Although we are thus encouraged, the habit of drinking rum is spreading among them. This is a great curse to Africa. No evil could be perpetrated among these people more injurious to them than the selling of rum. Really, many of them seem to think that rum is the staff of life, and in order to exist they must have it. This idea has been brought to them through the medium of a civilized people, whose highest aim should be to wipe this evil practice out of existence. Mr. Jackson endeavored to impress upon their minds as clearly as possible the great sin of drinking rum, and I am sure that many were convinced of it. * * * * * The church is progressing both in interest and in strength. The first Sunday in this month was communion day. The presence of the Lord seemed near each one. Five persons joined the church and were baptized. Among the number was one chief. We have now three chiefs belonging to our church, and we believe that they are really converted men. * * * * * CHILDREN’S PAGE. * * * * * LITTLE SALLIE. PROFESSOR A. K. SPENCE, OF FISK UNIVERSITY. (Written from Dundee, Scotland.) Little Sallie was born a slave, but became free through the Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln. She had learned to read elsewhere, but came to the school connected with Fisk University to pursue her studies still further. There she soon saw she was a sinner, and needed a Saviour. She sought long, but did not find peace to her soul. She was very sorrowful, and her trouble appeared in her down-cast face. She often sighed and sometimes wept. She prayed much and read her Bible. Her teachers felt sad for poor little Sallie. At last light came. The Bible says, “Sorrow continueth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Her joy was great. Any one could see that she had met a change. Her countenance was all aglow. A sweet smile played on her lips. Her voice was full of music as she told what God had done for her. Her eye kindled as she spoke of her dear Saviour. All the affection of her young heart was given to him. It was sweet to listen to her prayers, in which she often said, _dear Jesus_. But Sallie wished to do something for Him who had done so much for her. All young converts feel in that way. Old Christians feel so, too. Paul says, “The love of Christ constraineth us.” But what could she do? She was so young, and only a girl. Even if she were a woman, she could not go into the pulpit and preach. Only men do that. What could she do! This perplexed little Sallie. One of her teachers, knowing her trouble, said to her, “Well, Sallie, you can read, can you not?” “Oh, yes!” she replied, for she was a good reader. “There are many colored people who were long slaves, and cannot read, are there not? Would not you like to read the Bible to some of them?”