However, I am glad to say there are some grand exceptions to this dark picture; some noble Christians, a few who have good homes. Among these, the good accomplished by the mission-school and the little Congregational church, sustained by the A. M. A., can be seen. The pastor, Mr. Mallory, allows no wife whipping in his church, and he has caused the large number of those who were living together unlawfully to be married. Indeed, his church will compare favorably with white churches of the North. These things show the dawning of day to these benighted people, and give us great encouragement to proceed with our work. But the mass are worse than tongue can tell or pen portray. I feel that in my description the half of woe and degradation has not been told. The Lord was with me in this work, and was a present help in every time of need. Many mornings I would start out with a heavy heart, for it would seem that my efforts to do good were almost in vain; but trusting alone in Jesus, I would go forward. Just then the Lord would show me that some one was becoming better, and I would return at evening upbraiding myself for my want of faith, and reminded of that Scripture which says, “He that goeth forth, and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” It was a precious privilege to comfort these broken-hearted ones with His words, of whom it was said: “Never man spake like this Man.” The Bible is the only book the colored people have any confidence in. A sick man, whom I visited, said he would like to hear the Bible read through; he was not a Christian. For some time he seemed but little interested; but one day he greeted me with a smile, saying: “I can trust the Lord now, and it is all that Bible-reading. Many have talked to me before, but I never thought of what they said; but I could not forget these words from the Bible, and I studied about it all the time, and last week, after you left me, I just did as the Bible said: gave up all, and trusted Jesus. I am ready to go now, and am not afraid.”