FROM PHILADELPHIA 137 



left wing the house of the Sisters. Opposite this 

 building stands the house of the Widows, and farther 

 on (descending the slope), the house of the Brothers. 

 These and all the other buildings are of stone, the lime- 

 stone of the region ; the houses mentioned are 3-4 

 storeys in height. In the house of the Sisters the 

 greatest neatness is the rule, with no ostentation. The 

 unmarried Sisters employ their time in spinning, weav- 

 ing, knitting, and skilfully embroidering. Likewise the 

 Brothers in their house are occupied with several crafts. 

 For the rest, the arrangement of these houses is the 

 same as in other settlements of the Moravian Brethren 

 in Germany, and so, as everywhere, shows the marks 

 of order and of constant industry. 



The community here numbers probably 600 souls, of 

 which by far the greater part are Germans, and the 

 remainder a few English. However, almost every 

 member is familiar with the two languages, and on 

 Sundays a sermon is preached in the English language 

 by one or the other of the ministers. Since most of 

 the Brethren, the ministers in particular, are sprung 

 from Saxony, it is not surprising that here at Bethle- 

 hem and in the other colonies of the sect, the purest and 

 best German is spoken of which America can any- 

 where boast. 



Mr. Ettwein and Mr. Hiibner are at present the 

 ministers. The first was absent, but in Mr. Hiibner I 

 found an agreeable and amiable man, and a lover of 

 botany for which his profession allows him no time. 

 The health of the community is cared for by Mr. Otto, 

 at once physician, surgeon, and apothecary. 



There is but one tavern here, maintained at the 

 charge of the community, and not inferior to the first 



