Norfolk, Va. Nov. 18th 1864

Dear Mr. May;

This is the first moment I have felt it right to take hold of a pen, since my return. Now, while waiting a conveyance to a farm, I must tell you that I have not to wait till next week for my Thanksgiving; for that began a fortnight ago - the moment I set my foot on old Virginnia shore—and that it has not ended yet. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back at my post. Until within a very short time of my return, it really seemed doubtful if I should be able to resume my labors in this harvest field; for each day found me more weary, in. stead of refreshed, but once again I have the happiness of proving my favorite “All earnest hearts shall have their dreams fulfilled.”

Would I could run in and tell you all I have seen and heard since my return; and answer all questions, but to report in ink would be impossible, from the nature of the case. We returned to find a general confusion and folding of hands; and we took hold at once, apportioning work to new hands, reconstructing, newly organizing, and making a general review of work done in our absence so that every moment has been painfully crowded, and not one day has been half long enough for what I desired to put in it—where so much is to be done -- I feel I must stop for nothing until every hand is at work; consequently I have not obeyed the dictate of my heart, and reported at once to the sacredly dear and good people of Leicester Hill. Though diligently working, and to some purpose, the details of wrongs righted, change of officers, of school policy, ect, would not interest outsiders, I think, enough to make it worth while to report. There are now in town tell teachers each from the Educational Commission, Am. Miss. Society, and National Freedmen’s Ass. Each society having its mission house and (excepting us) a housekeeper; the schools are graded & each teacher has about fifty pupils – a Normal School has just been created from the most advanced in the other schools; and Miss Kennedy, lately of New Berne, a fine woman, has charge of it. Each teacher is to have a thorough knowledge of the familys of her pupils, and report cases of sickness and suffering to us for investigation—no giving orders on our stores for things needful. All things to whatever person in the Dept. are put in the common stock of our two stores in Norfolk and Portsmouth. Two ladies in each keeping thorough business accts and allowing nothing to go out without an order signed by L. or S. E. Chase. All who come to us personally are visited, and their cases carefully considered before anything is done for them. It is a cause of rejoycing [sic] that we have got the clothing so well organized

—now we have only to contend with the unwillingness of the teachers to properly investigate—Another good thing for the people is the Industrial School which will soon be in operation, under Miss Smiley, and lovely Quakeress of much executive ability from Philadelphia -- I am inexpressively thankful to the good Lord for sending her — for heretofore I have been unable to get cooperation in the plans I have had from the first - of teaching the people to help themselves. I have always given much attention to mending and making and urged others to do the same.

Nov. 28th

You can imagine what this Industrial School is to be --- I will write more fully about it when it is underway – Our family of nineteen (servants included) with more members sick in their beds – makes much night work: --- hence this sorry scrawl. – My eyes were so weary I could only occasionally look to see what my pen was doing – Please excuse my little dark constituent for spoiling the paper. I have been fearfully anxious to hear about the John Brown family ever since I heard in N. Y. the rumor of their massacre.—but have not felt I could take the time to ask the daughter about the truth of the rumor in the West: but within a few days I have been inexpressably relieved by receiving a letter from Annie: all are safe in California – having been rescued by our soldiers from the Rebels, who had driven the into the woods, and were about to massacre them.

-- In the day, I have not had time to think, but in the long silent hours of night, I have often thought of the Leicester Hill nobles - and my heart has ached to dictate many pages of this Southern Life for them but my Greek-ruined eyes can do nothing by night, and can rarely do duty by day; even if they are not with the body, hither, thither and yon. Thrice have I locked myself up for a half hours talk, but in vain. “Miss Sarah, the overseer of the Bradford Farm is here with his cart and wants to know if you can’t go out there,” ect or Rat-tat-tat on the door—as I am about to seat myself—Who is there?” say I. “One,” feebly is answered. “Who is one?" “Me, why you nows me Miss Sarah,” and as she speaks Open the door and “One” is an old blind man, a young Woman with a sick child and two boys. Thus far it has been much as I feared, when I hesitated at the proposition whi [ch?], was wholly unexpected to me, when at your house -- I never doubted I could work enough; my heart is too deeply interested to attempt it if I did not feel competent—but I feared I could not satisfy my conscience and answer the demands of any society; or rather be able to do what I should earnestly desire myself to do, i.e., to write fully and freely. I should be unhappy if I left one or the other undone. I sometimes think I will limit my labor, and concentrating my effort more, be able better to systematize my time—take more comfort and time to record the day’s history. Then I think it is far truer and better to take what is sent, and make the best of it rather than to seek what is most agreeable. Our reception camp—The “Rope Walk” is nearly empty — no large party having been brought in since early Summer.

Last week a nice woman came in with her youngest (Byrs [?} a child) in her arms, and three little children following; having walked over a hundred miles by night + hiding in the day time. She took her family and come off alone, to escape being separated from her children, as her master had threatened. They brought nothing at all with them; and the poor woman’s feet are all cracked open with walking; so she keeps her bunk, and the children take care of themselves + her also. I’m sorry Auntie to see you suffer so –said I one day. Tank you Misses tank you hearty – I doesn’t mind it. I forgits my pains and my trubbles when I sees you + tinks I’m wid my childer and de good Norf people – eben if I’se got no clothes nor nothin – A good old man and his wife came in one day bringing a sweet faced granny with them—all enthusiastic, and eager for work, & full of cheer though the clothes they had on their back [and] in their hands were all they had in the World to start with. “Have you any children?" “—said I to the old woman— “No honey—no I hasn’t—and yet missus I has; fourteen children I ‘se raised and hugged in dese old arms; and sometimes I tinks I feels de little hands on my cheeks—but deys all gone; I don’t know whar dey air — if I was lyn stark dead out yonder in de corner, dere wouldnt be one to bring me a cup of water

-- You desired me to tell what was needed; but as every want we have can be met in one way and another, I think it would be as well to forward what you collect and think best to make. Cooking utensils are the only things I would specify. We can not get enough. If each housekeeper could send the extra pots and pans or even stove lids (to bake the universal corn cake on) they would contribute much to the health and comfort of these people. There are expensive + [?] ways of sending freight --- I presume you can leave the bother – Gov. vessels will take it free, if properly directed -- One good thing you could do with no expense, but time—relieving your houses and benefitting the refugees at the same time-That is: glean every library of books that are not wanted & send to a committee who will throw out books that never were or will be read & forwarding books of instruction, story books, and only such books as would be useful to the Refugees. These could be packed with the pans and kettles & the spaces filled with yarn or any thing else. No school books needed except for reference. One very important need of these people we have just met by establishing a Saving’s Bank for them. Heretofore they have almost been forced to spend their money—having no where to keep it. Many a time have they brought money to me,— saying, “Buy me something wid dis, please ma’am.” “What do you wish?” “Oh anyting you likes ma’am” or “Whatever it will get,” or “something pretty” they say. One nice auntie said - ”I wants you to buy something for yourself honey—it does me so much good to see you I’d like to give you a stocking full,” and when I explain the importance of providing for the rainy day ect.they would say “but sugar I’s no whar to keep my money—and if I ties it in de corner of my apron, I might lose it, or get it stolen from me, and I can’t go myself to spend it’ ‘— or some equally good reason they give for wishing to get rid of money, if they chance to be encumbered by it :—but I have easily persuaded them to be prudent in the face of the new responsibility of their condition—and have been begging for a bank from the first. Col. Kinsman did not go fast enough to suit the workers in this Dept. so Lucy was invited to petition Butler to put Maj. Carney in his place, which good thing was this day effected so God and man favor the cause in this Department and it must prosper

- - Full of Hope—full of happiness—only asking for strength to labor I am with high consideration for your Committee and ever best wishes for you & them—your co-worker.

SARAH B. CHASE

If I had eyes and could be alone five minutes at a time I should not send such frightful scrawls – but I can only occasionally look on the paper as I write, and I can not get into the quiet in this life –

If you wish to hear from me – propound any questions and I will gladly answer them – Could you not I write to Saddie [?] or Mrs. May or some lady? I could sometimes write more freely to them than to you, alone.