The school started off with bright skies above and a broad distant view around. The bell rung out its pealing calls, and bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked children and youth clambered up the hill side to enjoy such educational privileges as that country had never known. All was peace and prosperity. School was crowded, and everybody was happy. But suddenly the whole heavens were overcast. From horizon to horizon a deathly pall enshrouded the entire sky--and the cloud large enough to do all this was only the size of a black child's face! _Whosoever will may come_, we had said. Did we _mean_ it? Oh, yes, _but_ it is hardly right to sacrifice the feelings of that whole school merely to gratify the wish of--_a nigger_. Did we mean it? Oh, yes, but it is hardly right to imperil the very existence of the school merely to take in that one poor, despised and uninfluential colored child! Did we mean it? Oh, yes, but is it right, is it wise, to receive _one_ when you know that by so doing you will lose twenty--perhaps more--to receive one whom you will have to help, and lose twenty--or perhaps more--who can help you? Did we mean it? Oh, yes, certainly, but would it not be better to reason with the applicant and show her that while we ourselves have no objection, yet things being as they are, she would really do more for her people by staying away than by insisting that she should be received? Why not take some such position as that? We will have peace and harmony and prosperity. We shall be able to tell our friends in the distance we are getting along swimmingly. We are true to our principles. _Whosoever will may come._ We have no trouble with the negro question. We simply let it alone. Our dear brethren down South are perfectly delighted to receive us. We have no trouble with them whatever, and the cause is going forward triumphantly.