomb. After
three days God sent the angels down to roll away
the stone from the door of the sepulcher, and the
Lamb of God rose with power. After forty days'
stay on earth with his disciples he took them out
to the Mount of Olives, and behold a bright cloud
overshadowed them, and he was taken up into
heaven.
He says that he is coming again to take
his disciples home, to live eternally in the king-
dom with the sanctified forever. And when he
shall come to select his jury I want to be num-
bered in the number that John saw, when the
graves shall be bursting and the sea rolling her
dead to shore ; and when we shall step on board
246 GILBERT ACADEMY
of his train, and quit time for eternity, and as we
go higher and higher, and when we get up about
the third heaven, and when he shall command
the everlasting gates to fly wide open and the
everlasting doors to 'be lifted up, then shall we
hear him say, " Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world."
REV. E. B. RICHARDS.
THE subject of this sketch is a man about forty
years of age, having been a slave in his early boy-
hood, with but few recollections of the dark days
preceding freedom. His father and mother were
persons of remarkable sense and strong character.
The father and mother died during the recon-
struction period, and Edward, being the eldest,
was left in charge of the home and the family.
Two brothers and two sisters under his guidance
have grown up to manhood and womanhood, and
are leading useful and worthy lives, owing to him
the priceless boon of a good example, good do-
mestic training, and a good education. He post-
poned his marriage until he had seen his two sis-
—
REV. E. B. RICHARDS.
MRS. E. B. RICHARDS.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 247
ters and one brother through their schooling, then
took into the partnership of his life a worthy, ex-
cellent woman, who is now the mother of his two
sons, and the sympathetic sharer in his toils for
the good of others. He makes his youngest
brother a member of his household, and gives him
opportunities of education.
Mr. Richards is a rare man. He is a plain,
pointed, earnest preacher, never satisfied without
gathering souls into the Church. He is a faith-
ful and successful financier, keeping himself and
his church out of debt, and making the church
property better.
He is a man of pure heart and correct life. The
standard of clean living he holds high, and the
Ten Commandments are kept to the front by doc-
trine and by example. He is now in the fourth
year of his pastorate in Trinity Church, Win-
sted, La.
ISAIAH EUGENE MULLON, A.M., M.D.
ISAIAH EUGENE MULLON was born of slave
parentage August i, 1856, at Vicksburg, Warren
County, Miss. His father, a Baptist minister,
died when he was but one year and a half old,
248 GILBERT ACADEMY
leaving him, together with four other children, to
the care of his mother.
At the end of the war, and when he was but
eight years old, his mother moved to New Or-
leans, and thus enabled him to enter the public
schools of that city. This he did not do, how-
ever, until he had reached his eleventh year. He
remained at the public schools until he com-
pleted the grammar grade, and passed a success-
ful examination for admission to the Boys' High
School of New Orleans. He, however, together
with many other successful candidates of his race,
was not admitted on account of color. He there-
upon sought admission to the New Orleans Uni-
versity, and entered its first freshman class in
the fall of 1873. While pursuing his studies at
the university he maintained himself by teaching
evening school, his mother being too poor to do
more than give him a home.
"Having completed the classical course, he was
graduated with his class, and with high honor, in
the spring of 1878, receiving the Baccalaureate of
Arts.
Immediately upon leaving school he received
an unimportant government appointment, but
shortly afterward, giving this up, he went to Sum-
Profes
PROFESSOR I. EUGENE MULLON, A.M., M.D.,
ir in Mallalieu Medical College of the New Orleans Ur
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 249
mit, Pike County, Miss., and took charge of a
school having an enrollment of more than three
hundred students. He remained there two years,
having very phenomenal success, and then gave
up the principalship in order to take the chair of
Latin and Greek in his Alma Mater.
In the fall of 1881 he entered the Meharry
Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., being con-
vinced that his vocation was in that direction.
While here he was converted and became a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After
graduating he returned to Mississippi, and, having
passed an examination before the Board of Medi-
cal Censors, located at Summit, Miss., began prac-
tice. A year later he removed to Holmesville,
Miss., and soon built up a large and lucrative
practice. He continued practice here over six
years, when he was again honored by his Alma
Mater, this time being called to assist in organiz-
ing the medical department of the New Orleans
University. In this new school he was elected
professor of anatomy, which position he now
holds.
In March, 1891, he was appointed a member of
and secretary to the United States Board of Ex-
amining Surgeons for Pensions, at New Orleans
11*
250 GILBERT ACADEMY
—a position which he still holds. He is also visit-
ing and consulting physician to the Faith Old
Folks' Home (Baptist), and to the Methodist Old
Folks' Home. In addition to these things he has
a very large and constantly increasing general
practice.
In 1886 he was married to Miss Amanda S.
Perry, of Columbia, S. C, who is the mother of
his four children.
Dr. Million has a keen analytical mind, and one
that moves with quickness on a bee-line straight
to honest conclusions. In his practice he chal-
lenges and receives the respect and the patronage
of both white and colored people.
A BASKET MEETING.
IT was a great day for little Azelia. They
were all going to the basket meeting at the
Tchoupique. Yes, all ; and that meant her, and
she had never before been at a basket meeting
away from home.
By daylight the household were astir, and there
was much talk of an early start ; but there were
six heads to be combed, and that meant time.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Aunt Dorcas was a decidedly neat woman, and
she usually kept the children's hair " wound " — a
process that would take time to describe. Suffi-
cient to say that it gave the head a skinny ap-
pearance and a resemblance to a checker-board,
but it made cleanliness possible and prevented a
frowsy aspect. The hair once wound would re-
main so for weeks, and ten minutes a day served
to wash the heads of the family. But on a gala
day, like this Sunday morning, all the hair must
be unwound and combed.
Aunt Dorcas had four daughters, one niece,
and a stray orphan girl, the aforesaid Azelia, in
the family, and all too small to comb their own
hair for " com-
pany." So it
was ten o'clock
before the six
girls, two boys,
Aunt Dorcas,
and Uncle Jim
climbed into
the ox cart, by
aid of a chair, and started on their way. As one
of the oxen was sick Uncle Jim had borrowed a
mule to help out, and the team did not work very
252 GILBERT ACADEMY
well. The mule, being evidently disgusted with
his partner, divided his time between trying to
lift Uncle Jim off his seat and biting the unoffend-
ing ox.
" Ef dis yere mule," said Uncle Jim, " 'ud jes'
keep quiet ole Buck 'ud get us dar all right."
The way was long but not tedious, for the
boys gathered flowers and the girls sang hymns
until Aunt Dorcas told them to keep their throats
for church. I think it would be hard for the ma-
jority of people to conceive what an endless en-
joyment there is in the singing of plantation mel-
odies in an ox cart.
About noon they came to a crossroad, and
were joined by other teams bound the same way.
Queer-looking teams they were, too — any ram-
shackle thing that could be tied or nailed together
and drawn by any beast that would pull. Here
and there they met groups of pedestrians in gala
dress. As they neared the church the children
began to tease Uncle Jim for nickels.
"You know you means to gib us some in
church. Let's hab 'em now, pa."
" O yes, let's each one hab 'er own."
" I don't think it looks like educated folks
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 253
to be runnin' 'round church givin' yer children
nickels."
That last fetched Uncle Jim. Rose had been
to school, and always knew how to bring him to
time. His hand was in his pocket, when Aunt
Dorcas perceived his intention.
"What yer doin', Jim Johnson? Don't yer
know dem chil'un '11 jes' gib dat money to de
wrong man. Dey don't know nuffin at all 'bout
de preachers."
" 'Deed we do, ma ; 'deed we do."
" H'm ; ef you had two nickels who'd you gib
'em to ? "
There was a silence ; then Zeal's little hand
crept up Uncle Jim's knee.
" Be you gwine to preach, uncle ? "
" Dar now," said Aunt Dorcas. "Jes' see dat.
Dem chil'un 'ud jes' gib you all de money dey
had, an' tease fur more wen dey saw Mis'er Green
a-failin'."
Just then a long procession came up a cross-
road and turned toward the church steeple, which
could be seen across the fields. There were
twelve teams, all drawn by mules or horses, and
all showing the effects of a long trip. Some of
254 GILBERT ACADEMY
them were quite fine equipages. The effect upon
our friends was immense, and Aunt Dorcas took
the occasion to give a new exhortation : " Keep
de nickels fur Mis'er Green, kase I tell you 'tu'l
be hard to keep 'rn up 'gainst Brudder Simons."
But all Aunt Dorcas's eloquence could not
erase Rose's words from Uncle Jim's mind. He
slipped a handful of nickels to her as he helped
her from the cart, saying, " Gib 'em to de chil'un,
but dey mus' be sure an' keep 'em fur Mis'er
Green."
The church was filling fast, and the children
were well content with seats halfway back in the
middle of the church, while Aunt Dorcas and
Uncle Jim made their way to the "Amen" cor-
ners. It was a plain, rectangular building, painted
white inside, with no pretense to decorations ex-
cept painted window-panes in imitation of stained
glass, and a few mottoes cut from silver paper —
with backward S's and N's — pasted askew on the
wall.
The aged local preacher was holding forth
from the pulpit, filling in time until the "big
bugs " came. Quite a stir was occasioned by
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 255
the entrance of Brother Simons and his crew.
But the service continued all through the greet-
ings and bustle. No one paid any attention to
what the brother was saying ; but a few white-
turbaned sisters in the " Amen " corner kept up a
murmuring and responding that answered just as
well.
As soon as quiet was regained the old man
stepped to the altar rail, saying, " Now, my fr'en's,
doan' leave me all out. Ef you please to gib me
one dollar an' a dime I will t'ank you kin'ly. Sing
me a lively tune, my sisters." Whereupon the
sisters tuned up and a few of his personal friends
walked up and put a nickel apiece on the table.
As he begged for "jes' a few mo' nickels" some
of the strangers took pity, and he finally an-
nounced that he was much obliged for six bits
and a nickel.
As he stepped out a gaunt young man rose in
the pulpit and began to line out a hymn with
tremendous force. The contrast to the weak-
voiced old man was great and drew the attention
of the social groups outside, who hurried in and
filled every available place. Those who could
not find seats stood outside by the open windows,
and everybody gave attention. He announced
256 GILBERT ACADEMY
his text as " An' we desire a better country,"
but paid no attention to it except to shout it
with great gusto now and then. He held his
audience by physical power. His arms gyrated
about him like the arms of a wind-mill, and
his enormous fists made havoc with the Bible.
As he worked into excitement his voice rang
over the fields, and the belated sisters at home,
packing baskets, smiled and said, " Brudder Alf 's
a-p reach in'."
Just as his audience was in perfect harmony
with him — the sisters swaying their bodies and
moaning as the leaves of the forest, while the
brothers kept time with their feet and shouted
" Amen " — he stopped abruptly and demanded the
collection.
At this the excitement abated. Some one
started a hymn, and about one third of the con-
gregation went out to walk. Our young friends
were among this number. After visiting the
nearest cabin for a drink and saying "howdy'' to
their friends they returned to the church to find
Brother Alf still begging money. He left the
table in charge of a friend while he ran around
outside among the people teasing and begging
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 257
until he returned triumphantly to thank the peo-
ple for five dollars.
After this Uncle Jim was put in to fill a va-
cancy. Now, Uncle Jim had no education what-
ever, but he did have quite a knowledge of the
Bible, acquired through hearing his children, es-
pecially Rose, read it ; and as his brain was not
full of half a hundred other things, and he was
not trying to remember parts of a dozen books
at once, he remembered what he heard. His
sermon was such a combination of Scripture and
hymn fragments that there was not much room
for any thing original ; and though many of the
hymns may not be familiar, my readers will please
remember that the unwritten hymnology of the
colored race is more thoroughly known among
them than the hymn book.
" My breddrin, you will fin' my tex' in de
third chapter of Revelation, de twentyef verse,
' Behol', I stan' at de do', an' knock.' Now, bred-
drin, I ain't feelin' so well to-day, bein' much
obercome wid de misery in my back. So I aint
'spectin' to preach all de tex', but jes' gib you all
a few ijees. ' Behol', I stan' at de do', an' knock.'
My breddrin an' sisterin, let us dis mawnin' look
'way back in de garden ob Eden an' see Eve
258 GILBERT ACADEMY
in de garden ; an' de angel vvid de fiery sword he
say,
" ' Eve, whar is Adam ?
Eve, whar is Adam ? '
Den Eve she call back an1 say,
" ' Adam in de garden pinnin' leaves.'
An' de angel see Adam a-runnin' out de garden
an' he say,
" ' Whar you runnin', sinner ?
Far' you well.
Whar you runnin', sinner?
Far' you well.'
Den Adam he say,
" ' I'se a-runnin' from de fi-ar.
Far' you well.
I'se a-runnin' from de fi-ar,
Far' you well."
" O, my breddrin, dat wuz a sad time ! Eve
she step on the serpent's head, an' de serpent bite
her heel. ' Behol', I stan' at de, do' an' knock.'
Let us come down, my breddrin, let us come
down to little David as he ten'ed his sheeps on de
hillside ; an' he kill de lion an' de bar to save
he's sheep. An' de lion he say, ' Turn me loose,
little David;' an' he say, ' I ain't gwine ter turn
yer loose t'will I kill you.' An' Saul he sont fur
David, an' he say,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 259
" ' O, David ! play on yer gol'en harp.
Hallelujah !
David play on yer gol'en harp.
Hallelujah ! '
" ' Behol', I stan' at de do', an' knock.' An'
Isaiah he stan' on Mount Zion, an' he look 'way
off an' he say, ' I see 'im, de mighty God, de eber-
lastin' Father, an' de Prince ob peace.'
" ' Den de clock in heaben done struck one;
King Jesus suckle at de breas' so young.
De clock in heaben done struck two ;
King Jesus read de Bible trou'.
De clock in heaben done struck t'ree ;
King Jesus died upon de tree.'
An' he groan, an' he groan, an' he say,
" ' Follow me on Calvary,
On Calvary.
O, follow me on Calvary.'
•• ' De clock in heaben done struck five;
King Jesus make de dead alive.
De clock in heaben done struck seben ;
King Jesus rose and went to heaben.
De clock in heaben done struck eight ;
King Jesus stan'in' at heaben 's gate.'
Jesus he knock at de do', an' de Fader he say,
'Who dar?' An' Jesus say,' De great " I AM."'
Den de Fader say, ' Lif up yo' heads, O ye
gates ; an' be ye lif up, ye eberlastin' do's ; an' de
King ob glory shall come in.' An' de angel hos'
cry, ' Who is dis King ob glory?' An' dey shout,
260
GILBERT ACADEMY
' De Lord ob hos's, he is de King ob glory.' Den
de do' fly wide open, an' Jesus he walk in to —
" ' Ahgu wid de Fader an'
Chattah wid de Son, an'
Talk about the woiT he
Jes' come from.'
" ' Behol', I stan' at de do', an' knock.' Yes, Jesus
is knockin' at every sinner's heart dis mawnin'.
Gib him yo' heart, sinner, fo' de worl's on fi-ar."
As the audience had sung every hymn with
him, and echoed almost every word, they were
much wrought up, and not in the best state to
take up a collection.
One immensely fat sister was walking the aisle
with the help of several others and ejaculating
"My Jesus."
Another very
slender, grace-
ful girl was
swaying to and
fro in the arms
of her friends
with closed
eyes, while two
others were stiff upon the floor. One of Uncle
Jim's daughters was sitting with clinched hands
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 26l
and shining eyes vainly endeavoring to suppress
her excitement as Rose held her and whispered,
" Don't you dare to shout." It was several
minutes before order could be restored enough
to start the collection, and then there was not
much interest. As Uncle Jim begged in vain
for more, Mr. Simons shrugged his shoulders
and muttered, " Mus' ha' thought 'e was preachin'
fur mou'ners. Dat's no way to git money." But
Uncle Jim's pleading was too much for his
children, and one by one they, contrary to all
instructions, marched up and put their all on
the table. Aunt Dorcas looked in amazement and
wondered where they got their money, as she never
dreamed that Jim had disobeyed her. Uncle Jim
was certainly distracted. He wanted the money
for his collection, to be sure, but the thought of his
disobedient children and Dorcas's wrath if Mis'er
Green failed, tormented his soul. He was so over-
come that he stopped begging, thanked the congre-
gation for three dollars and six bits, and sat down.
A great variety of sermons followed. A very
foppish young man with olive skin and wavy hair
read from manuscript a sermon that was evidently
not his own, as he mispronounced one third of
2&2 GILBERT ACADEMY
the words. But to most of his hearers it was
splendid, and they sat in open-mouthed astonish-
ment. Rose, indeed, turned up her nose and mut-
tered something about stolen compositions ; but
the majority were delighted, and gave the young
man a good collection. At last, after eight ser-
mons and collections, every cent of the money
seemed gone, and the church was not more than
half full. Indeed, during the whole afternoon the
audience had been on the move, only sitting still
during preaching. Each collection time was a
chance for movement. As the people went for-
ward to the table one had an opportunity to go
out, get a change of scene and a dish of conver-
sation. If you found a chatty friend bubbling over
with news you could seek a cozy place under a
tree and wait until the next sermon. There were
so many sermons that the loss of one did not
trouble your conscience. Or, if you felt so in-
clined, the bayou bank, with its spreading live
oaks draped with swaying moss, was an inviting
place for an afternoon nap, and you wrould be sure
of finding church progressing when you awoke.
During the fifth sermon a deep whistle drew
all of the outsiders and part of the congregation
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 263
to see the passing of the New Orleans steamer.
But they soon returned, and church went on.
Interest was at a low ebb after the eighth sermon,
when Brudder Simon's clear voice, singing
" Somebody's dyin' ebery day,"
brought every one in. They knew what was
coming.
Brudder S was short and clear. He did not
rouse his audience to a great pitch, but he kept
their minds on the collection from the beginning.
He spoke much of slavery days and the sorrow
of being without church service, and then of the
necessary expense of churches and of the ungrate-
ful ones who were too stingy to help. He spoke
in his own vernacular, but well, and stopped soon,
as the sun was getting very low. Then the ex-
citement began. Brudder S led his own sing-
ing, and drew over ten dollars from the apparently
empty pockets.
Then a man from his own delegation arose and
started down the aisle singing. All of the delega-
tion followed, and they went around and around
the church, putting each a nickel on the table
every time they passed. One by one they dropped
264 GILBERT ACADEMY
out from the procession as their money gave out,
until only two remained, the leader and a fat sis-
ter. Great interest prevailed as the two marched
on singing at the top of their voices. At last the
leader gave up in despair, and the sister marched
triumphantly to her seat. Then Brudder S—
thanked his audience for twenty-seven dollars, and
sat down amid great silence.
Mis'er Green, the home minister, now arose and
said that it was so late that he would not preach,
but would just take his collection. With a sud-
den reviving the home sisters began to sing and
march up to the table. But it takes a great many
nickels to make twenty-seven dollars, and faces
began to grow very long, for it would never do to
have the home minister beaten by an outsider.
Uncle Jim went across and gave three nickels to
Aunt Dorcas, but she looked in vain to see him
go to the children. She became very restless as
the collection lagged, and she meditated a trip to
Uncle Jim. She wondered what in the world was
the matter. The children, seeing her anxiety,
slipped out one by one and held a counsel by the
steps. What was to be done? Not one of them
had a nickel, and the spruce young men around
the door leaned listlessly against the church with
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 265
their hands in their empty pockets. They stood
several minutes talking and bewailing the empti-
ness, when their attention was caught by Zeal's
little figure tearing across the meadow. Three
times she fell down and scrambled up again. At
last she burst through a hole in the fence, and,
putting a silver dollar in one of the boys' hands,
fell exhausted on the steps.
"Zeal Johnson, where'd you get that money?"
demanded Rose. But Zeal, too breathless to re-
ply, pointed feebly into the church, and the boy
took the dollar to the table and brought back
ninety-five cents change. This he distributed to
the children, and they marched up to the table.
The effect was electrical, and in ten minutes the
pastor thanked the audience for twenty-seven dol-
lars and thirty cents. Then he announced the
day's collection as ninety-eight dollars, and the
congregation arose for the benediction.
After this the home sisters drew out their
baskets and fed the strangers. Chicken, cake,
and pie vanished like magic, and the elders went
to an adjoining cabin for coffee. Everything was
bustle and cheer. The teams were brought up.
266
GILBERT ACADEMY
Amid much noise and laughter the elders shook
hands and the children and sweethearts said fare-
well in the twilight. Then the teams started off,
and our little party took up their slow journey
homeward. Zeal was the heroine of the occasion,
and her excursion to the school teacher formed
the basis of conversation. At last the young ones
fell asleep, and even Uncle Jim began to nod.
But fortunately they were not far from home,
and old Buck knew the way. He took them
safely to their door, for the mule had become
more docile. The ox would have waited patiently
until some one
awoke, but the
more impatient
mule lifted his
heels and sent
Uncle Jim fly-
ing over upon
h is sleepi ng
family. This had the desired effect. But to this
day Uncle Jim does not know how he fell off, or
why his shins were so sore. And I think we all
agree that a " basket meeting " is a very fine place
to spend the day.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 267
PATSEY.
WHAT is writ is writ. I have no apology for it.
The gathered together incidents, put into the
course of one life, are facts. The story covers an
important crisis in the march of a race from
heathen barbarism to Christian civilization.
A race with a rich nature that ought to have a
chance — a pasture, not barren fields, to feed upon.
From our first knowledge God's hand has been
visible with them in leadership, even through
slavery.
A people loved of Christ. As Mrs. Livermore
says, " His next appearance will be to them."
Through all the vicissitudes the march of the
black people has been onward and upward. God
makes no failures. The Almighty hand steadies
this people.
" God help the little children !
" God help the little orphan children !
" God help the little colored orphan children !
"God help the little colored orphan children of
Louisiana ! " — Henry Ward Beecher.
268 GILBERT ACADEMY
Chapter I.
CHAOS.
IT was a very quiet confusion on the Teche.
Old things were done away and nothing had be-
come new. The old " Marsas," kind and unkind, had
disappeared ; the old quarters were closed, tightly
closed ; all the doors and shutters unhinged ; every-
thing demoralized ; chaos reigned ; the evening
bell was not rung, the evening rations not given ;
the rice fields were dry and barren, and the sugar
cane not laid by. The men darkies lounged about
or fussed in squads ; the women wandered to and
fro, followed by half-grown children, while smaller
ones were strewn over the ground, some asleep,
pillowed on the live oak overground grown roots,
some tossed and rolled in feverish unrest. The
low-hanging branches, festooned with moss, made
a deep shade and a lovely canopy. The breeze
crept, tender, gentle, and salt-laden from the
Mexico gulf, bearing the glow of the hot sun's rays.
O, these long parched days ! So many — would
they never cease ? Would September never end ?
The end was nearer than I thought. I was very
young, but how well I remember that time, and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 269
how strange it seems to look back to it, now that
I am a grown woman and can take good care of
myself! Then a poor little distracted black girl,
I was forlorn ; God alone knows how forsaken ; I
begged one "puhcoon" (pecan nut) ; I cracked it
with my teeth and made it go around, a crumb
to each buddie, giving baby the biggest of all.
Not satisfied, he caught the shells from my hand
and crunched them with his little white teeth in
spite of me. My baby — left to me by my mother,
whom they had put into the ground only the day
before — starved. I could not have been ten years
old. Our scanty dinner of sw,eet potatoes I dug
from a neighboring field with my bare toes, stand-
ing straight up and looking down the road that no
one should know what I was about. I fed them
to my little brood raw. My heart swelled with
delight as baby gnawed his and cooed on my lap,
wise enough to cover it with his little bony hand
when any one drew near. It had been a meager
dinner, and we were to go supperless to bed, only
as we could gather in something from somewhere.
Last night it was a handful of corn from a mule
crib not far off. I waited until it was dark enough
to slide around unseen and pick up a few grains of
270 GILBERT ACADEMY
their slobberings. It required great care, for even
they had grown wise, and defended their troughs
with feet and teeth. Very justly I doled out my
grains of corn to my little flock, always commenc-
ing and ending with baby, making him hunt for
each grain. How hard it was to make him un-
derstand when the last one was gone ! To-night
there was no corn. They had taken away the
mules. Baby whined himself to sleep holding his
little hand on my cheek and his face in my
neck. A bird sang in the wood, and he whispered,
"Seour, sing," and I sang " Three Golden Gates in
the East " until the woods rang. I soon slept my-
self. In the dead of night I awoke, O, so cold !
'Twas dark and foggy. My babe was slipping
off my lap ; he was heavy, and cold like ice. I saw
a fire through the woods and started to take him
to it. I carried him on and on and brought him
to the blazing heat. He would not wake up.
Some one said, " Laws, dat chil's dead." I knew
it then, and threw him down on the ground and
ran screaming out into the darkness. I hid my-
self; I watched and waited. They picked up my
baby and took off his rags, washed him in a tub
of warm water, and put a little, white slip on him,
and put him by a big tree under a blanket.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 27!
I saw when they lifted the blanket there were
more babies under it, all dressed in white with
their hands crossed on their breast, all looking
right up into heaven. They looked so sweet and
clean and so warm under that blanket that I
stopped crying and began to feel better. There
was my own dear baby all washed and dressed in
a long white robe just like the angels. O, how
many people there were moving around in the
woods ! — all colored — no ; there was one white
lady, tall, thin, and straight. She was near the fire,
and I saw that she was the one who was making
angels out of the dead babies. As the fire shone
on her face I saw that she looked sorry, and that
she did not speak to anyone at all, but moved her
lips and talked to some one up in the sky. I was
scared of her. She looked out into the dark
toward me. I thought that she was a-coming after
me, and crawled on the ground into the road and
ran until I was tired. The running warmed me.
It was getting daylight.
I stopped at a shanty to look at a long white
robe on a line, one end of the line fastened to
a shanty roof and one end to a big rose vine that
was running up a magnolia tree. It was an angel's
272 GILBERT ACADEMY
robe and laid along the line just like a person,
looking right up into the rose tree. I went close
up to it to 'zamin* it to see it plenty. O, it was the
onliest growed-up angel's robe I'd ever sawd, and
I thought if I had dat chariot robe I could go
right along to hebben and take my baby wid me
— ride up, both ob us, and all de dead babies, all
ob us altogether ride up in de chariot fo' sun-up.
The old aunty cook saw'd me, and she went and
made me come in. She said, " Poor little Pat-
sey, I knew'd your dead mudder." She gave me
a pone and some milk, and sat me down by the
big fireplace while she went to the big house
with the sick ladies' breakfast I drank the milk,
poked the pone into my bosom, ran, caught the
angel robe off the line, mussed it under my arm,
and ran to the little gate. Here I met the doctor
man. He said to me, "Here, nig, take this medi-
cine to your missus; tell her that Judge A —
has shot himself — something about that Creole
quadroon and those beautiful children of his.
God ! what will become of them ? "
He was talking to some one I did not see.
"Child, run in and tell Miss Ann I will be back
about sun-up," and away he went. I tucked the
AXD AGRICULTURAL COLLECK. 273
bottle in my bosom with the pone and ran down
the road. I was so tired I kept falling down, and
each time I thought that I was dead. O, my
lovely white robe all covered with lace ! I held it
tight as I lay in the road. I took the cork out
the bottle and drank some of it and made it fast
again to keep some for my little dead buddy. I
soon felt able to get up and run on again. When
I got near home I saw my biggest buddy with a
big fish on a hook, just pulling it out of the bayou.
O, how I screamed and clapped my hands with
delight ! — such a big fish ; but no one saw nor
heard me ; they were all wild about the fish. I
did not see the white lady anywhere. I was so
sleepy I slipped on my white robe over my rags
and crawled under the blanket close to my baby,
poured the rest of the medicine into his mouth
and poked the corn pone into his little cold hand.
I pulled the long robe clear down over my feet
and stretched out with my hands folded over the
lace. O, how lovely I looked and how happy I
felt ! I peeked out my eyes to see all the people
make a feast. All coming, coming, so many of
them to cook and eat that fish, some bringing
little wads of grub in their hands, all they had.
The fire burned up and up, and the great live
12*
274 GILBERT ACADEMY
oaks swung and danced in the breeze.. Still the
people came, so many little folks ; everybody
carrying babies. Big people toting little people ;
small children toting smaller ones ; wee ones
crawling over the ground. The woods was swarm-
ing with wee people, but so still. The big ones
did not laugh; the little ones did not cry. So
many babies, so many hungry babies, and still they
did not cry ; so many suffering and not one cry.
The world full of them ; the trees full of them ; the
sky full of them ; and they all had wings ; and I, too,
had wings. And my head whirled, and my eyes
closed, and I died, O, so happy !
Chapter II.
" HERE it is now, sticking out from under this
blanket, and there she is herself; I sesso, dat
nig — Pat's her name — is a tief. Yes, I sesso.
And dar's Misse's med'cin all drunk up. La!
Strip it off her, and let me get it back. Dat
med'cin rank pizen ; kill dat darky sho's yo' born."
The blanket was jerked off, and there .was that
old, black aunty cook, looking straight down at
me. She stripped off my white robe, shook me
until my head bobbed from side to side, and my
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 275
teeth rattled together. I held on to my angel
robe and tried to scream. But I felt sick, and
my eyes would not stay open, and my mouth
would not cry. A kind voice said, " Let that
chile 'lone ; she is more'n half dead now."
Then I saw through my eye-cracks a big white
man. The black aunty said to him, " You looks
mighty like Jesus Chris' 'at I seen in a vision las'
night."
He reach down and took me out of her
clutches, and smiled at me as he passed me over
to the tall white lady who laid me — all limp — on
some moss in a cart, with many other half dead,
ragged little niggers. O, how I felt inside of me!
It seemed in my stomach. My white robe was
gone, and I could not go to heaven. Did I not
take it myself off the line and brung it? O, if I'd
only 'ev' got into heaven with it they could never
have got me out ! They would not let me in now,
in my rags! How I did hate that black aunty!
But I hated her worse when she gave my little
dead buddie to a great black man that looked
like a big cypress tree. I tried to wiggle out of
the cart, but she held me tight and said, " Dat
baby stinks, honey. 'Lijah will take 'im to de
276 GILBERT ACADEMY
preacher, an' de preacher will put 'irn in de
groun?' I bit her arm until she screamed out. I
took a pin out of her dress and was trying to
put it into her leg; and then Mr. Almighty came,
an' dey drive us all down to de bayou. They
put us on the carpet in Abraham Lincoln's boat.
They brunged us all in 'til the flo' was all rilled
up with black, sick chil'en; and away the big boat
went down the bayou. They washed me in a lit-
tle room where there was a big teakettle fas-
tened up on the wall, and t'rew myole dress in de
bayou for the fishes, they said. They put on a
blue and yellow dress 'at dragged out behind and
looked might' nice. They took it out of a box. I
heard the white lady say, " These dresses are all
long enough for me. What a shame ! " They
made me drink good soup out of a cup, an' some
milk, an' guv me a big sho' enough apple to hold
that I could eat by and by. I walked in front
of the big looking-glasses until I fell down, I was
that mighty proud and weak.
The white missus came and bent over me, and
her pretty ribbon fell off with the bright star pin
on it. I jerked it up and poked it in my bosom.
She looked at me so sorry I took it out and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2JJ
said, " Here it is, missus, de devil made me done
it." She said, " You are a poor, half-starved little
girl ; I love you. This pin was my baby girl's.
She lives in heaven now with your little baby
boy." I said, " O, missus, has he got there yet ? "
I told her what the old black auntie said about
him, and I screamed loud. She told me about
little birdies flying away and leaving their old
nests behind them. I said, " Yo' sesso ? Yes,
dat's tru. I seed 'em in de gum tree." Den I
sang, " Laz'rus dead ! O bless God ! " She tole
me to sing mo' fo' her, and I sing'd "Walk Around
de Ole Buryin' Groun'," and " O, Sinner, God's
Making a New Hell." Den I axed her to 'scuse
me ; I had so much misery in my head 'at I
couldn't study 'bout any mo'. Would she let me
go to sleep ? Den I would shout fo' her as old
Aunt Liz' did : 'at she put her hands together,
and stretched 'em up and pointed straight up into
heaven, like a meeting-house church steeple ; and
her toes close together, and jumped right up and
down, clean mos' into the roof; and eberybody
jumped arter her. By-'m-by, some night, Aunt
Liz' would jump right true de roof and sky, and
go to hebben ; her head 'ould knock on hebben's
flo', and dey would open de do' and jerk her right
278 GILBERT ACADEMY
in. I done watch her close. I know'd what she'd
done. Arter de white lady said 'at I was a good
girl and no tief, kase I gib her back her ribbon, I
ax, " Do yo' t'ink God will lemme into hebben ?"
She sesso, " ef I prayed." I ax if she knowed
God. She sesso dat he lov's me, and she went
doff and lef me in de dark all alone with the sick
babies. And I commenced to pray, " O, from
everlasting to everlasting ! Will you please to
light up de light on de star pole of Zion dat dis
po' dead level sinner may riz' up to the livin' pur-
pendicular of righteousness and salvation ? Ever-
las' to everlas' here we are knee-bent and body
bowed to give you some berry humble tanks in
some lonesome valley wid our hearts bowed be-
low our knees. Will yer pleas' to inch up yer
golden char', up to ye di'mon' winder, and take
one long peep down to dis low world of sin and
sorrow to see what Satin is doing down yer
wid yer chil'ens?" Den come aunty wid some
puddin' and milk, and said, "Stop yer prar, chile,
and tak' yo' eat." She took off my pretty yellow
" frock," as the white lady called it, and put on
my " nity," as the lady named it. I watched where
she. put it, and after dey were gone I got up and
stepped over the babies, de little sick ones, and
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 279
brung my long dress and poked it under my pil-
low. Den I peeked 'bout and seed de lady movin'
Voun' wid a long white "nity" on, fixing up de
babies to sleep. She kep' talkin' to some one
'bout de " blessed little childers." She said, " O,
Father ! O my dear Father." Dar was a wee bit
of a white baby close to me wid soft curls. She
held it in her arms and kissed it, and kissed it,
and cried. O, how I loved to watch her ; it made
me happy ! But when she came to me and did
not kiss me I ax God to make her black — blacker
'an me. I hated her worse 'an the old aunty. I
put out my foot so dat she would fall over it when
she was taking de white baby away. But she
stepped over it, and I went to sleep.
Somebody came and waked me up by pulling
out my long white "frock" from under my pillow,
and I saw de old aunty take it to de white lady,
and she took de scissors and hacked it right in
two, cutting off all the pretties. I jumped up and
ran and slapped her in de face just as hard as I
could. I caught the little white baby; it was
asleep in a char, all bunched up on pillows. I
shook it and t'rew it on de flo', and would have
jumped on it, only aunty caught it away from me
280 GILBERT ACADEMY
befo' I could do it. She took me by the arm
and t'rew me clar down the cabin onto the flo'. I
had one piece of the dress. I ran screaming out
into the dark among the mens. I told 'em dat
white 'oman was a devil — dat she cut my onliest
dress, and dat I was going to tak' dat poker and
kill her when dat light went out, and I ax'd one
big man to help me. But he only laughed. Den
de cook called me into de kitchen and gave me
some sweet grub. I took de poker and pok'd
some coals out de stove into a big box of shav-
ings, and dey all blazed up high. De cook dashed
water on it and took me back to de cabin, and he
brung'd a big stick for de ole black aunty to whip
me. He said this girl is a savage, and you must
gib her a ka-hiding. She mos' set de boat on
fire. I run'd all over, steppin' on de babies, and
aunty arter me. I was screaming, and she was
a-screaming, and de poor little babies were a-
moaning. And now and den she struck me wid
dat big ka-hide, 'til my po' little legs had misery
plenty. Lots of folks came into de cabin to see
what de confusion war all about. Dey jus' stood
still and look at us, But de beautiful white lady
she peeped tru de crack ob her do', and she told
aunty to brung me right to he's. O, I was scared
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 28 1
ob her! But she took me in her arms and kissed
me, and put me in her white bed wid her, and she
bathed me wid some ting dat smell nice, and called
me her sweet, lovely baby, dat dey must no' whipt
me never any more. She tole me 'at she wished
for dat piece o' dress to make de little white baby
a dress, and she brung'd de baby and let me kiss
it plenty ob times. I gib'd he's de clos dat I'd
tied round my boddy under my " nity." She said
that I should help he make de babies' dresses wid
a nice new little work-box full of needles, and
tread, and pins, and bright new timbles ; and they
should be all my own. I laughed loud and tole
her dat I would nebber be bad any mo'.
She said she would tell me something now ; she
said, " Keep very still ; I can't tell yo' when yo'
make a noise." I put both hands on my mouth
and waited so, so long. Den she said we must
get on our knees ; and I commenced to pray as
our elder do, " Everlas' to everlas'." She said,
" No, no. Say, ' God — Father,' say, ' Dear Father
— God, who loves me.' " I said it. And den
she sang soft, soft, "Jesus loves me." She
made me say it many times, and den she let
me sing it ; and she told me dat Jesus Christ
282 GILBERT ACADEMY
was my own dear brother ; and dat he died
and went through de grave to hebben, so dat
we could go tru de grave to hebben when we
died ; dat he showed us de way so dat we should
make no 'stakes. And den she asked God to
make me kind and gentle so I could help her to
take care of the little babies ; and she told God
dat I was the onliest one she had to help her ; de
bery onliest one to make der soup, der gumbo-
file, and make der dresses, and wash der faces.
She let me hug de white baby wid hes long har
jus' so plenty, plenty. She said it was Pa God's
baby; dat he loved it, and dat he loved me
plenty. De lamp was bright; de room smelled
sweet as sweet olive.
It was so nice, and I was happy, happy. Yes;
God sesso. " He lub me," I cried, when she put
de lamp out ; but she held my hand ; I went to
sleep. De nex' mornin' she dressed me in short
dress wid long white stockings and yellow slip-
pers. I didn't knowed dat der was such pretty
tings in de whole worl'. O, O ! how soft dey did
walk. We took de babies, me and she, two or
tree at one time, in de bath room, and put dem in
de tub wid a little warm water; and dey liked it,
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 283
Yes, dey sesso, all ob 'em. I rub dem soft
wid a sponge, and she soaped der heads all white.
We all laughed as loud as we could, She
did not scold when de babies cried ; no, she
said it did dem good. How dos' babies did dink
milk. Dey jus' poked it down. Some ob 'em
took der eat jus' like old folks. When we reached
New Orleans I heerd her tell Mr. - - (I did
not know his name then — he met us there),
" We call Patsy Grace now, she is such a little
lady. She is my best help ; I could not get on
without her. Pie took me and kissed me, and
called me good little Gracey. He gave me a
yellow piece of money. He and some other great
gentlemen took us to a big fine house with trees
and grass all around it. How good they were to
us! How many dead babies had to be carried
away and buried! But whatever may happen to
me I shall never forget that night in that little
room with the white lady in the boat, on the
Bayou Teche, going to New Orleans, just going
into Grand Lake, when I learned to know God
as my Father and Jesus as my brother. By-'m-by
I learned something more. My great big God-
Brother, who lives in heaven, he talks to God
all about me, and he has written my name in the
284 GILBERT ACADEMY
big book there, so everybody knows me in heaven,
and I shall know them all when I get there. Now
I know more than that because there is some one
lives in my heart who came right from heaven
into my heart. He came to tell me all about
God and Christ, and all about heaven. Every
day at New Orleans was a delight, and yet when
I look back at that time I see that my joy rested
in my daily duties, my constant employment.
Doing for others and learning new things for my-
self filled up each day well. I was very happy.
Allow me to review one day :
Early morning, a plunge bath and dressing;
then learning a verse from the Bible for evening
worship, taking one half hour ; making a cup of
coffee for Mrs. W , and taking to her room,
with a bouquet of freshly-gathered flowers, an-
other half hour ; taking my own glass of milk,
warm or iced, as I wished; helping to prepare
milk and ash-cake for the children's breakfast and
eggs and fruit for general breakfast brings me to
breakfast at 8 A. M. After breakfast I put on my
old dress and help to clean the kitchen. The
good-natured old "Aunty" tells me stories and
makes me laugh while we scour tins, pots, kettles,
and stove. Then we get down and scrub the
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 285
floor with a brush and sprinkle brick-dust all over
it; then I tidy my room and do everything I can
for Mrs. W 's comfort; then, with money and
basket, "Aunty" and I go to market, I, with my
little blank book, putting down all we buy and the
cost; I then report to Mrs. W— — ; she sits up
in bed and gives me an organ lesson on the big
organ that stands in her room; then I sing for
her and read my Bible aloud; read in my little
history and study my arithmetic lesson; "Aunty"
has taught me to cook eggs in six different ways,
and Mrs. W says that I can soon get a nice
breakfast all alone. She told me this morning
that I made the best coffee she ever tasted. I am
so glad, for she has been very sick; and now she
lets me comb her long hair. We soon go down
to lunch; it tastes so good — sweet potatoes and
milk; after luncheon I take the little white baby,
Lily ; she can run around and talk some now,
and she has on a little white dress that I made all
myself; and we go into Coliseum Place and play
on the grass with lots of other children in the
shade of the cotton-ball trees. The doctor says
Mrs. W must go North, and I am to go with
her; and Mrs. B— - is going North before we
do, and Lily is going with her.
286 GILBERT ACADEMY
LILY — FACT.
Fifteen years have passed — years spent in
learning books and some other things. How
strange it was to meet Lily once more ! She
had grown tall and more beautiful. She took me
to her rooms ; lovely velvet carpets and crimson
hangings. I looked around in amazement.
" Do tell me all that you have been doing all
these years. I should never have known you ;
but then you were only a baby."
"O, Mrs. W was so nice to find you out,
so that I could see you ! But she said that I
must be careful and not let the secret out."
"What secret! What makes you look so sad
and put your fingers on your lips ? Why don't
you tell me? How handsome you are! What a
lovely dress! O, do laugh and talk some."
She smiled and said : " God has done it all.
God is so great and so good that it is awe to think
of him and joy to love him. I cannot tell you
anything. How long are you to be in the city?"
"We leave next Monday, and Mrs. W told
me that I must not stay but an hour."
"Well, don't ask me a question ; I will let you
take my diary, if you will keep my secret. You
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 287
can read all about me since we parted, but you
must promise never to divulge my secret: not
only mine, but Mrs. B 's, and also —
"I — I promise; let me have it. I am wild with
curiosity."
" No; I will wrap it, and when you go you may
take it with you. It is written with caution ;
there are no names nor places nor dates — if you
only won't say one word. I am under a pledge,
you know. Now let us forget all this sorrow and
have a good talk." And we sat down by the win-
dow on a crimson sofa. •
The sun was setting and sending slant rays
through the falling snow. The earth, houses,
fences, trees, everything was all piled up with snow-
white and tinged with rose-color. I never saw any-
thing more beautiful. I said, " Lily, let us get
down and thank God for his goodness. It seems
as though my heart would burst with happiness."
We got down on our knees and laughed and
cried for joy.
THE DIARY.
Mrs. B is so good here in this lovely
school. She must have plenty of money — all
288 GILBERT ACADEMY
these fine things. How much love she has for
me! It is a marvel; I am so glad! But, some-
way— I don't know; she must know, she is so wise
and good and kind — every one loves her and
every one loves me. I am so glad that I am here
learning, and that I am to stay through and have
my diploma. Then I can face the world, Mrs.
B says. Everybody knows and loves Mr.
B and his lovely wife. It is wonderful that
they ever came to love me. I wonder at it. It
must be all God's care of me — poor, little, in-
significant me. I must keep my pledge to
them, let what will come. Yet I sometimes al-
most wish to go off where I am wholly unknown
and make my own way, even by working with
my hands. Yet I love them next to God, but
'cepting him.
December 20. — What a busy day! Mrs. B.
is here. My more than mother! She read all his
letters, and yet says " No — very decidedly no." I
cannot disobey her. It does seem hard that I
can't be allowed to trust the only man I have
loved. Then he loves me so sincerely ! Why
should he not know the whole truth ? Here is
his last letter :
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 289
" LIL : I am getting cross. I am lonely and
sick. Here is your home; been ready for you
for months. Did you not promise to come to
me this fall — to come to your own home? It
has on its Christmas dress, all ready for its queen.
I shall insist on your coming with me as soon
as school closes. According to promise I will
meet you where we met before, and we will be
married at once, quietly, as you wish; but be
married we must. I do not understand your last
note, that I am not to see you. What nonsense !
I, after this, retract what I said, that you should
stay and get your diploma. What is this idea
that I cannot see you ? Some one is doing wrong
to try and break our engagement. You are mine,
and come to me you shall, or I will do something
you will regret all of your life. I do not care a
rush what you say about our engagement being
conditional. Some one put those words into your
mouth. Dearest, you are the only woman I ever
loved, and I know, darling, that you love me. I
am satisfied, and my ancestral home is made
ready and waiting. Come you must. If you
knew how lonely I am since mother's death !
Write me just one word, Come. I must see you.
Why all this secrecy? I will wait until the last
13
2QO GILBERT ACADEMY
day of the term. Expect me then. Is this all a
joke, that I cannot see you ? Bosh ! Darling,
expect me the last day of the term, and, if the
heavens fall, you are to come back with me."
December 21. — We are going away. I am to
go with Mrs. B to-morrow. It is all fixed. I
don't know where. She has been with me all day
packing, and put me under pledge not to commu-
nicate with Mr. . She says that our secret
must not be divulged ; that as long as no one
knows it but us it can never get out, and my
prospects are fair. But that I must promise her
never to marry ; that I must put it all out of my
mind. But, O, if she would let me have one
honest talk with him and tell him all, and let him
decide \ She says, " No, no, no I It would only
make mischief." I have promised and pledged
all that she asked. What will the end be ? She
looks very sad and puzzled. Her eyes look like
tears, and she is so tender and gentle with me.
I think she is an angel ; I will always obey and
love her. She sent my dearest one, my joy, these
words. They will freeze him dead. I am so
afraid of something. Will he kill himself? O,
my dear, great God, help me !
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 29!
" SIR : I write to say to you that all intercourse
between you and my ward, Lily H , must
cease now and forever. Believe me when I say
that if you knew the whole truth you would thank
me. But I have no right to divulge her secret.
It must die with her. Yours, ."
May i. — It was a great comfort to me, when I
had been in this place some weeks, to receive this
letter. She said that she had so much confidence
in me that she would send it, although it might
not be wise. I have read it over and over :
" MRS. B : I have never seen you, but you
must be a very peculiar woman to do what you
are doing. How dare you ? Lily's history is
nothing to me. I do not care where she came
from. I will find her. The business of my life
is to find her, and I can and will influence her to
marry me at once. I am honest with you, and if
you are wise you will be honest with me. I have
history enough for both myself and my wife to
be — Lily. Yours, — ."
"My DEAR WARD: I send letter. I am fully
trusting you. I think too much of your delicate,
2Q2 GILBERT ACADEMY
sensitive, high-toned nature, and of the dear one
you might have, to let you take this step. God
is a sufficiency for you. Rest in him and me.
" My dear, dear child, I love you.
" MRS. B ."
How is it that all this suffering comes from
my being born wrong ? I don't know why. But
now everything, all my life long, must go wrong.
What do I care for music or art ? What do I
care for all these luxuries ? I am dead, and, what
is worse than all, I am killing him by inches.
Sin : who can see the end of it ? There is nothing
left but God, God, God! I wonder if I could
prevent some one else such suffering by going
back to my people where I was born, and give
them the knowledge God has given me ?
LETTER.
" Jime, — .
"Mv DEAR GRACIE : William is here. He has
found me. I have told him all, and he said,
'Humbug!' I love you; we can keep our own
secret and trust the future. We were married
this morning; are just off for home. Come and
see us. God be praised !"
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 293
TO MRS. D -, IN PHILADELPHIA.
I KNOW a woman, a queenly woman ;
Her name to you may be unknown ;
Broad her domain, and vast her reign,
And her heart is her golden throne.
It is goldened by light, it is goldened by love,
It is goldened by blessings shed ;
Her loving light and her light of love
Make a crown for the sufferer's head,
She dwells in her home of palatial build,
But feels for other's woes ;
The riches of time have no power to gild ;
Christ's life in her soul makes it so.
Yes, down in her soul eternity's bell
Chimes anthems of God's love and truth;
For in its deep cell the Godhead doth dwell,
Such glory has unspeakable worth.
STORY OF THE LITTLE WHITE BABY.
THE little white baby was born in Texas. The
yellow mother left Louisiana a slave and came
back — the babe in her arms — a freed woman, own-
ing her own child. This was a serious charge to
her ; no land, no shelter, no food, no massa, no
father to her child.
The United States had bigger problems on its
hands than yellow-skinned babies. Yet by its
2Q4 GILBERT ACADEMY
power the starved mother was buried, and the
little waif was taken down on an Abraham Lin-
coln boat and housed and cared for at New
Orleans, But some thanks are also due to a big-
souled man from foreign shores. The little one
grew apace, and the white lady of the boat placed
her in the hands of a kind lady at the North, who
watched carefully after her education.
Some years after, with a diploma in her hands
from a first-class school, she returned as mission-
ary to her native land. The tidal wave of North-
ern sympathy had somewhat receded. Through
the death of her patrons her salary was cut off,
and her private school was not remunerative.
Poverty was written all over the State. It was a
fearful struggle ; no one but the All-Father knew
about it. It required great faith to take hold of
the Eternal at such times.
Nothing touched bottom. In that place at that
time the good men lost their footing or hid away
from public gaze, abiding their time. Everything
seemed to drift. Many, many prayers went up to
God through the thick darkness.
Young and inexperienced Lida married a man
of her own color. He owned a house, a few acres
of land, and a span of mules. Without any edu-
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 295
cation he seemed to have some intelligence.
They settled in his cozy little home. I saw her
at this time. She was a fair-sized woman, tall
and graceful, her wavy hair drawn plainly over
her forehead and coiled low on her neck. Her
eyes were large, brown, and soft, with long lashes,
and a timid askant look in their depths. She was
very, very retiring. About this time somebody
seemed to get a hold on their property. Things
did not prosper. Her husband cared not for
books and took to rough ways. He was much
put out about some help that he had to receive
from a white man who was high in authority in a
neighboring town, and came and went as though
he had a right in that humble home. Mrs. Lida
was given a place in the public school as teacher.
Many comforts began to make their appearance
in her home. One little babe after another — even
whiter than their mother — came to their home,
and their wants were all supplied. She was a
beautiful, well-dressed woman as I saw her com-
ing and going to her school on a pony with her
babe in her lap and other little ones clinging on
behind. She never answered my salutation, nor
raised her eyes to mine. The next I knew she
was dead and the little ones were left motherless.
296 GILBERT ACADEMY
Is this a sad story? Is it not sadder to know
that this family of innocents are running wild
like colts, not being educated by any one ? Do
what we will, some hidden power keeps them
out of school. So far no culture, no enlighten-
ment. By and by God will give them to us. He
has the power, and in time will manifest himself.
I believe he holds that woman guiltless, and he
will give her darling children what she so prized
— a Christian education.
NOTES ABOUT THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
OF all levers used to raise the uncivilized from
" a dead level to a living perpendicular " the
power to help others is the first, last, and greatest.
It is the first ennobling thought of the awakening
mind, the first breeze to ripple the hitherto slug-
gish waters of a selfish heart, the first step toward
soul liberty.
The uneducated, undisciplined, unenlightened,
child of the wilderness, placed by ambitious par-
ents-under school training, learns with weary
effort to spell b-a-k-e-r, and multiply by five;
then, perceiving no utility in this, and longing for
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 2Q7
the freedom of the past, droops and mopes and, if
not helped, rebels.
But if at this crisis the child is given an oppor-
tunity of practically helping some one else with
this same knowledge the face is lifted joyfully
toward God's sunshine and the hands stretched
out for more.
For this reason the temperance work is one of
the greatest uplifting powers in the elevation of
mankind toward God.
Young people who have shown no marks
of progress, and seemed beyond uplifting, have
suddenly blossomed forth in strength and beauty
under the influence of this cause. Weak ones
have developed amazing strength in fighting for
the salvation of their erring brothers, and resist-
ing temptation for their sake. Timid ones have
forgotten their timidity in their earnest desire
to lend a hand, and even stammering ones have
dared to speak for the cause at the risk of their
own shame.
Other enterprises may be neglected, other
meetings fail, but when it comes to the temper-
ance work our boys and girls " strike twelve "
13*
298 GILBERT ACADEMY
every lime. Nothing is too hard to overcome for
this cause, nothing too formidable to be under-
taken.
" Never you min','' said one girl, " I ain't so
much of a reader, an' I can't make no address,
but I'll learn a piece an' speak it, you see ef I
don't."
And she did, too, and she did it well, even
though she called total abstinence " tall tail abase-
ment," to our amusement.
"John say he'll sign de pledge ef I do," said a
boy, bound hand and foot by the tobacco habit ;
and after many weeks of hard fighting he saw,
with pride, both of the names on the pledge roll.
After that but one thought seemed to possess
him. With a gentle hand on his schoolmates'
shoulders and tender words in their ears he
brought them in, until a long list of names fol-
lowed his. But the most amazing thing was the
way his own character developed. The earnest-
ness displayed toward others, and the tenderness
used to persuade them, took root in his soul and
grew. So it ever is. Just so far as the heart be-
comes absorbed in the well-being of others it
gathers good to itself.
In almost all instances the pledge has been the
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 299
stepping-stone to religious faith ; and in every
case which has come under our jurisdiction —
with one exception — the pledge has preceded
conversion.
One of the most amusing and perplexing inci-
dents connected with this part of the work was
the addition of legal suasion to the constitution.
A committee appointed for the business drafted
a new constitution throughout, and this document
so met the approbation of the society that it was
adopted by a unanimous rising vote. Then, to
our consternation, half of the members, including
all of the officers, refused to sign it. Arguments
and persuasions proved alike fruitless.
The solution of the problem came from an un-
expected quarter. It was found that the com-
mittee on badges had procured crank-pins. The
chairman of this committee bought a bolt of blue
ribbon, and after decorating all who had signed
the constitution with both ribbon and pin, ex-
plained that the ribbon meant simply keeping the
pledge, but that the pin meant political Prohibition,
and signing the constitution.
The chaplain of the society, a man who had
just reached voting age, looked longingly at the
pins and whispered, " May I turn Republican again
3OO GILBERT ACADEMY
when the liquor is all out of the United States?"
Lo ! the cat was out of the bag. Here was the
cause of all the trouble. He was assured that he
could turn whatever he pleased when the cranks
had turned all of the liquor out of our country.
He donned his pin with pride, and before the
meeting was out all but one name graced our
constitution.
Several auxiliary societies have been formed by
the students in their own homes. The first one in
Hubertville, in 1889, 28 members; the second in
Glencoe, in 1890; the third in Paterson, in 1891,
34 members. During the summer of 1892 three
were formed, and nine silver medal contests
held. The society at Shreveport numbers 57
members, at Morgan City 42, at Opelousas 52.
The Demorest Medals have been an unspeak-
able help to us. Our students have held two
contests at Paterson, two at Glencoe, one each at
Morgan City, Baldwin, New Iberia, Opelousas,
and Shreveport. Mr. Demorest will never know,
until he reaches eternity, how much his gifts
have done toward bringing our girls and boys to
the planes of higher living. Our auxiliaries are
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 30!
apt to suspend during the school months. The
young people are learning how to do the work
themselves, but they have not yet learned how to
set others at work so that things will run when they
are absent. They are, as a usual thing, conscien-
tious about the pledge, owning up when they have
broken it, and succeeding better the next time.
Not counting some of the boys, who are bound
by the tobacco habit and have not the strength to
break their bonds, our students keep the pledge
remarkably well.
WAITING.
I KNOW a girl, a lovely girl,
She stands on the border land ;
She waits for the world the flag to unfurl
Which shall marshal freedom's band.
So straight and tall, like eagle's eye,
Her own with ardor glows ;
She was not born in palace high,
Nor bleached by Northern snows.
She rests herself with lightest foot,
On realms she doth not sway ;
With tear-laden lids and anxious look
She holds the world at bay.
Her heart is full of quivering love,
So deep, so sweet, so clear,
As white and pure as the gentle dove
Who came from the other sphere.
3O2 GILBERT ACADEMY
Her lip has a curl of saddest scorn
For the love at her feet oft laid ;
In the upper realm it was not born,
And it brings but grief to the maid.
Yet still her heart is strong and true,
And in its warmest depth is seated
The rhythmic love of a household few,
Tho' from a grimy cabin meted.
A mother frail, a sister blind
Is all this cabin's treasure ;
A weaker duo 's hard to find,
Or deeper love to measure.
She gazes forth to promised land,
Her spirit all so eager ;
Her body worn with care and toil,
Her earnings scant and meager.
And thus upon the border land
This dusky sister standing —
Has she a hope from any plan ?
A chance for any landing ?
With Anglo eyes of hazel blue,
A skin of creamy yellow;
Is Uncle Sam her uncle too ?
With big heart soft and mellow ?
Now in this chill of midnight time,
In God's great silence waiting;
Hears she the word of sweet command,
All human discord 'bating.
And thus alone on border land,
In God's own circle standing,
" To the least of these a helping hand,"
Is this of God's commanding ?
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 303
GENERAL SHOWING OF RESULTS OF ELEVEN
YEARS.
I. PROPERTY. — In 1881 if the entire property
had been offered for sale it would have been diffi-
cult, if not impossible, to realize ten thousand dol-
lars. Now, 1892, it is held to be worth, at a con-
servative estimate, seventy-five thousand dollars.
II. BUILDINGS. — In 1881 there was naught but
a ruin, a mass of fallen bricks and timbers, be-
side a one story brick store, 14 by 16 feet, which
had once been a porter's lodge, a sorry relic of an
unhappy past, a burrow for rats beneath, a refuge
for snakes above. Now there is no plantation
store, but six good and commodious buildings,
namely :
1. Gilbert Hall, a dormitory for females,
erected with Mr. Gilbert's first donation.
2. The Chapel, the reconstructed Orphans'
Home, now about one half the size of the old
building. It is, however, a large building, 90 by
41, and two stories in height. It contains within
it, beside ample hallways or corridors, the chapel,
58 by 40 ; library, 18 by 22 ; reading room, 18 by
20, and five recitation rooms of ample size.
3. Smith Hall, so named from Mr. Charles
304 GILBERT ACADEMY
B. Smith, a prominent and wealthy citizen of
Hartford, Conn., who was the largest contributor
toward the cost of the building. This is the
dormitory for males, of the same size as Gilbert
Hall, 72 by 38, two stories, and of the same archi-
tectural pattern.
4. Connected with Gilbert Hall are: (i) The
dining hall, 50 by 31, two stories. The first floor
is of the entire dimensions of the building, and
makes the dining room wherein one hundred
and fifty persons may sit at the table at one
time without inconvenience. The second floor
comprises eight rooms, additional dormitory for
ladies. (2) The kitchen and bakery, near the din-
ing hall, and connected by gallery.
5. The Industrial Building, erected with Mr.
Gilbert's second donation for buildings. It com-
prises : (i) Printing office, of three rooms, with
an excellent outfit of types, presses, etc. (2)
Carpentry shop, one large room, 30 by 30, well
equipped with benches, desks, hand-power, ma-
chines, and tools. (3) Sewing room, 30 by 20,
with two sewing machines. (4) Large room for
storage of finished work.
6. The Farm Building, large and convenient,
devoted to granaries, stables, and sheds.
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 305
III. FENCES. — There were none, in 1881, that
would stand a lively wind, and none at all capa-
ble of protecting crops. Mules and steers went
hither and yon at their pleasure. Now all is well
inclosed, chiefly with barbed wire, and live stock
can go only where they are permitted.
IV. LAND.— The greater part of the land after
the war, and until 1881, had either lain dormant,
uncultivated, or had been simply scratched over
enough to waste its substance without apprecia-
ble production of crops. Now the arable land is
thoroughly taken up. One part is in the plot of
the village of Winsted, so named after Winsted,
Conn. Another part is cultivated in corn, cane,
potatoes, etc. Another part is cultivated chiefly
in rice. There are about five hundred acres of
swamp land, which is very valuable, abounding in
cypress and other timber, that must ultimately
come to market. For valuation of property,
vide page 159.
V. EDUCATIONAL RESULTS. — About two thou-
sand different persons have been instructed in
Gilbert Academy and Agricultural College in the
past eleven years. Sixty intelligent and worthy
young men and women have been graduated in
the grammar course. There have been taught
3OO GILBERT ACADEMY
from two to five years each in printing, 60 ; car-
pentry, 72 ; agriculture, 70 ; needlework, 300 ;
baking of bread, 6 ; laundry work, 180.
There are in advanced and responsible posi-
tions as preachers, teachers, officeholders, me-
chanics and farmers, 35. Many others in useful
work, and leading honorable lives.
VI. MORAL AND RELIGIOUS RESULTS. — These
cannot readily be stated numerically. The ma-
jority of our students have received the grace of
conversion and are leading worthy lives. Two
hundred of them have become staunch advocates
and exemplars of total abstinence, and by their
efforts in propagating temperance truths and
organizing societies, have probably as much as
duplicated their number of converts to temper-
ance.
The Gospel Mission has made a good record in
the fight against popular vices and in saving
souls.
Trinity Church, Rev E. B. Richards, pastor,
numbers about seventy-five members besides the
students, and is a power for righteousness in the
community.
St. James Church, two miles away, the Rev.
Joseph Tircuit, pastor, is an efficient colaborer in
AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 307
the vineyard. Started as a mission of Trinity
Church, it is rapidly growing to the numbers and
influence of an equal to the mother church.
The Baptist Church, of which the Rev. J. T.
B. Labau is pastor, numbers about three hun-
dred members, and is a very powerful organiza-
tion. The pastor, one of the early fruits of our
institution, is a man of pure life, of great talent,
and one of the ablest ministers of his denomina-
tion in Louisiana.
All these agencies centered about one locality,
and, cooperating, are making a good record
against the kingdom of darkness and for the
kingdom of light.
THE END.
ACADEMIC, INDUSTRIAL,
CHRISTIAN, NONSECTARIAN.
29 TEACHERS.
farm. &- —$£- -^ Sbope.
QILBEI^T
AND
WlNSTEt),
-* 4oo Students.
PROTESTANTS,
ROMAN CATHOLICS.
All are required to work. All glad to work.
Extra time 8 cents per hour.
1
GILBERT ACADEMY.
Support comes from the John F. Slater Trust, the Freedmen's Aid and
Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the
Public School Fund of the Parish St. Mary.
Because of the obligation to fulfill the trust of the Orphans' Home
in the maintenance and education of Orphan Children; because of
the cooperation of the directors of the Public Schools 5 and because
of the number of Christian Churches represented by students and
teachers — this institution has always been avowedly, purposely,
and actually NONSECTARIAN, making no proselytes, teaching
Christian morality and redemption.
We, the undersigned, having investigated and being conversant with the
facts, are profoundly impressed with the merits of this vigorous institution
and its prospects. We confidently appeal in its behalf to a generous
people.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES,
Ex- President United States.
ATTICUS G. HATGOOD,
Bishop Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and recently Agent John F. Slater
Fund.
WILLARD F. MALLAJLIEU,
Bishop MetJiodist Episcopal Church, resident in New Orleans.
J. C. HARTZELL,
Corresponding Secretary Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
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