,,mary ,s4 ,,peake1 ,the ,colored ,teacher at ,fortress ,monroe4 ,,by ,,rev4 ,,lewis ,c4 ,,lockwood1 ,,first ,,missionary ,,to ,,the ,,freedmen ,,at ,,fortress ,,monroe1 #ahfb4 ,,with ,,an ,,appendix4 ,,published ,,by ,,the ,,american ,,tract ,,society1 #bh ,,cornhill1 ,,boston4 ,illustration3 ,mary ,s4 ,peake ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,page ,birth and ,parentage4--,education4--,religious ,convictions4--,prayers in the ,tomb4--,union with the ,church4--,labors for the ,poor4--,marriage4 #e ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,commencement of the ,mission at ,fortress ,monroe4--,flight of the ,rebels from ,hampton4--,burning of the ,town4--,the ,place reoccupied by ,freedmen4 #af ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,opening of ,religious ,services and ,schools4--,mrs4 ,peake a ,teacher4--,singing in the ,schools4--,christmas ,festival4 #cj ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,failure of ,health4--,religious ,joy4--,farewell ,messages4--,death4--,funeral4--,conclus ion4 #ci ,,appendix4 #ec ,,mary ,s4 ,,peake4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,birth and ,parentage4--,education4--,religious ,convictions4--,prayers in the ,tomb4--,union with the ,church4--,labors for the ,poor4--,marriage4 ,the subject of this narrative was born in ,norfolk1 ,virginia1 in #ahbc4 ,her maiden name was ,mary ,smith ,kelsey4 ,her mother was a free colored woman1 very light1 and her father a white man--an ,englishman of rank and culture4 ,she was a very lovely child in person and manners1 and as she grew up1 developed traits of character which made her a universal favorite4 ,when she was six years old1 her mother sent her to ,alexandria1 for the purpose of attending school4 ,she remained there in school about ten years1 residing with her aunt1 ,mary ,paine4 ,mrs4 ,paine occupied a house belonging to ,mr4 ,rollins ,fowle1 and near his residence4 ,this gentleman and his family were distinguished for their kindness to colored people4 ,he frequently bought slaves who were in danger of being sold into bad hands1 gave them their freedom1 and set them up in business4 ,john ,paine1 ,mary's uncle1 was one whom he freed in this way4 ,mary was a great pet in ,mr4 ,fowle's family1 and was treated almost like a daughter4 ,a schoolmate of hers1 now residing in ,providence1 ,rhode ,island1 says ,mary was a very amiable girl1 and a good student4 ,they for a time attended a select colored school taught by a colored woman4 ,afterward they attended a colored school taught by white teachers4 ,the last teacher was ,mr4 ,nuthall1 an ,englishman4 ,he taught till a law of ,congress enacted that the law of ,virginia in relation to free colored people should prevail in the ,district of ,columbia4 ,this was several years before ,alexandria was retroceded to ,virginia4 ,this law closed all colored schools in the city4 ,mary was compelled to leave the school in consequence of being informed of as having come from ,virginia4 ,while at school1 ,mary acquired a good ,english education1 and1 in addition to this1 a knowledge of various kinds of needlework1 and also dress-making4 ,her aunt was a devoted ,christian1 and no doubt had a very happy influence on ,mary4 ,her mother also was converted when ,mary was two or three years old4 ,under these influences she was early the subject of serious impressions4 ,though fond of general reading and study1 there was no book she loved so well as the ,bible4 ,this was her companion and text book1 and she committed large portions of it to memory4 ,when sixteen years old1 having finished her education1 she returned to her mother1 at ,norfolk4 ,soon afterward1 those religious elements which had existed from early childhood--grown with her growth and strengthened with her strength--became dominant by the grace of ,god1 and asserted their power over her4 ,near her residence was a garden1 connected with a large old mansion1 between ,fenchurch and ,church ,streets4 ,in this garden was a dilapidated family tomb4 ,it was impressed on her mind that she must go into this tomb to pray4 ,at the dead hour of night she sought this gloomy abode of moldering coffins and scattered bones4 ,as she entered and knelt in the death cell1 she trembled with a fear which her prayers could not dissipate4 ,quickly and stealthily she retraced her steps1 and hurried back to her home4 ,yet the next night1 this girl of sixteen had the courage to seek the dismal place again1 and the next night yet again1 with similar results4 ,but at length light broke upon the darkness of the tomb1 and it became a place of delightful communion with her ,lord2 whence it was afterward called ,mary's parlor4 ,at the midnight hour1 she left the tomb1 and broke the silence of the night with a jubilant song1 fearless of the patrol4 ,the song was this strain of ,watts1 in which many a saint has poured forth his soul3-- ,stand up1 my soul1 shake off thy fears1 ,and gird the gospel armor on2 ,march to the gates of endless joy1 ,where ,jesus1 thy great ,captain1 's gone4 ,hell and thy sins resist thy course1 ,but hell and sin are vanquished foes2 ,thy ,jesus nailed them to the cross1 ,and sung the triumph when he rose4 ,then let my soul march boldly on1 ,press forward to the heavenly gate2 ,there peace and joy eternal reign1 ,and glittering robes for conquerors wait4 ,there shall ,i wear a starry crown1 ,and triumph in almighty grace2 ,while all the armies of the skies ,join in my glorious ,leader's praise4 ,this strain fell on the waking ears of ladies in the house adjacent to the tomb1 and they inquired1 ,what sweet music is that8 ,who is serenading at this hour8 ,little did they know the spirit-promptings of that song4 ,soon after this1 ,mary went to visit some friends in ,hampton4 ,as she entered the yard1 and approached the house1 she sang another expressive hymn of ,watts3-- ,firm as the earth thy gospel stands1 ,my ,lord1 my ,hope1 my ,trust2 ,if ,i am found in ,jesus' hands1 ,my soul can ne'er be lost4 ,his honor is engaged to save ,the meanest of his sheep2 ,all whom his heavenly ,father gave ,his hands securely keep4 ,nor death nor hell shall e'er remove ,his favorites from his breast2 ,safe on the bosom of his love ,shall they for ever rest4 ,her friends opened the door at the sound of the tender music1 and as they looked on her face1 and listened to her song1 they were overcome1 and could not restrain their emotions4 ,soon afterward1 she united with the ,first ,baptist ,church in ,norfolk1 on ,bute ,street4 ,the pastor was ,rev4 ,james ,a4 ,mitchell1 who served the church from the time of ,nat ,turner's insurrection till his death1 about #aheb4 ,he was emphatically a good man1 and a father to the colored people--a very ,barnabas1 son of consolation indeed4 ,a considerable portion of his church were colored people1 and he would visit them at their houses1 take meals with them1 and enter into their affairs1 temporal and spiritual1 with a true and zealous heart4 ,he never loved slavery2 his private opinion was against it1 but he was obliged to be cautious in the expression of his sentiments4 ,he endured great trials for this proscribed class1 and was almost a martyr in their behalf1 his pastorate having begun just after ,nat ,turner's insurrection1 which caused great persecution and restriction of privileges4 ,but the ,lord was with him1 and made him to triumph4 ,mary's mother says that she delighted to visit the poor in ,norfolk1 and especially the aged4 ,a very old man1 in the suburbs1 often came to her door1 and never went empty away2 and frequently at evening she would go and carry him warm tea1 and in the winter she brought him wood in small armfuls4 ,when he died1 he said he wanted ,mary to have all that belonged to him4 ,though he was scarcely worth three cents1 it was a rich heart gift4 ,her ,christian course was marked with usefulness4 ,self-denying devotion to the glory of ,god and the good of others characterized her earlier1 as her later career4 ,a deacon of the church on whom the writer called when recently in ,norfolk1 says she had a strong desire for the conversion of souls1 and was often found exhorting them to repentance4 ,other members of the church bore the highest testimony to her uniform ,christian deportment4 ,in #ahdg1 ,mary's mother was married to ,thompson ,walker1 and bought a house in ,hampton1 where they resided until the town was burned by the rebels in #ahfa4 ,though sustaining herself by her needle1 ,mary found time for many labors of love4 ,among other things1 she originated a benevolent society1 called the ,daughters of ,zion1 designed for ministration to the poor and the sick4 ,it is still in existence4 ,her house1 like that of ,mary and ,martha of old1 was a place of spiritual resort4 ,there the pastor1 deacons1 and other leading members of the church found congenial society4 ,she early began the exercise of her gifts as a teacher4 ,at that time1 fifteen years ago1 she had among her pupils ,thompson ,walker1 her stepfather1 ,william ,thornton1 and ,william ,davis1 all now able and eloquent exhorters4 ,she was afterward of great service to others1 who are now efficient exhorters and members of the church4 ,up to the time of the burning of ,hampton1 she was engaged in instructing children and adults1 through her shrewdness and the divine protection eluding the vigilance of conservators of the slave law1 or1 if temporarily interfered with1 again commencing and prosecuting her labors of love with cautious fearlessness1 and this in the midst of the infirmities attending a feeble constitution4 ,in #ahea1 ,mary was married to ,thomas ,peake1 formerly a slave1 but afterward a free man1 light colored1 intelligent1 pious1 and in every respect a congenial companion1 with whom she lived happily till her decease4 ,the bereaved husband bears affectionate testimony to the strong mind and sound judgment which dwelt in that feeble frame4 ,he loves to speak of his indebtedness to her richly stored mind for much of his knowledge of the ,bible4 ,at his request1 she would sit for hours and relate ,bible history4 ,others of our leading brethren also gratefully acknowledge that they have drawn largely from the same storehouse of biblical and varied knowledge4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,commencement of the ,mission at ,fortress ,monroe4--,flight of the ,rebels from ,hampton4--,burning of the ,town4--,the ,place reoccupied by ,freedmen4 ,about the first of ,september1 #ahfa1 the writer commenced the mission at ,fortress ,monroe1 under the auspices of the ,american ,missionary ,association1 and was quartered in a building called the ,seminary4 ,three months before this1 the ,union troops entered ,hampton from ,old ,point4 ,the exciting scenes connected with this event have been narrated to me by eye-witnesses4 ,among these troops were ,duryea's ,zouaves1 called by the people red men1 from the color of their dress4 ,the utmost consternation seized the inhabitants of ,hampton1 when they found the ,union troops were approaching4 ,many of the colored people even were in a state of suspense4 ,all kinds of stories had been told in regard to what the ,yankees would do with them4 ,yet hope predominated over fear4 ,they could hardly believe that the ,yankees meant them any harm4 ,but unmitigated fear filled the breasts of the secessionists4 ,there had been loud boasts of what they would do2 but when the red trowsers approached1 their bravery all ran down into their nimble feet4 ,the battery of several large guns which they had planted1 and which might have done great mischief to the ,union troops1 had they been bravely manned1 was drawn off4 ,in their confusion1 the bridge was first fired1 and then the fire extinguished4 ,men1 women1 and children ran screaming in every direction1 crying1 ,they come6 they come6 ,what shall we do8 ,here is a man within doors1 gun in hand1 pacing the floor in consternation1 ever and anon rushing to the window1 and casting a frightened glance in the direction of the road from the fort1 till he espies the ,turk-like looking forms1 moving double quick1 when he darts from the house1 screaming1 ,they are coming6 they are coming6 ,off he flies1 with the fleetness of fear1 and in a few moments is seen no more4 ,but in one house there are two individuals1 fearless and calm3 ,mrs4 ,peake and her little daughter ,daisy sit alike unalarmed2 the one in child-like faith1 the other in child-like simplicity4 ,mrs4 ,walker1 ,mrs4 ,peake's mother1 is in a neighbor's house4 ,some time previous1 the lady of the house1 an intimate friend1 having great confidence in sister ,walker's prayers1 said to her1 ,sally1 you must pray harder4 ,oh1 said she1 ,i do pray as hard as ,i can4 ,how do you pray1 ,sally8 ,i pray that the ,lord's will may be done4 ,you don't pray right1 ,sally1 said one of them2 you must pray for ,jeff4 ,davis4 ,oh1 said she1 ,i pray as well as ,i can1 and as hard as ,i can4 ,i am praying all the time4 ,that's right1 said the other2 pray on1 ,sally--your prayer will surely be heard4 ,you can't pray any better prayer than you do4 ,pray that the ,lord's will may be done3 ,i am sure it is the ,lord's will that the ,yankees should not come here to disturb us2 and ,i have faith to believe they will not4 ,pray on1 ,sally2 pray as hard as you can4 ,i will1 ma'am4 ,time passed on2 and now1 on that fearful morning1 just after the sun has peeped above the horizon1 lo1 the ,yankees6 ,the strong faith above expressed fails the possessor2 and she1 who would scarcely have set foot on the ground for very delicacy1 and who would not have been seen riding out1 unless in a fine carriage1 drawn by fine horses1 elegantly harnessed1 is now heard calling for any old horse or mule1 and any rickety wagon or cart1 with rope harness--any thing--any thing to take her out of the reach of the ,yankees6 ,masters and mistresses are now turned fugitives4 ,here is one of many interviews between masters and slaves4 ,what's the matter1 master8 ,oh1 the ,yankees are coming6 ,are they8 are they8 ,what shall ,i do1 master8 with affected tokens of fear4 ,get out of the town as soon as you can4 ,oh1 master1 ,i'm afraid to leave the house4 ,oh1 those ,yankees6 ,do you think they will hurt me8 ,yes1 they'll take you and sell you off to ,cuba4 ,perhaps they'll kill you4 ,will they1 master8 ,yes1 ,i tell you2 why don't you leave the town1 you rascal8 ,oh1 master1 ,i don't know what to do4 ,you an't a-going to leave us for the ,yankees to catch2 are you8 ,yes1 ,i'm off1 and you better be off with yourself--if you don't ,i'll shoot you4 ,oh1 master1 don't shoot me--don't leave me6 ,there they come6 ,where1 master1 where8 where8 ,i can't stop--good by--you better be off6 ,but ,tony laughs in his sleeve1 and says1 with upturned eyes1 ,i'm not afraid of the ,yankees6 ,bless ,god1 old master's gone--hope he'll never come back any more6 ,the ,zouaves1 on double quick1 approach nearer1 and up rides one of the secessionists1 in hot haste4 ,what's the matter1 master8 ,what's the matter8 inquires an intelligent negro4 ,oh1 matter enough1 you villain4 ,you brought all this trouble on us4 ,i am disappointed in you2 ,i thought you would stick by us2 but you desert your best friends in extremity4 ,you won't find those ,yankees what you expect4 ,oh1 master1 won't you stay and protect us8 ,no2 good by1 you villain4 ,i'm out of town1 and so you had better be1 very quick4 ,and on he flies4 ,the ,zouaves are now crossing the bridge1--now they enter the town1--and as they pass through street after street1 with hats off1 they bow politely to the colored people1 who cheer them from doors and windows4 ,now every fear is dissipated4 ,colored knees are bent1 and colored lips praise the ,lord4 ,the hope that had all along predominated over fear is more than met1 and the town is full of gladness4 ,the tidings spread1 and the place is soon thronged with colored people from the country around4 ,but how different with the white inhabitants6 ,go with me to the ,sinclair estate--a mile or two north of the town4 ,one of the officers rides up to the house1 and says1-- ,do you own this place8 ,yes4 ,well1 deliver up all your horses4 ,sam ,simpson1 the colored foreman1 says1 ,boys1 bring up the horses4 ,oh1 sir1 spare an old man6 ,hurry out those horses6 ,oh1 ,sam1 stand by me6 ,oh1 dear1 ,i shall die6 ,don't leave me6 ,don't leave me6 ,poor old man6 ,his ill-gotten riches are taking wings2 the day of retribution has come upon him1 and1 in spite of a sense of its justice1 we can not withhold our pity4 ,the colored people were soon set to work in constructing the battery in ,hampton1 under the superintendence of ,mr4 ,pierce1 of the ,massachusetts regiment1 since then superintendent of the ,port ,royal cotton culture4 ,they worked with a will1 so that he was obliged to suspend labor during the heat of the day1 lest they should over-exert themselves4 ,after a month had elapsed1 the battle of ,big ,bethel was fought1 and not won2 and soon after1 the disastrous defeat and flight of ,bull ,run occurred4 ,to renforce the army of the ,potomac a large part of the troops at ,fortress ,monroe were ordered away4 ,general ,butler1 concluding that he had not sufficient force to hold ,hampton1 ordered it to be evacuated4 ,he gave a week's notice to the colored people to leave1 and find refuge on the other side of the bridge4 ,but many of them delayed too long1 and were able to move but a part of their goods2 in consequence of which they suffered serious loss4 ,among these was ,mr4 ,peake4 ,he lost a large part of his furniture1 as well as his two houses4 ,the order of the rebel ,general ,magruder to fire the place was a gross exhibition of vandalism1 without the justifiable plea of military necessity4 ,the incendiary work began on the west side of the village1 and spread toward the wharves4 ,hemmed in by the conflagration on one side1 and our firing on the opposite shore1 many of the executers of the order fell dead or wounded1 and were consumed by the voracious flames4 ,those who witnessed it said it was an appalling sight4 ,the evacuation took place on the #gth and the conflagration on the #hth of ,august4 ,i arrived about a month afterward1 and on visiting ,hampton1 in company with the provost marshal1 ,captain ,burleigh1 ,i found only about half a dozen houses that had escaped4 ,one large house had had its floor fired1 but the fire had mysteriously gone out1 without doing much damage4 ,a large new building1 a little out of town1 was also standing uninjured4 ,but the most of the village was a charred ruin2 the unsightly chimneys1 and a few more or less dilapidated walls1 surviving to tell the story of what had been4 ,thus the place remained in abandoned isolation during the winter4 ,but with the beginning of spring1 the progress of our arms opened ,hampton to reoccupation4 ,it was thought proper that those who1 during the winter1 had been confined in large houses1 overcrowded1 should at once build up the ruins1 and provide themselves homes4 ,to this end1 application was made for an appropriation of government lumber for past services4 ,some lumber was received in this way1 and the evacuation of the camps by the soldiers1 who had winter quarters here1 furnished still more4 ,quite a large number of neat cottages have already been built4 ,i encouraged the people to build these small tenements on lots belonging to the most decided rebels1 hoping that1 if not claimed by former owners1 these homesteads would be given to the occupants by government4 ,thus ,hampton is becoming quite a thriving1 free settlement1 supported by fishing1 oystering1 huckstering1 artisanship1 gardening1 and farming4 ,colored people have settled on farms vacated by owners1 and will do well in keeping dairies1 and cultivating the land1 and gathering its fruit1 if not molested4 ,the old court-house walls1 that survived the fire1 have been inclosed for a church and school house4 ,the work was done by colored mechanics4 ,it seems fit that this place1 where injustice has been sanctioned by law1 should be converted into a sanctuary of justice1 righteousness1 and free education4 ,we consider that we are here trying the very highest experiment with ex-slaves4 ,they are here emphatically turned loose1 and are shifting for themselves1--doing their own head-work and hand-work4 ,it is not to be expected that on the sacred soil of ,virginia this experiment should be carried out without encountering difficulties2 but we feel it to be a thing of blessed interest to follow as ,providence leads1 and do the work of faith and love1 leaving the result with him4 ,there is inspiration in the reflection that we are doing a representative work1 and whatever the issue1 the work will not be burned up1 nor the workers permitted to suffer essential loss4 ,we know that our labor is not in vain in the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,opening of ,religious ,services and ,schools4--,mrs4 ,peake a ,teacher4--,singing in the ,schools4--,christmas ,festival4 ,the religious and educational part of the mission has been one of blessedness and promise4 ,and in this1 as in everything else1 ,i have aimed to teach self-development4 ,in connection with the gathering of the people in religious meetings1 ,i proposed to commence ,sabbath and week-day schools1 with such teachers as ,i had at hand4 ,meanwhile1 some of the children of the vicinity1 getting perhaps some hint of my intention1 or prompted by an impulse from on high1 called on ,mrs4 ,peake1 and requested her to teach them1 as she had taught the children in ,hampton4 ,it was with much gratification that ,i learned this request4 ,i soon found from observation1 as well as information1 that we had in her a teacher of the choicest spirit1 and of peculiar qualifications4 ,she was happy in having pupils as ready to learn as to request instruction4 ,her school numbered at first only about half a dozen1 but in a few days she had between fifty and sixty4 ,these scholars were found to have generally very fair intellectual capabilities1 and a few evinced quite rare talents4 ,among these was her own little daughter1 five years old1 named ,hattie1 but familiarly called by the pet name of ,daisy4 ,she learned to read simple lessons fluently in a very short time4 ,others also exhibited a precocity which from day to day rewarded and stimulated the ardor of this devoted teacher4 ,mrs4 ,peake was not satisfied with the ordinary routine of the week-day school room1 but felt that the teacher of a mission school should aim to educate the children for eternity as well as for time4 ,she found great assistance in the primer1 catechism1 and other elementary religious books1 with which she had been furnished4 ,she felt that the teachings of the week-day school ought to be largely preparatory to the rehearsals of the ,sabbath school4 ,what an impression for good would be made upon the rising generation1 were this course universally pursued6 ,mrs4 ,peake deeply realized that every undertaking1 and especially that of training the young1 should be begun and continued with prayer4 ,she not only prayed with her pupils1 but taught them to pray4 ,having a rich store of scriptural knowledge1 and feeling its worth1 and the importance of simplifying it to the young1 in order to awaken their interest1 she bestowed special attention on catechetical instruction4 ,not satisfied with having ,scripture truths committed to memory1 she explained and inculcated them1 with line upon line and precept upon precept1 drawn from her own knowledge and experience4 ,i can not think that this spiritual instruction interfered in the least with the other1 but rather was a handmaid to it1 furnishing a pleasant as well as profitable variety1 awakening and developing heart and mind at once4 ,mrs4 ,peake also considered singing an important part of a right education4 ,among the favorite hymns first learned and sung in her school were1 ,i want to be an angel1 ,there is a happy land1 ,around the throne of ,god in heaven1 ,here we meet to part again1 ,in heaven we part no more1 and others of kindred spirit1 so familiar in the ,sabbath schools at the ,north4 ,how ardent was her desire to win the young intellect and affections for ,jesus and heaven6 ,with strict appropriateness may we apply to her the poet's language1-- ,and as a bird each fond endearment tries1 ,to tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies1 ,she tried each art1 reproved each dull delay1 ,allured to brighter worlds1 and led the way4 ,while ,mrs4 ,peake attached prime importance to the training of the rising generation1 she felt that great improvement might be made among the adults4 ,this view inspired her action from the first in ,hampton1 and with a blessed result1 that is now apparent to all4 ,she was accordingly very ready to gratify the desire of a number of adults for an evening school1 notwithstanding her increasing infirmities4 ,the result is1 that several1 who scarcely knew the alphabet before1 now begin to read with considerable readiness4 ,in these multiplied labors1 she exhibited a martyr spirit1 of the true type4 ,often when she was confined to her bed1 her pupils would be found around her1 drawing knowledge as it were from her very life4 ,again and again did ,dr4 ,browne1 brigade surgeon1 who concerned himself for her like a brother1 advise her to consider her weakness1 and intermit her exhausting duties4 ,the scene of these labors was the ,brown ,cottage1 near the seminary1 fronting on ,hampton ,roads4 ,the school room was the front room1 first story4 ,her own family apartment was the front room1 second story4 ,it will ever be a place about which precious memories will linger4 ,it was proposed that1 on ,christmas day1 the children of the school should have a festival4 ,all the week previous1 they were busy1 with their teacher1 in preparations and rehearsals4 ,a large room on the first floor of the seminary was decorated with evergreens for the occasion1 and at one end a platform was constructed4 ,at an early hour in the evening1 the room was crowded with colored children and adults1 and soldiers and officers4 ,the programme opened with the singing of ,my country1 'tis of thee4 ,chaplain ,fuller read the account of the nativity of ,christ4 ,dr4 ,linson prayed4 ,then the children discoursed very sweet music in solo1 semi-chorus1 and chorus1 and at intervals spoke pieces in a very commendable manner1 considering that it was probably the first attempt of colored children in the ,south4 ,little ,daisy1 7,mrs4 ,peake's only child17 about five years old1 was the acknowledged star of the evening4 ,she sang very prettily in solo1 and also in connection with the chorus4 ,she sang alone the whole of the hymn1 ,i want to be an angel4 ,illustration3 ,,little ,,daisy4 ,i spoke of the contrast between the present and the past4 ,a year ago1 white children in ,hampton could enjoy a scene of this kind1 but colored children were excluded4 ,but now times have changed4 ,the white man's child is away1 and the colored man's child is on the stage1 and swells the choral song4 ,and this is but a miniature picture of what will be4 ,the present is prophetic of the future4 ,the few hundred children about ,fortress ,monroe1 now gathered into schools1 after the pattern of this first school1 are types of one million of children throughout the sunny ,south1 on whom the sunlight of knowledge is yet to shine4 ,after the concert exercises1 the members of the school and others repaired to the ,brown ,cottage4 ,here we were conducted into the school room1 which1 like the concert room1 was tastefully decorated with evergreens2 and we filed around a long table laden with refreshments1 and surrounded with ,christmas trees1 loaded with good things1 all gotten up spontaneously by1 and at the expense of1 the colored people in the neighborhood4 ,the viands were partaken of with a relish1 and by unanimous consent it was declared a merry ,christmas of the right type2 the children sang1 ,merry ,christmas to all6 ,merry ,christmas6 ,merry ,christmas to all6 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,failing of ,health4--,religious ,joy4--,farewell ,messages4--,death4--,funeral4--,conclus ion4 ,after the exciting scenes of the ,christmas festival1 ,mrs4 ,peake's health sensibly declined1 and in a week or two she was obliged to suspend1 and soon to give up entirely1 the charge to which she had clung with such tenacity4 ,i visited her frequently1 and was the bearer of clothing and other tokens from friends at the ,north4 ,every thing in our power was done to cheer her1 and never were ministerings more cordially bestowed1 or more gratefully received and richly repaid4 ,to visit her had always been a privilege1 but the privilege was doubly precious during her last illness4 ,to see how a frail woman1 with an exquisitely nervous temperament1 could deliberately and calmly bid farewell to family1 pupils1 and friends1 and yield herself into her ,father's hands1 to pass through the ordeal of sickness and death1 was a privilege and a blessing4 ,in her presence ,i was a learner1 and1 under the inspiration of her words and example1 obtained new strength for fresh endeavors in the cause of ,god and humanity4 ,in one of my visits1 she told me that ,i must give her love to the committee in ,new ,york1 and all the friends of the mission2 that she had had a bright vision of her ,saviour1 and he had assured her that the cause would triumph2 that we were sowing seed which would spring up and become a tree1 to overspread the whole earth2 that we should be a great blessing to this down-trodden people1 and they would fulfill a glorious destiny4 ,oh1 yes1 said she1 brother ,lockwood1 you will succeed1 for ,jesus has told me so this morning4 ,for two weeks previous to her death1 she seemed to be in the land of ,beulah1 on the mountains of the shepherds1 where1 like ,bunyan's pilgrim1 she could clearly descry the promised land4 ,she had a strong desire to depart and be with ,christ1 which was far better than even his most intimate earthly visits4 ,again and again1 as ,i called to see her1 she assured me that she had had a fresh visit from her ,saviour1 and he had told her that where he was she should be1 and she would be like him when she should see him as he is4 ,she knew not where in the universe heaven might be1 but where her ,saviour was1 there would be her heaven1 for she would be with him4 ,her constantly increasing cough and expectoration1 though not attended with much pain1 were1 as usual1 accompanied with uneasiness1 want of sleep1 and great weakness1 which made her frequently request prayer that she might have patience to bear all without a murmur1 and await her ,father's will4 ,she wanted to say1 with the feelings of ,job1 ,all the days of my appointed time will ,i wait1 till my change come4 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth4 ,at one time1 her symptoms seemed more favorable1 and ,i expressed a hope of her recovery4 ,no1 said she2 ,i have taken leave of my family1 and of every thing on earth1 and ,i would rather go1 if it be ,god's will2 only ,i want to wait patiently till he comes to call me4 ,her husband and mother told me that1 during the previous night1 she had bidden them all farewell1 and left farewell messages for her school1 and the church1 and all her friends4 ,she had thus set her house in order1 to die1 or1 rather1 to live a diviner life1 and she was waiting the summons home4 ,she said that she felt like a little child in her ,father's arms2 and if1 by lifting a pebble1 she could hold back her spirit1 she would not do it4 ,several days before her death1 she requested me to sing ,the ,christian's ,home in ,glory1 or ,rest for the ,weary--a hymn1 with its tune1 dear to her for itself and for its associations4 ,as ,i repeated the chorus1 she exclaimed1 again and again1 with great tenderness and emphasis1 ,rest1 rest1 rest6 ,oh1 brother ,lockwood1 there ,i shall rest1 rest1 rest6 ,this weary head shall rest on my ,saviour's bosom4 ,when ,i had sung the last stanza1-- ,sing1 oh1 sing1 ye heirs of glory1 ,shout your triumph as you go1-- she burst out in an ecstasy that seemed as if the spirit would break away from the body1 ,oh1 brother1 ,i shall sing6 ,i shall shout6 ,won't we sing8 ,won't we shout8 ,yes1 we shall--we shall sing and shout6 ,on ,saturday morning1 ,february #bb1 she was in a very happy frame of mind1 and said that she had had precious visits from her ,saviour2 he had told her that he was coming soon1 and would fulfill her heart's desire in taking her to him4 ,her mother said1 that during the previous night she had been constantly reaching up1 and sometimes she would cry out1 with great earnestness1 ,do not leave me1 dear ,jesus4 ,she requested me to sing for her1 and ,i sung1 ,the ,shining ,shore1 and ,homeward ,bound4 ,during the singing of the last stanza of the latter song1 she was filled with joy4 ,into the harbor of heaven now we glide1 ,we're home at last6 ,softly we drift o'er its bright silver tide1 ,we're home at last6 ,glory to ,god6 ,all our dangers are o'er2 ,we stand secure on the glorified shore2 ,glory to ,god6 we will shout evermore1 ,we're home at last6 ,yes1 she exclaimed1 home at last6 ,glory to ,god6 ,home at last6 ,oh1 ,i shall soon be home--home--home at last6 ,on the night of that day1 about twelve o'clock1 her waiting1 longing spirit went home4 ,washington's birthday was her birthday to a higher life4 ,after many a sleepless night1 this last evening she was permitted to rest quietly1 till the midnight cry struck upon her ear1 ,behold1 the bridegroom cometh6 ,it found her ready1 with her lamp trimmed and burning4 ,calling for her mother1 she threw herself into her embrace1 as her spirit did into the embrace of her ,saviour4 ,just at midnight1 on all the ships in ,hampton ,roads1--and which are so near us that the cry on shipboard is distinctly heard on shore1--the watchman cried aloud1 as usual1 ,twelve o'clock1 and all's well6 ,the sound penetrated the sick chamber1 and the dying invalid apparently heard it4 ,she smiled sweetly1 and then breathed her last sigh1 and entered upon that rest which remains for the people of ,god4 ,the next morning1 which was the ,sabbath1 ,i called1 and found her husband and mother bearing up under their bereavement with ,christian fortitude4 ,they could smile through their tears2 though they wept1 it was not as those who have no hope4 ,in the services of the day1 the bereaved were remembered in fervent1 sympathizing prayer4 ,we all felt sorely afflicted1 and would have grieved1 but for the thought that our temporary loss was her eternal gain4 ,in the evening1 a prayer meeting was held till midnight in the room where her body lay2 but all felt like saying1 ,she is not here2 her spirit is with her ,father and our ,father1 her ,god and our ,god4 ,on ,monday1 at eleven o'clock1 a large concourse assembled at her funeral4 ,we met in her school room1 at the ,brown ,cottage1 a place sweetened and hallowed by associations with her crowning labors1 and thus a fit place for these leave-taking services4 ,the occasion was one of mingled sorrow and joy4 ,the services were begun by singing1 according to her request1 the familiar hymn1-- ,i would not live alway1-- to the tune of ,sweet ,home1 in which it is generally sung by the people here1 with the chorus1-- ,home6 ,home6 ,sweet1 sweet home6 ,there's no place like heaven1 there's no place like home6 ,the impression was very thrilling4 ,chaplain ,fuller1 of the sixteenth ,massachusetts regiment1 offered prayer--praying fervently for the bereaved mother and husband1 and for little ,daisy1 who would one day realize more than now a mother's worth by her loss4 ,we then sung1 according to her request1 her favorite hymn1 ,the ,christian's ,home in ,glory1 or ,rest for the ,weary4 ,i selected for my text ,hebrews #d3i--,there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of ,god4 ,at the conclusion of the sermon the children sang1-- ,here we suffer grief and pain2 ,here we meet to part again2 ,in heaven we part no more4 ,oh1 that will be joyful1 ,joyful1 joyful1 joyful1 ,oh1 that will be joyful1 ,when we meet to part no more4 ,little children will be there1 ,who have sought the ,lord by prayer1 ,from every ,sabbath school4 ,oh1 that will be joyful1 c4 ,teachers1 too1 shall meet above1 ,and our pastors1 whom we love1 ,shall meet to part no more4 ,oh1 that will be joyful1 c4 ,the coffin was then opened1 and we took the last1 lingering look at a face whose heavenly lineaments ,i can never forget4 ,in long procession1 in which her recent charge bore a prominent part1 we accompanied her to her resting place4 ,the place of her sepulture is about a hundred yards north of the seminary1 on the bank of the inlet4 ,a live-oak tree stands at her head1 projecting its emblematic evergreen foliage over the sod-roofed tenement4 ,the departed selected1 as a remembrance of her immortality1 the #agth verse of the #aahth ,psalm1 ,i shall not die1 but live4 ,the thirty-nine years of her earthly existence were but the prelude to a life beyond the sky2 and while her spirit survives the ravages of death1 her name shall live in memory4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in this unpretending memoir may its subject live again1 and not in vain4 ,may teachers gather from her example fresh inspiration1 and the benevolent ,christian fresh impulses in doing good4 ,may they who enjoy advantages superior to those of her proscribed race1 take heed lest the latter1 by the better improvement of the little light enjoyed1 rise up in the judgment and condemn them4 ,let ,sabbath scholars1 and children of pious parentage and ,christian education1 who from earliest years have not only been taught to lisp the ,saviour's name1 but to read it1 pity the slave child1 shut out from such advantages1 and give heed to instruction1 lest1 having more given and unimproved1 they be beaten with many stripes4 ,let all who have an interest at the throne of grace remember little ,daisy1 and pray that she may walk in her mother's footsteps1 as far as she followed ,christ1 only following more closely1 attaining still greater excellence1 achieving still greater usefulness1 and winning a still brighter crown of glory4 ,as the enlarging harvest field whitens into ripeness1 may the ,lord of the harvest send forth an increasing number of laborers4 ,oh1 who will give ear to the echoing cry1 ,come over and help us8 ,come to the harvest work1 and you too1 with arms full of golden sheaves1 shall shout the harvest home4 ,who will pay the hire of the laborers8 ,who will lend to the ,lord the capital needful to secure the harvest in season and well8 ,for such there shall be untold riches laid up in heaven4 ,and who will sustain those who bear the burden and heat of the day1 by the buoyancy of prayer8 ,this is a work thrice blessed to all concerned4 ,,appendix4 ,,mission ,,to ,,the ,,freedmen4 ,on the #hth of ,august1 #ahfa1 a letter was addressed to ,major-,general ,butler1 then in command at ,fortress ,monroe1 ,virginia1 by the treasurer of the ,american ,missionary ,association1 respecting the people whom he had denominated contrabands4 ,in this letter1 the writer communicated to ,general ,butler the wishes of some persons in the free states1 that1 as considerable embarrassment was felt by the public authorities with regard to the increasing numbers of colored persons who had fled and were fleeing for protection to the forts and camps of the ,united ,states1 they should be sent into the free states to obtain employment4 ,a prompt and courteous reply was received1 and1 in reference to the desire expressed1 ,general ,butler stated that the contrabands would be protected2 that many of them would be employed in government service2 that there was land enough to cultivate in ,virginia2 and as the freedmen would never be suffered to return into bondage1 there was no necessity for sending any of them to the ,northern ,states4 ,the executive committee of the association1 feeling highly encouraged by these assurances1 at once determined to commence a mission at ,fortress ,monroe4 ,rev4 ,lewis ,c4 ,lockwood was commissioned as their first missionary to the freedmen4 ,he repaired to ,washington1 where he received encouragement from the government1 and recommendation to the commanding general1 ,wool1 who had succeeded ,general ,butler4 ,general ,wool received him cordially1 heartily approved the plan1 and afforded him all needful facilities4 ,mr4 ,lockwood conferred with the leading persons among the freedmen1 investigated the condition and wants of the people1 made arrangements for week-day and ,sabbath meetings1 organized week-day and evening schools1 employed several of the most intelligent and gifted colored people as assistants1 and through the committee in ,new ,york made urgent appeals for clothing1 c41 for the destitute1 and also for additional missionaries and teachers4 ,the late lamented ,mrs4 ,mary ,s4 ,peake was the first teacher employed4 ,she continued to teach as long as her health permitted1 and near to the time of her decease4 ,other teachers have been employed2 chaplains in the army and pious soldiers have proffered their occasional services1 and the religious meetings1 ,sabbath schools1 and week-day schools1 have been well attended4 ,mr4 ,lockwood labored there thirteen months1 and then removed to another field4 ,in his final report1 he states that he had ministered to a congregation at ,hampton1 where the average attendance was four hundred2 and to a congregation at ,fortress ,monroe1 where the average attendance was about the same4 ,a day school was kept in a house1 near ,hampton1 formerly the residence of ,ex-,president ,tyler1 which was wholly given up for the use of the freedmen4 ,this school was subsequently removed to the old ,court ,house at ,hampton1 which had been fitted up for the purpose1 government furnishing a portion of the lumber4 ,this school became the largest under the care of the freedmen's teachers1 and numbered at one time five hundred scholars4 ,among the ruins of ,hampton1 which had1 at an early period of the rebellion1 been burned by the rebels1 the colored people erected rude cottages1 the materials being gathered from the vacated camps1 the deserted dwellings of fugitive slaveholders1 c4 ,such of the freedmen as were not employed by government have obtained a living by fishing1 oystering1 huckstering1 carting1 washing1 c4 ,,interesting ,,facts4 ,many highly interesting facts have been communicated with regard to the freedmen--their natural endowments1 their facility in acquiring knowledge in letters and arms1 their industrial habits1 their shrewdness in business transactions1 their gratitude1 their courage1 their acquaintance with passing events1 their confidence that the result of the rebellion will be the liberation of their people1 and their piety4 ,some of these facts have been extensively published1 and have been read with high gratification4 ,it is thought that a few of these facts may add to the value of this little publication4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,contraband ,,school4 ,,schools ,,for ,,the ,,children4 ,a young teacher at ,hampton1 ,virginia1 writes as follows3 ,when ,i first commenced the school here1 ,i found the children such as slavery makes--quarrelsome1 thievish1 uncleanly in their persons and attire1 and seemingly inclined to almost every species of wickedness2 and it appeared to me that they were too far gone to be ever raised to any thing like intelligent children at the ,north4 ,but ,i found that ,i had reckoned without my host in the persons of these children4 ,at the end of the first week there was a decided improvement manifested1 and in four weeks you hardly ever saw one hundred and fifty children more cleanly in their persons and apparel4 ,their lessons were1 in most cases1 quickly and correctly learned1 and their behavior was kind and affectionate toward each other1 while in singing the sweet little ,sabbath school songs1 ,i should not hesitate to put them side by side with the best of our ,sabbath-school scholars at the ,north4 ,and they so fully appreciate my humble efforts in their behalf1 that my table in the school room is loaded1 morning and noon1 with oranges1 lemons1 apples1 figs1 candies1 and other sweet things too numerous to mention1 all testifying their love to me1 although ,i can do so little for them4 ,another teacher1 at ,beaufort1 ,south ,carolina1 writes3 ,my school numbered about forty of the children4 ,most of them were very dirty and poorly dressed1 all very black in color4 ,a happier group of children ,i never expect to witness than those who composed my school3 bright eyes1 happy looks1 kind and patient dispositions1 made them look attractive to my eyes1 though they were 'horribly black1' as some have called them1 and very dirty at first4 ,but they were so innocent1 so despised by others1 and withal so anxious to learn1 that ,i felt a true sympathy for them4 ,their masters have kept them in darkness and degradation4 ,this is only the result of slavery4 ,they are very eager to learn4 ,every one wishes to be taught first2 yet1 unlike some white children1 they are patient and willing to wait4 ,they do not easily tire of study1 but are very diligent in getting their lessons4 ,i have known them to teach each other1 or sit alone and drill over a lesson for two hours at a time4 ,let me relate to you a little incident that will illustrate what ,i have just said4 ,one day1 at ,beaufort1 soon after we landed1 while walking through the upper portion of the town1 ,i heard a little voice saying the alphabet1 while another wee voice1 scarcely audible1 was repeating it after the first4 ,i looked quickly around to discover from whence the voice came2 and what do you think ,i saw8 ,why1 seated on the piazza of a large empty house were two of the blackest little negro children1 one about seven1 the other not more than three years old4 ,the elder had his arm thrown lovingly around the almost naked form of the other1 and with an open primer in the lap of one1 they were at their study4 ,an hour after1 ,i returned by the same spot1 and was both pleased and surprised to find them still at it4 ,god bless the little ones6 ,this desire1 or rather eagerness1 to learn to read1 is manifested by all4 ,i have stopped by the wayside many a time1 and have immediately collected a group of old and young about me1 and have made them repeat the alphabet after me slowly1 letter by letter4 ,they esteem it the greatest kindness ,i can show them1 and as ,i turn to depart1 the fervent ',god bless you1 massa1' ',tank de ,lord1 massa1' reach my ears4 ,,morals ,,of ,,the ,,freedmen4 ,after the mission had been established1 one of the officers' wives remarked to another1 ,i do not miss my things nowadays4 ,nearly all the church members had taken the temperance pledge4 ,they have their vices1 writes a northern physician on one of the plantations on ,port ,royal ,island2 deception and petty thieving prevail4 ,they are careless1 indolent1 and improvident4 ,they have a miserable habit of scolding and using authoritative language to one another4 ,all these vices are clearly the result of slave education1 and will gradually disappear under improved conditions4444 ,if one is honest with them1 and gets their confidence1 the rest is easily accomplished4 ,,marriage4 ,a very large portion1 probably1 at least1 more than half of the married freed people1 had been married only in slave fashion1 by taking up together1 or living together by mutual agreement1 without any marriage ceremony4 ,the missionary proposed to such that they should be married agreeably to the usages in the free states4 ,the leaders of the colored people were conversed with1 and they1 without exception1 agreed as to the propriety of the measure4 ,one1 now advanced in life1 said1 that when he proposed to his companion to go to a minister and be lawfully married1 she replied1 ,oh1 what use will it be8 ,master can separate us to-morrow4 ,but he coincided fully in the propriety of the proposed course4 ,mr4 ,lockwood1 after preaching on the sanctity of the marriage relation1 proceeded to unite in wedlock several couples1 among whom were some who had lived together for years4 ,he gave each of the parties a certificate1 in handsome form1 which they seemed to prize very highly4 ,it appeared to have a most beneficial effect upon the parties themselves1 and the whole population4 ,,native ,,eloquence4 ,not a few of the freedmen1 though illiterate1 exhibit remarkable powers of eloquence4 ,the missionary1 in describing the address of one of them1 after a discourse by the former1 says1 ,the address was a masterpiece4 ,it melted every heart4 ,he appealed to the soldiers present who were in rebellion against ,god1 striving to put down rebellion in this land1 and asked them how they1 who had been taught to read the ,bible1 and had learned the ,lord's ,prayer in infancy from a mother's lips1 could stand in judgment1 when a poor1 despised1 and inferior race1 who1 though denied the ,bible1 had been taught of ,god1 and found their way to ,christ1 should rise up and condemn them4 ,he then turned to his fellow 'contrabands1' and entreated them to embrace thankfully1 and improve1 the boon already given4 ,he considered the present a pledge of the future--the virtual emancipation of fifteen or eighteen hundred the promise of the emancipation of four millions4 ,the ,lord works from little to great4 ,,church ,,meeting4 ,the missionary wrote3 ,last ,thursday ,i had an opportunity to observe the intellectual state of a considerable number of the brethren at a church meeting4 ,i was surprised at their understanding and wisdom in regard to church order and propriety1 and tone of discipline4 ,as the church records had been burned up in the church edifice at ,hampton1 ,i inquired how far any of them could recall their contents4 ,one or two replied that they could almost repeat the church regulations from memory4 ,in the discussion1 high ground was taken in regard to the ,sabbath1 the temperance cause1 and other matters of ,christian morality4 ,in discipline1 stress was laid on the propriety and duty of private admonition1 in its successive scriptural steps1 before public censure4 ,on this point one brother said he had privately admonished a neighbor of the impropriety of taking articles to the camp on the ,sabbath1 and he had acknowledged his fault1 and promised amendment4 ,the duty of forgiving offenders1 and undoing wrongs1 was also insisted on4 ,several had been improperly excluded from church privileges through the influence of white power4 ,it was1 therefore1 decided to-day that those who had the confidence of the church should be restored to church-fellowship unconditionally4 ,one of the members1 and an aged leader1 stated that he had on one occasion been seized by a white deacon1 dragged down from the gallery1 and threatened with thirty-nine lashes1 because there was a little of the ,methodist in his composition1 and he had got happy and shouted in meeting4 ,on another occasion1 ,william ,davis concluded some remarks as follows3 ,i hope that all of you1 old and young1 will learn to read1 as ,i did4 ,when ,i was converted1 ,i was anxious to learn to read ,god's book4 ,i kneeled down by my book1 he here kneeled by the table1 and prayed that ,god would teach me to read it--if only a little1 ,i would be thankful4 ,and ,i learned1 and you can if you will1 for you have no one to hinder you1 as ,i had4 ,we should all show that we are worthy of freedom4 ,only educate us1 and we will show ourselves capable of knowledge4 ,some say we have not the same faculties and feelings with white folks4444 ,all we want is cultivation4 ,what would the best soil produce without cultivation8 ,we want to get wisdom4 ,that is all we need4 ,let us get that1 and we are made for time and eternity4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,all spelling is as it appears in the original text4 ,the frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow the title page1 and the ',little ,daisy' illustration has been shifted slightly so that it is not in the middle of a paragraph4