as so warm and bright that the
breeze coming in through the broken windows was very refreshing.

Mr. Elmer made a short address to the people, telling them that he and
his family had come to live among them, and that he thought it would be
very pleasant for them all to meet in that house every Sunday, for the
purpose of studying the Bible and mutually helping one another. Then he
asked all who were willing to help him establish a Sunday-school to
hold up their hands, and every hand was immediately raised.

Mr. Bevil moved that Mr. Elmer be made superintendent of the
Sunday-school, Mr. Carter seconded the motion, and it was unanimously
carried.

The rest of the hour was occupied in forming classes and giving out
lessons to be learned for the next Sunday. As most of the colored
people could not read, it seemed important that they should be taught
this first, and both Mark and Ruth were made teachers of ABC classes
composed of the younger children.

Before the meeting closed Mr. Bevil made some remarks, in which he
thanked the Elmers for what they had undertaken, reminded the school
that the next day was the first of a new year, and said that, as he had
already told Mr. Elmer, the coming and settling of these strangers
among them marked the dawn of a new era of prosperity for Wakulla.

As the Elmers neared their home after Sunday-school they heard Bruce
bark loudly; but when they reached it they found him cowed and
whimpering. His eyes were fixed upon the point of woods nearest the
house, and he exhibited signs of great fear. They also found the
kitchen door standing wide open, though Mrs. Elmer was certain she had
fastened it before leaving.

Again Mark thought of the "ghoses," but still he said nothing, and the
opening of the door was finally credited to the wind.

That afternoon Mr. Bevil came over to make a call, and was much
interested in the improvements already made and proposed. He declared
that it reminded him of old times, when that side of the river was
inhabited by a dozen or more families, and when Wakulla was one of the
most prosperous towns in the State. He showed Mr. Elmer the sites of
the old foundry and mills that once stood on that side of the river,
and told him of the wharves that had lined both banks, the great
cotton-presses, and the many vessels that used to fill it from bank to
bank as they lay awaiting their loads of cotton. In those days a line
of steam-ships plied regularly between Wakul