J. B. Waterbury

“ May we trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Help us to obey all thy commands. May we love all men, even our enemies. May we serve thee faithfully until we die; and then, O Lord, take us to heaven, for Jesus’ sake. ”

“ We rejoice in your freedom, and we long to see you improve it to the utmost, thus showing to the world the superiority of a state of freedom under the worst aspects over that of slavery under the best. ”

“ You must not make a religion out of these good habits. That is, you must not think that these are all that religion requires. Religion demands these, and something [17] more. You must have “the broken heart,” sorrow for sin—sorrow before God, because you have broken his laws. Religion bids you turn from all sin—even sins of thought. It commands you to go to Jesus, that you may have your sins washed away in his precious blood. It tells you that you must put your whole trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation. Religion calls upon you to love Jesus, and from love to do whatsoever he hath commanded. ”

“ One of the first things you should endeavor to secure to yourselves is a home. Each family should aim at this. No matter how small your house be, if it is a home, and your home, there will be a charm about it. I see not why every [20] family among the freedmen may not obtain such a home—where he can have his family to himself, and train his children to good morals and religion. Freedom makes a home worth something. ”

“ Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. ”

“ But all the good habits we have been recommending are such as a religious person will practise. If a man pretends to be religious, and is a bad man in his outward conduct—if he loves to speak against his neighbors, or tells lies about them, or steals, or swears, or is impure, he is not a religious man; he is a hypocrite; and “that man’s religion,” [18] the Bible says, “is vain.” We want you to be religious and moral both. ”

“ Don’t fall into the mistake of some, that freedom means idleness. No such thing. Free people have to work, and some of them have to work very hard even to get their bread. Some of the free colored people have by their own labor gained the means of a comfortable livelihood, and made themselves respectable. You can do the same, if you will use the same diligence. By industry you will soon be able to support yourselves and families, and lay up something perhaps for a rainy day. ”

“ Perhaps by your industry you may make it larger and better. Move your family into it, and begin to live as one who is responsible to God, and who is determined to show that slavery has not robbed him of all his manhood. ”

“ Economy is another thing we recommend. This means saving all you can above and beyond what is needful for you to live upon. Don’t spend your money foolishly. Don’t spend it on rum or tobacco. Don’t gamble it away. Don’t buy expensive clothes or rich food. Some poor people, when they get a little money, think they may spend it in a frolic. All this is bad, and brings a man or a family very soon to want. ”

“ You work now as freemen, not as slaves; and the money which is paid you, you can lay out for food and clothing, and for any thing else that is proper. In this country nobody expects to live without work. ”

“ Try to make your house a happy home for yourselves and for your children. So far as you can, keep the children clean and neat. Especially take care that they don’t learn bad ways, by getting into the company of bad children. ”

“ But the sooner you stop leaning on the government and on the help of the whites, the better for yourselves and for all concerned.
Don’t refuse to work then, even at low wages. Work at low wages is better than idleness. The Bible says, he that will not work, neither shall he eat. ”

“ Some have said that lying is universally practised among the slaves—that they seem to think it is no sin, or if it be a sin, that it is a very little one. If this be so, then we urge you to get your minds at once set right in this matter. Lying is a sin, and a great sin. ”

“ All young people should guard against this vice. They have a character to form and to maintain; and how can that be done if this vile habit is indulged? A virtuous character is as precious to a colored woman as it is to any woman. And with regard to men and women both, the Bible says, “Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” ”

“ But take care of your wages. Make them go as far as you can in supporting yourself and family; and if there is any over, lay it up against a time of [10] need. Only don’t waste it; for the Bible makes the waster and the slothful man brothers. “He also that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster.”
SOBRIETY.
Sobriety is another habit or virtue we hope you will observe. Rum is the ruin of thousands. Keep clear of it, or it will ruin you. Soul and body die under its ravages. A drunkard is worse than a beast. Look at the drunkard’s home—or rather, dwelling ”

“ A great many good people are now engaged in teaching you to read and write. This is very important; for then you can read the Bible and other good books, and see your way to heaven clearer. Besides, some learning is very necessary and useful in business, in writing letters, and in many ways. ”

“ Thus you may secure something to depend on when you are sick or old and can’t work. There will no doubt be penny savings-banks, where you can put some of your money, and where it will not only be [6] safe, but will increase. ”

“ Make things as pleasant as you can in and around your house. What a difference there is! Some cottages or cabins look very pretty, and some look very [26] bad. It is easy to tell what sort of people live in a house, by the very looks of it. ”

“ Black or white, a dirty person is a disgusting object. Even a poor person can possess the virtue of cleanliness. Soap and water are not very dear things; but if one don’t use them, they might as well cost guineas instead of coppers. ”

“ Let them have every advantage within your reach for their improvement. And above all, set them a good example yourselves, which will have more effect in making them good children than any lessons which you or others may give them. ”