The task before me did not seem a very encouraging one.

It seemed much like making bricks without straw.

The coloured people were overjoyed, and were constantly offering their services in any way in which they could be of assistance in getting the school started.
My first task was to find a place in which to open the school.

After looking the town over with some care, the most suitable place that could be secured seemed to be a rather dilapidated shanty near the coloured Methodist church, together with the church itself as a sort of assembly-room.

Both the church and the shanty were in about as bad condition as was possible.