How vividly do I recall that sunny morning, the first day of October, 1877, as I stood upon the steps of “Swayne School” building, with five lady teachers at my side, while before us, in almost military lines, were drawn up some three hundred colored children and youth. These were our pupils. What a work lay before us! We have been repeatedly told, since our arrival, that the general feeling was, “No woman can control this school.” We, too, knew, in the depths of our hearts, that without Divine aid, we should utterly fail. But God has been true to His promises, and has given us a quiet, happy and successful year in our work, and one full of kindly, appreciative testimony from those among whom we have labored. Our school, with only a few days’ notice, closed half a month earlier than we had expected. This, of course, interfered greatly with preparations for the closing exercises. Besides, two or three Sunday-school May festivals and picnics had been previously arranged to take place the same week, and so many of the pupils were absent; but we did the best we could, under the circumstances, each teacher having in her own room reviews and examinations of her classes, which have borne abundant testimony to the earnest, faithful and kindly work they have done. On Thursday night we had an exhibition in the Congregational Church. It was a lovely moonlight night. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity; many, indeed, were unable to gain admittance, so great was the throng. The exercises, consisting of declamations, essays, recitations, and songs, were listened to with great interest and apparent delight. One young woman read an essay upon P. P. Bliss, whose visit here is lovingly remembered, closing with reciting the last hymn he set to music: “I know not what awaits me; God kindly vails mine eyes.” The Secretary of the City Board of Education, now acting Superintendent, and another member of the Board, were present the entire evening, and expressed gratification at what they had seen and heard. As they passed out of the church, they were heard to remark to each other: “That was _good_.” “Yes, it _was_ good.” I will close in the words which one of the colored boys printed in large letters in colored crayons upon the Sunday-school blackboard, “GOD BLESS SWAYNE SCHOOL.” * * * * * A Surprise Party in a Southern Church. REV. CHARLES NOBLE, MONTGOMERY.