"At first we clothed as well as boarded our pupils, and then led
them to provide one article after another, till they clothed
themselves. It was delightful to see the interest parents began to
take in clothing their daughters, in order to send them to school
after they provided their own garments. They took better care of
them, and so learned to take better care of other things. Since I
left, Miss Rice has advanced farther in this matter; and last year
most of the pupils paid a trifle for tuition, amounting in all to
over twenty dollars. It often costs more than the amount to secure
these pittances; but it does our pupils good, and we spared no pains
to this end."
It is touching to see the spirit manifested by some parents in this
connection. One very poor widow, whose little field of grain had
been devoured by locusts, brought a large squash and a quantity of
raisins which she had earned by laboring for others--a self-denial
almost equal to her previous giving up of her only bed for the use
of a daughter in the Seminary, which she brought, saying, "I can
sleep on the _hasseer_ [rush mat], if you will only receive her
into school.
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