ne at Tuskegee,
but, of course, on a smaller scale. Mr. E. N. Pierce, of Plainville,
Conn., had resolved to do something in the way of providing better
school facilities for the colored people living on a large plantation,
into the possession of which he had come. Mr. Washington answered the
call while in Boston, and telegraphed me that he thought me the proper
person to take charge of and carry on the settlement work Mr. Pierce and
his friends had in mind.

I found at Mt. Meigs, after studiously investigating conditions, that
the outlook for support was far from hopeful. Not one person in the
whole community owned a foot of land, and heavy crop mortgages were the
burden of every farmer. It became evident at once that pioneer work was
very much needed. Homes were neglected, and the sacredness of family
life was unknown to most of the people. The prospect was a gloomy one.

The little Baptist church in which the older people gathered for worship
two Sundays in each month badly needed repairing.

I began first of all to connect myself with the Sunday-school, and
taught there every Sunday. I organized a large class of the older people
and encouraged them in every way to attend the Sunday-school every
Sunday with the children. None of these mothers or fathers could read or
write.

I taught them Scripture verses by repeating verse after verse till they
were able to recite them for me. I also sought to teach them to read,
and quite a large number can read now because of the opportunities
provided by my Sunday-school class. I have kept this class of older
people together, and it is one of the most active ones of all. We have
studied together many other things aside from the Sunday-school lessons,
and it has been necessary to do so, because the people have none of the
opportunities provided for those who live in the towns and cities. I was
early much encouraged to note that my efforts were appreciated by the
people.

I was often called upon to act as arbiter in all kinds of difficult and
unpleasant disputes involving family relations and other differences
among the people. Many and many a time did I take the place of the
minister and speak to the people when he could not be present.

To teach the people self-help, the surest sign of progress, we decided
to plan for a main school building which should mark the center of our
activities. This building we were able to erect at a cost of $2,000, and
it is a satisfaction to th