93

Jan. 1866
[pre-printed newspaper articles:]
[lefthand column:]

NEW BEDFORD,

THE LATE MISS KEMPTON.-- Below we print the last
report, written by the lamented Ellen S. Kempton to
the Freedmen's Society, and published in the Freed-
men's Record for this month. It shows the greatness
of the work in which she was engaged, and how admir-
ably she was fitted for it.
[From the Freedmen`s Record for 1866.]
We commenced our school the 16th of this month, in
a small building on the plantation, formerly used as a
cabin. The first day, thirty came. This we thought
a fair beginning. At the end of the week, the number
had increased so that the small room would not accom-
modate both of us; so we divided the number, Miss S.
taking half to a building in the yard, once used as a
kitchen. The same day, after dismissing my pupils,
the young men remained, took down a partition, and
removed a stairway, to make the room larger; so now
my room will seat about seventy. 'Tis a rough, ugly
looking place, with rather too free ventilation. The
windows are closed by board shutters,--no glass. Af-
ter the men had finished the work, I took them with
me, and gave them a dinner of hominy and molasses,
with a cup of tea. Some of them ate with so much
eagerness, that I asked them if they had eaten break-
fast before they left home, and five of them had eaten
nothing for the day, though they had walked six miles.
Then I did not wonder at their being helped to the 5th
and 6th plateful. (Hardly polite, perhaps you think.
to notice how much my guests ate.) I made sure that
none went away hungry. This was my first dinner
party; surely one never had a more grateful or needy
one. The people on this place, and in fact, on this
part of the Island, are extremely poor, and since the
rations have ceased, have suffered from hunger. This
suffering, I am convinced, from what I can learn, is not
caused by laziness, or want of tact; but the larger
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[righhand column:]
THE FREEDMEN'S AID SOCIETY received to-
day $10 from Mrs. Sylvanus Thomas, and $5
from a friend. Donations of valuable clothing
have been sent in to the value of $41, and a bun-
dle of the same from the ladies in Marion. Also
a donation of a large box of Sunday school books
from the Pacific Union church in Westport. A
box, valued at $73, was forwarded to Columbus,
Ga,
We are now fully informed as to the par-
ticulars relative to the late sad accident at
Edisto Island on Christmas day last, when three
valuable lives were lost by drowning in St.
Pierre's Creek--Miss Ellen S. Kempton, Miss
Mira Stanton and Mr. James P. Blake, of which
some mention has been made before:
Mr Blake came up from Charleston, where he was
pactising law, to spend a few days in company with
his friends, whom he had known for some time, and
to whom he had rendered effectual service, often as-
sisting them in circumstances of great perplexity,
when they came upon the Island strangers and with-
out many of the comforts of home. Having procured
a boat and being skilful and experienced oarsman,
he invited the ladies to go with him to visit some
friends farther up the creek, on the island. They
reached their destination safely and dined in the
same house and room where they ate their first meal
on coming to the place. Towards evening they took
leave of their kind friends and proceeded homeward.
But the little batteau, though fit for one person, was
not suitable for more, and having laden it with other
things on returning, it was unable to withstand the
tide, which was strong at that time. They were
heard approaching, by anxious friends upon the
shore, their voices in conversation were heard, when
[clipping ends here]