Taking Native Children Into Homes

We found that the missionaries had continued the custom of taking native children into their homes and educating them, This was perhaps their best contact with the people, and gave them the most influence. In a way, the people liked to have their children educated, and they did like to have them supported. And in later years again, their children became the material from which we drew our teachers and preachers. (Page 22) We found a number of these children in Brother David's house also we took some with our house, fed and clothed them and sent them to school. We used them to assist with the work about the place. Some were bright and intelligent and turned out well and some just ordinary as in our own country. I remember one little boy about five years old whose Mohammedan parents brought him to us to keep in our house and send to school. The child was very unpromising - so much so - that even our missionaries criticized us for taking him,. The only reason we did so was because it was his only chance for training. He was about five years old when we took him, and he remained with us as we were there and slowly improved. In later years we heard from him, getting a letter now and then, when last we heard he had a position of some kind in the government in Lagos and was in charge of the pipe organ in our church there!