Page:The future of Africa.djvu/43

Rh judge, have stopped to calculate. For instance, the Episcopal Mission, in this neighborhood, comprises at least 12 stations; and this has been its status for, at least, 12 years. At these stations, what with day-schools and night-schools, for a dozen scholars each; and remembering that, at Cavalla, 100 children, at least, are always under training, in reading, writing, and arithmetic; you can see that several thousands of our aboriginal population have received a common school education in the English language. And numbers of these persons show their appreciation of their advantages, by securing the same for their children, and coveting them for their kindred.

And thus, every year, wave after wave dashes upon the weak intrenchments of heathenism, and is wearing them away; and thus, also, to change a figure, we have illustrated the noble truth, that a great language, like the fruitful tree, yields fruit after its kind; "and has its seed in itself," by which it is not only reproduced in its own native soil, but also takes possession of distant fields, and springs up with all its native vigor and beauty, in far off lands, in remote and foreign regions!

And now, lest this subject should seem to have but slight connection with the rejoicings of the day, let me point out a few practical teachings which flow from it, and which clearly pertain to our nation's advancement, political and moral, and to its future usefulness and power.

1st. Then I would say, that inasmuch as the Eng-