about from one poor person to another.* If you go into a cottage they quite expect you will eat and drink with them; a clean cloth is laid upon the table, washed almost as white as milk, and the new milk and the wine, and the great loaf of bread are brought out; yet they are in reality exceedingly poor. Their beds also look so clean and good that they would astonish our poor people. In some respects I think they are decidedly cleaner than our poor. Their dress is simple to the greatest degree. The women and girls all dress alike, even down to the very little children. They wear caps of dark cotton, with black ribbon, and the hair bound closely under. Every bodymaids, children, poor and rich, call Mr. Oberlin their "Cher Papa," and never was there a more complete father of a large family. We breakfast at seven; the family upon potatoes boiled with milk and water-a little coffee is provided * As I was one day sketching upon the mountain, a group of poor peasant women attracted my attention, and I begged one of them to stand still for a few moments, that I might sketch her in the costume of her country. "Ah! Madam," she replied, smiling, "you shall sketch me. I should like you to have a picture of me in your book, because you will then be led to remember me, and perhaps to pray for me." + The usual wine of the country, called kirschenwasser, is distilled from the fruit of the wild cherry. for us. We dine at twelve, and sup at half-past seven. Every thing is in the most primitive style. I never saw such people for not taking money. It is almost impossible to pay any body for any service they do for you. In our visits to the poor we have been afraid of offering them money; but we feel anxious to throw in some assistance towards the many important objects which Mr. Oberlin is carrying on amongst his people. It is almost past belief what he has done, and with very limited means. Three poor dear women are noted for their benevolence; one especially, who is a widow herself with several children, has taken to support and bring up three orphan children; and she has lately taken another from no other principle than abounding christian charity. One seldom meets with such shining characters. Mr. O. told Mr. Cunningham the other day he did not know how to pay Louise, for nothing hurt her so much as offering her money. Nothing can be more devoted to his service, and in the most disinterested manner. Her character has impressed me very much. We had a delightful walk to a church about two miles distant, on Sunday morning; the numbers of poor, flocking from the distant villages, dressed in their simple and neat costume, formed a striking object in the scene. It happened to be the Sunday Mr. O. goes to the next parish, where his son has him to assist in giving prizes to the school children. 66 Wednesday evening.-The poor charm me. I never met with any like them; so much spirituality, humility, and cultivation of mind, with manners that would do honour to a court; yet the homely dress and the simplicity of the peasant are not lost. The state of the schools, the children, and the poor in general, is quite extraordinary, and as much exceeds our parish as ours does the most neglected. "We have spent our time in the following manner: Since Sunday the mornings have been very wet; we have therefore been chiefly shut up in our own room, reading, writing, and drawing; the eldest of the Graffs, (Marie) a sweet girl, is a good deal with me, to read and to talk to me. The children and young people in the house are becoming fond of me; our being here is quite a gaiety and amusement to them. About three o'clock Mr. Legrand comes for us, to take us different excursions, &c. He seems to us one of the kindest persons we ever met with, full of conversation; nothing can exceed the torrent of words they all have. The old gentleman delights in talking to F- and tells him every thing about himself, his family, his parishes, &c. Our room joins his library, and all the family are free to enter whenever they like. The whole system is most amusing, interesting and useful. It is a capital example, and instructive for the minister of a parish. I have felt it very enlarging and good for us to be here. There is a spirit of good fellowship and kindness amongst all the people that is quite delightful. The longer we have been here, the more we have been struck with the uncommon degree of virtue which exists amongst them. On Monday evening, after sketching Legrand's house, we were taken to the cottage of Sophie Bernard, where we found the table spread in the most complete manner for our tea, a luxury we had not enjoyed since we left England. Here we passed some time, eating, talking, and reading the Bible; and it ended with prayer, by |