_school-house_. There is no window, no
chimney, only a hole in the side of the house, opening into a sort of
pen of rocks, in which the fire is built; an admirable arrangement to
send all the heat out of doors, and the smoke into the house. Several
rough benches (that do not invite to ease or comfort) and an ancient
chair complete the furniture of the room. Several boards painted black
form the "blackboards." Here we find two tattered urchins and three tiny
girls, whose faces have evidently not made the acquaintance of soap and
water for some days.

The teacher is one of the advanced pupils of our academy--a bright young
man, who will attend our school when his is completed. We ask where the
rest of the scholars are.

"Pulling fodder or stripping cane," is the reply. And the children have
to work so much in the fields that they seldom have the chance of
attending school. Out of fifty or sixty scholars only a very few ever
attend these public schools. But it is growing late, and we have a long,
rough way before us, so we spur on toward home, reaching it just as the
glow of the sunset dies away from the last distant peak and the dusky
twilight settles down over the whole land.

A hurried supper and then to the church prayer meeting. Here are
gathered quite a number, and we have a very good meeting, feeling the
presence of our Saviour in our midst. So closes one of our days, and
wearied in body, but refreshed and strengthened in spirit, we go to
rest.

* * * * *

SOUTHERN FIELD NOTES.

REV. GEORGE W. MOORE.

The mission station recently opened at La Pine, in the black belt of
Alabama, is a door of hope to that needy people. The people came for
miles around to greet the missionary and to hear the Gospel. At another
point in Alabama we found a promising field which one of our theological
graduates from Talladega had opened. He began the work in a rented hall
at his own cost, and after he had gathered a congregation and found it a
needy and at the same time a hopeful field he raised the "Macedonian
cry" to the American Missionary Association for help. The Pauline
heroism of this brother in preaching the Gospel in his own hired house
is shared by our brethren in various parts of our Southern field. The
work is so large and the needs of the people are so great that this
spirit of Christ must be more fully expressed, both in gifts and
service, to reach the pressing calls for help.

I m