EXTRACT OF LETTER FROM BRO. DAY
The following extract of a letter from brother Day, dated October 6*,
refers to his manual labor school, giving some particulars which will interest the
reader: —
My own school of thirty-two native boys and six girls, and
the children of colonists who will attend, say in all fifty children, I
flatter myself is not excelled by any native school in this republic.
I have three native boys in advance of the rest. John Barco Day,
(the son of a great king among the Bassas,) is rather an
extraordinary boy of about fourteen years old. He is a studious,
industrious and truly dignified youth. Thomas Dwar Day, the son
of a man once much respected, but having a broad face and some
defect in the eye of his people, was pronounced a witch. Dwar
suffered much on account of it. Wm. Harris, the third of that class,
is the son of a head man whom I baptized in the year 1846. This
head man’s father was supposed to be converted. The first sermon
the old man ever heard, was by Mr. Pinney, the next by myself.
He now lies in my grave yard, having died in hope of heaven. Of
these two men much has been said. The young head man, Ben
Hawes, (alias Dyama,) is now in my private employment,
itinerating in the country reading and expounding the word of God
praying, exhorting, &c., among the natives. He was long my
interpreter, and when he can attend church, interprets now for me.
These three boys study arithmetic and geography.
Fourteen other native children read the Testament, some
better than others. In that class is a little girl, Sarah Barding Day,
who reads and spells as well as nineteen-twentieths of white
children of her size. Also a little boy, James Tae Taylor, about
three feet ten inches high, who reads very well, and in spelling will
stand at the head of the class. The hard words he is sure to spell.
Lessons of catechism he commits better than any one in his class.
I do not remember how long he has been in School, there are so
many little fellows in it. I have not noticed him particularly until a
few months past. On inquiry I found he was a little orphan, who
had to look out for bugs, worms, &c., to subsist on, and that a
native man who claims my protection, had brought him through
pity to the school, where he could be provided for. He is silent,
studious, and very grateful for any little attention shown him. He
has a most interesting countenance and cranium. There is such
marked difference between his attention to religious instruction
and other little boys in school, that I cherish a hope, that the Lord
