"Massa jes' could'n b'lieve hit, but l'il' Mis she read de scription' on de back, an' dar wah de dimants in de iv'ry han's an' all. Den dey jes' set dar an' stare at de ole clock an' l'il' Mis hab ter heah de whole tale all ober again fo' dey finally gits up an' goes home ter tell all de big news dat dey got to all de famberly. "Well, honey darlin', when de two weeks was up an' de ole clock hed been washed an' oiled an' shined so hit look lak hit wah all new again, an' wah a-settin' on de mantle shelf ober de gret fiahplace, de weddin' day done come at las' an' hit sho' wah er lobly one, dey say. De house was all filled wid de autumn leabes an' de wil' flowers an' holly berries an' mistletoe an' de lobly grey moss. "De nahbahs come from all aroun' an' at evenin' when hit wah time ter git married, de ole preachah he stood up in de big bay window an' de gret fiah crackled whah dey done put de big log on, an' dar at de top ob de stairs wah Massa an' Mis. Dey walks slow down ter de foot den slow 'cross de room ter de minister, an' when he git ter de end an' tell them dat dey am man an' wife now an' cyarn' nothin' neber part 'em, de ole clock 'gin ter strike, 'one, two, three, four, five, six, seben,' an' as dey kneel fuh de minister's blessin' de sweet ole chimes begin. "Hit sho' mus' er bin one fine sight, an' dis hyah dahky done heah 'bout hit so much hit jes' seem lak she kin see de gret hall wid de high white ceilin' an' de holly an' mistletoe an' de colored leabes, de big ole window wid de grey moss hangin', and heah de big fiah roarin' an' cracklin' in de monst'ous fiahplace whah yo' could a' mos' ros' a ox ef yo' hed wanted ter. An' she kin smell de smell ob all de dozens ob bayberry candles in de ole silber candlesticks whah done come from de ole kintry in dem sail ships; an' dere was de ladies in dey han'some shiney dresses an' de jew'ls in dey lobly hair an' de men folks in dey buckles an' ruffles, an' de sof" music on de square thing dey calls a 'spinit,' an' de bes' ob all, dem two standin' befo' de minister teckin' each udder fo' bettah or fo' worse, wid de ole clock er blinkin' an' smilin' down on dem an' lowin' dat ebery minute dat he 'bliged ter tick away ob dey preshus libes boun' ter be full ob happiness an' love ef he could meck hit so. Yes, suh, hit sho' mus' er bin er fine sight." "Oh, Aunt Kitty, don't stop, do tell some more," pleaded Harry seeing the old woman preparing to put Betty down. "Ki, honey darlin', dis hyah dahky done sponged on de rules ob dis famberly beyon' pahdon now, 'case yo' bressed chilluns had ought ter been in de lan' ob dreams er sight ago," and she carried Betty over and tucked her in the high-posted bed. Harry, at her promise to "tell the rest some other time," jumped obediently into his own little bed. Aunt Kitty bade the children a loving good night and as she put out the light and closed the door the old clock in the mantle chimed a sweet-tuned lullaby. THE HAPPINESS OF THIS WORLD Sonnet BY CHRISTOPH PLANTIN O have a cheerful, bright, and airy dwelling-place, To have no debt, no lawyer's feud; no love but one, Live well and wisely, and for grace petition; Your mind untrammelled, and your heart in Faith; At Home and Afield The Whittier School HAMPTON INCIDENTS EACH year the children of the Whittier School bring Thanksgiving offerings consisting of vegetables, tea, coffee, sugar,fruit, or perhaps jars of preserves, which are distributed to the Orphans' Home and to old people in Phoebus. These gifts are first brought to the school and exhibited there in the assembly hall, and then the children are divided into two parties, each party, accompanied by teachers, going in a chariot to distribute the provisions. This year at the Weaver Home the party, which was led by Miss Erskine, was entertained with a program consisting of songs and hymns. The other chariot, containing Miss Walter and her party, went to Phoebus, and left the gifts at five of the Negro cabins. The children sang to the old people, who were very grateful for the gifts and good cheer that they brought. This is done each year by the Whittier School because it is thought to be an excellent way to inculcate a missionary spirit in the children, and the results have been increasingly gratifying. THE two of its monthly meetings this year. The October meeting, which was a reception to the new Whittier teachers, was of unusual interest. Mrs. Fountain, president of the Association, gave the address of welcome from the parents to the new teachers, and Mr. Graham, pastor of Zion Church, welcomed the teachers on behalf of the church and the community, after which a few remarks were made by various people present. The refreshments which were served had been prepared by the parents. The second meeting held in November was of general interest. Excellent addresses were made by Rev. Mr. Graham, Rev. Mr. Patterson, pastor of one of the Baptist churches of Hampton, Rev. Mr. Cook, the new Methodist minister of Phoebus, and Rev. Mr. Hamilton, the colored rector at St. Cyprian's chapel. In addition to these interesting and helpful talks, addresses were made by some of the parents and teachers. These meetings are a great help in strengthening co-operation among the school, the community, and the churches. AST spring the Rev. George opticon to the Whittier School in memory of his mother, who had been a lifelong friend to the Whittier children. This magic lantern, as the children call it, was used for the first time on November 28. Dr. Curtis had presented, among other pictures, one of his mother, and, very appropriately, that was the first one shown. While it was While it was on the screen the children sang, 66 Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love," and they were reminded that the ties which bound them to Mrs. Curtis while she was on earth, are quite as strong now in the memory of her many kindnesses to them. Interesting pictures were shown of Virginia, Niagara Falls, and the Adirondacks; and the children and teachers, as well as the parents, are looking forward to a great deal of pleasure and information to be derived during the winter from the use of the lantern. Distinguished Visitors HAMPTON has been especially fortunate the past month in the number of its distinguished visitors. Two very notable visits were those of the county superintendents of Virginia and the state superintendents of public instruction of the entire South. Seventy-five of Virginia's county superintendents arrived at the school on Tuesday, November 22, and remained until the following day. On Tuesday evening they met the students and workers in Cleveland Hall Chapel, and the meeting was addressed by Superintendent Eggleston, Mr. Jackson Davis, and Major Moton. The plantation melodies, which the students sang with more than usual vigor, were enthusiastically applauded by the visitors. On Friday morning they were shown through the Whittier School, the Barn, the Library, the Domestic Science Building, the Laundry, and the Trade School. They also saw the students at work in their classes. The object of this gathering of Virginia school officials was to see how Hampton Institute can be made to co-operate more closely with the public school system of the state. Eleven Southern state superintendents of public instruction, accompanied by other educational officials of the South, included the Hampton School in a study tour of the rural and normal schools of the West and Canada. They arrived on Thanksgiving morning and were shown all the depart ments of the school at work, after which they attended the Thanksgiving services in Memorial Church, two of them, Superintendent Joyner of North Carolina and Dr. W. K. Tate, supervisor of rural schools in South Carolina, addressing the students. In the afternoon they witnessed the football game between the Hampton boys and the Tuskegee team, and then left for Richmond to attend the Educational Conference there. ONE NE of the editorial writers of the Philadelphia Press, Dr. Talcott Williams, spent, with Mrs. Williams, several weeks at Hampton in December. Dr. Williams is a devoted friend of the school, to which he gave freely of his broad experience and deep learning in several admirable addresses. Twice he spoke in Memorial Church; to the Y. M. C. A. he gave a direct, pertinent talk on the needs of the colored churches; and at Sunday evening prayers he made an address on the gradual development of spiritual and practical religion among the Hebrews as evinced in their Psalms. Dr. Williams also gave a most interesting talk in Cleveland Hall one Saturday evening on the "Contribution of Africa to the World of Art." The entire Institute feels the uplift which Dr. Williams has given it. A brief visit was paid to Hampton in the early part of December by Dr. Lyman Abbott, editor of the The Outlook, and his daughter, Miss Beatrice Abbott. On Friday, December 2, Dr. Abbott conducted the evening chapel service and delivered a most helpful talk on faith as a motive power in daily living. He read from the third and fourth chapters of Exodus the striking and impressive story of God's call to Moses at the burning bush to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt toward the promised land. He showed that Moses had no faith in himself and that if he had been left alone he would have held back. Dr. Abbott pointed out that a man may have faith in himself which is due to self-conceit, or he may have faith in himself which is founded on faith in God. He referred to the work which Moses, Paul, and Lincoln, for example, had accomplished through faith in themselves based on their faith in God. He said: "Have faith in yourself; have faith in your people; have faith in your institution. Let your faith be based on God and not on self-conceit. Every opportunity to render service to your fellow-men is a call from God. Do not be too ambitious to do 'great' things, but let it be your ambition to render 'greatly' the small things which God calls you to do. Don't hold back. You cannot tell what you can do as a minister of God." IN the course of his tour of inves tigation of industrial schools in this country, Professor Paul Ziertmann, the obermeister of the Steglitz Hochschule in Germany, now teaching at Yale University as one of this year's exchange teachers in America, visited Hampton December 11. Professor Ziertmann spoke with directness, simplicity, and force on the schools for the people in Germany, which, he said, are generally free and supported by the municipalities, but always super |