available by the ,canadian ,institute for ,historical ,microreproductions4 ,,god',s ,,answers3 ,a ,,record ,,of ,,miss ,,annie ,,macpherson',s ,,work ,,at ,,the ,,home ,,of ,,industry1 ,,spitalfields1 ,,london1 ,,and ,,in ,,canada4 ,,clara ,m4 ,s4 ,,lowe ,peace1 peace be unto thee1 and peace be to thine helpers2 for thy ,god helpeth thee4 --#a ,,chron4 xii4 #ah4 ,,contents4 ,,introduction ,,chapter ,i4 #ahfa-ahfi4 ,prayer of ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,baptist ,noel--,residence in ,cambridgeshire-- ,visit to ,london in #ahfa1 and first attendance at ,barnet ,conferences-- ,visit of ,rev4 ,w4 and ,mrs4 ,pennefather--,east of ,london1 #ahfa--,left ,cambridgeshire1 #ahfe--,work in ,bedford ,institute--#ahff3 ,voyage to ,new ,york and return1 #ahfg--;,first girl rescued--,matchbox-makers--,first boy rescued--,revival ,refuge open for boys and girls--#ahfh3 ,home of ,industry secured--#ahfi3 ,opened4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #ahfi-ahgj4 ,emigration of families--,a visitor's impressions--,the great life-work --,emigration of the young1 begun #ahgj--;,first party of boys to ,canada with ,miss ,macpherson and ,miss ,bilbrough--,their reception--,mr4 ,merry takes oat second party out boys--,miss ,macpherson returns to ,england and takes out a party of girls--,canadian welcome and happy homes-- ,canadian pastor's story4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #ahgj-ahga4 ,workers' meetings at ,home of ,industry--,training ,home at ,hampton opened--,personal experiences--,welcome in ,western ,canada--,help for a ,glasgow ,home--,scottish ,ferryman--,out of the mouths of babes and sucklings ,,chapter ,,iv4 #ahgb4 ,the need of a ,home further ,west--,burning of the ,marchmont ,home--,home restored by ,canadian gifts--,miss ,macpherson and ,miss ,reavell arrive in ,canada--,first visit to ,knowlton in the ,east--,belleville ,home restored by ,canadian friends--,help for the ,galt ,home--,miss ,macpherson returns to ,england--,miss ,reavell remains at ,galt ,,chapter ,v4 #ahgb-ahgd4 ,letter from ,rev4 ,a4 ,m4 ,w4 ,christopher--,letter from ,gulf of ,st4 ,lawrence--,mrs4 ,birt's sheltering ,home1 ,liverpool--,letter to ,mrs4 ,merry--,letter from ,canada--,miss ,macpherson's return to ,england-- ,letter of cheer for ,dr4 ,barnardo--,removal to ,hackney ,home ,,chapter ,,vi4 #ahge-ahgg4 ,mrs4 ,way's sewing-class for ,jewesses--,bible ,flower ,mission--,george ,clarke--,incidents in ,home work--,the ,lord's ,day--,diary at sea--,letters of cheer from ,canada ,,chapter ,,vii4 #ahgg-ahgi4 ,they helped every one his neighbour--,miss ,child1 a fellow labourer --,the work in ,ratcliff ,highway--,strangers' ,rest for ,sailors--,welcome ,home--,bridge of ,hope--,miss ,macpherson's twenty-first voyage to ,canada--,explosion on board the ,sardinian--,child-life in the ,galt ,home--,the ,galt ,home now devoted to children from ,london1 ,knowlton to those from ,liverpool1 and ,marchmont to ,scottish ,emigrants ,,chapter ,,viii4 #ahgi-ahhj4 ,experiences among ,indians--,picnic in the ,bush--,distribution ,of ,testaments--,till ,he ,come--,a ,home and a hearty ,welcome ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,questions and ,answers--,sorrowful cases--,testimonies from those who have visited ,canada--,stewardship ,,introduction ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,macpherson1 ,author of ,the ,life of ,duncan ,mathieson4 ,from ,east ,london to ,west ,canada is a change pleasing to imagine4 ,from dusky lane and fetid alley to open1 bright ,canadian fields is1 in the very thought1 refreshing4 ,a child is snatched from pinching hunger1 fluttering rags1 and all the squalor of gutter life2 from a creeping existence in the noisome pool of slum society is lifted up into some taste for decency and cleanliness2 from being trained in the school whose first and last lesson is to fear neither ,god nor man1 is taught the beginnings of ,christian faith and duty1 and by a strong effort of love and patience is borne away to the free1 spacious regions of the western hemisphere1 of which it may be said1 as of the ,king's feast1 yet there is room1 and where even a hapless waif may get a chance and a choice both for this world and the world that is to come4 ,this is a picture on which a kind heart loves to rest4 ,but who shall make the picture real8 ,go and first catch your little ,arab1 if you can4 ,i say1 if you can2 for he is too old to be caught by chaff1 and you shall need as much guile as any fowler ever did4 ,then with patient hands bestow on his body its first baptism of clean water1 a task often unspeakably shocking2 reduce to fit size and shape a cast-off suit humbly begged for the occasion1 and give him his first experience of decent clothing4 ,thereafter1 proceed to the work1 sometimes the most trying ever undertaken1 of taming this singularly acute1 desperately sly1 and often ferociously savage little ,englishman1 training him to be what he is not1 or harder task still1 to be not what he is4 ,having1 by dint of much pains and many prayers1 obtained1 as you hope1 some beginnings of victory over the most wayward of wills1 and the most unaccountably strange of mixed natures1 with its intellectual sharpness and moral bluntness1 its precocious knowingness and stereotyped childishness1 its quickness to learn and slowness to unlearn1 prepare for the next stage of your enterprise4 ,lay out your scheme of emigration1 get the money where you can1 that is to say1 call it flown from heaven and wile it out of earthly pockets1 anticipate all possible emergencies and wants by land and sea1 finish for the time the much epistolary correspondence to which this same fragment of humanity has given rise1 tempt the deep with your restless charge1 bear the discomforts of the stormiest of seas1 and inwardly groan at the signs of other and worse tempests ready ever to burst forth in the ,atlantic of that young sinner's future course2 and when after many weeks of anxious thought1 fatiguing travel1 and laborious inquiry you find a home for the child1 fold your hands1 give thanks and say1 ,what an adventure6 ,what a toil6 ,but now at length it is finished6 ,and yet perhaps it is not half finished4 ,multiply all this thought and feeling1 all this labour and prayer a thousandfold2 and imagine the work of a woman as tenderly attached to home and its peaceful ways as any one of her sisters in the three kingdoms1 who has made some twenty-eight voyages across the ,atlantic all for love and nothing for reward2 has1 by miracles of prayerful toil and self-denying kindness1 rescued from a worse than ,egyptian bondage over three thousand waifs and strays1 borne them in her strong arms to the other side of the world1 and planted them in a good land2 meanwhile1 in the intervals of travel1 facing the perils and storms of the troubled sea of ,east ,london society at its very worst1 and from a myriad wrecks of manhood and womanhood1 snatching the stragglers not yet past all hope1 and1 in a holy enthusiasm of love1 parting with not a little of her own life in order that those dead might live4 ,the outer part of the story alone can be told3 the inner part only ,god and the patient toiler on this field can know4 ,yet the inner work is by far the greater4 ,the thought1 the cares1 the fears1 the prayers1 the tears1 the anguish1 the heart-breaking disappointments1 and the fiery ordeals of spirit by which alone the motive is kept pure and the flame of a true zeal is fed1--in short1 all the lavish expenditure of soul that cannot be spoken1 or written1 or known1 until the ,omniscient ,recorder1 who forgets nothing and repays even the good purpose of the heart1 will reveal it at the final award1 is by far the most important service as it is ever the most toilsome and painful4 ,in the work of the kingdom of ,god on earth the true worker is in point of importance first4 ,apart from the wise1 holy1 beneficent soul1 even the truth of the ,gospel is but a dead letter4 ,it is in the intelligence1 loveliness1 magnanimity and sweetness of a human spirit1 touched finely by ,his own grace1 that the ,holy ,ghost finds ,his chief instrumentality4 ,preparation for a good work is usually begun in early life1 and the worker1 whose story is to fill the following pages1 unconsciously learnt her first lessons for this service in her father's house4 ,there was1 indeed1 seemingly little to be learned of any rare sort in the quiet village of ,campsie1 where life passed as peacefully as the clouds sailing along the peaceful heavens4 ,almost the only break in the even tenor of those days was an occasional sojourn in the house of her uncle1 the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,edwards1 a minister of the ,united ,presbyterian ,church in ,glasgow1 where that venerable soldier of the cross still lingers1 as if halfway betwixt the ,church militant and the ,church triumphant ,but whether in the father's house or in the uncle's manse1 kind and truthful speech was the coin current1 a good example the domestic stock-in-trade1 and an interchange of cheerful1 loving service the main business4 ,it was a quiet school1 whose very hum was peaceful2 and yet the schooling was thorough2 things strong often grow as quietly as things feeble4 ,the oak rises as silently in the forest as the lily in the garden4 ,strong characters1 too1 under any conditions of life1 school themselves much more than they are schooled4 ,active1 inquisitive1 resolute1 and possessing a fair share of the national perfervidum ingenium1 not without some tincture of those elements of the ,scottish character known as the canny and the dour1 our worker early developed that robust vigour of mind and body which has so long stood the wear and tear of severely trying work4 ,one passage of significance in the family history deserves notice1 especially as suggesting a peculiar feature in her early training and supplying a link in the chain of providential events4 ,in work among the young her father was an enthusiast4 ,with a heart bigger than her own family circle1 her mother took in two orphans to foster and rear4 ,thus in the work of caring for the outcast and the forlorn ,annie ,macpherson was to the manner born4 ,inheriting her father's enthusiasm and her mother's sympathetic nature1 the quick-witted1 warm-hearted girl would not fail to note the equal footing enjoyed by the stranger children1 and would know the reason why3 the much tact employed to keep the new and difficult relations sweet would engage her attention2 and the exceeding tenderness with which the motherless little ones were treated1 would be a very practical ,gospel to our young scholar in ,christian philanthropy4 ,were matters sometimes strained8 did little jars arise and a shadow now and then gather on the faces of the strangers because their own mother was not8 ,the wise foster-mother would set all right again by some merry quip1 some gleesome turn1 some one of those playful gleams of humour which furnish a key to the secret of successful work among the young4 ,to be a mother to those orphans1 to make life in its duties and joys1 as far as possible1 the same to them as if they had not lost their own mother1 ay1 and to teach them to gather the brightest roses from the thorniest bushes1 was at once a good work in itself1 and a model for one who was destined to similar service1 only on an immensely wider scale and on a tenfold more difficult field4 ,the sisterly fostering of the orphans was a providential training for her future life-work4 ,to learn to love and to serve over and above the claims of mere natural affection1 could not fail to enlarge the heart and awaken the sympathies of a quick1 susceptible child4 ,little did her mother know what she was doing when she took the orphans to her bosom4 ,she only thought to make a warm home and a bright future for the hapless pair2 but in effect she was preparing a warm home and a bright future for thousands of the poorest children on ,god's earth4 ,but there was something better in store4 ,girlish days swept by much as usual--the rapid growth of warm thought and feeling making each revolving year a continuous springtide1 an opening summer4 ,at nineteen1 ,annie ,macpherson looked out on a world that always promises more to youthful eyes than it ever fulfils4 ,eager hope was drawing much on a future whose furthest horizon was ,time4 ,suddenly a shadow fell4 ,a word spoken by a friend was the vehicle of a divine message4 ,a more distant and awful horizon arose to view3 ,time with its hopes and joys1 like a thin mist in early morning1 vanished in the light of eternity2 and quickly from that young heart1 pierced with a new sorrow1 went up the prayer1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner6 ,how little the world understands that same old prayer4 ,yonder afar off stands a man who1 having trafficked in all iniquity1 having matured in wickedness1 and perfected himself in the fine art of dodging truth and conscience1 is at length found out in the thicket of his own vices by a bull's eye that glares on him like hell4 ,well it befits such an one1 even the world admits1 to smite upon his breast and cry for mercy4 ,but for a girl in her teens1 an innocent1 merry-hearted1 pure-minded young thing1 to raise a cry for mercy like a very publican or a prodigal1 is confounding to the world's sense of propriety and measure in things2 and hence that world is angry1 and in effect repudiates the need of so much mercy1 of so much abasement and urgency in a case like this4 ,the root and rise of this cry for mercy the natural man does not understand2 but that soul knows it right well1 where the lightnings of ,omniscient ,holiness have gleamed and the shadows of ,god's anger have fallen4 ,the cry was heard4 ,light arose on that troubled soul1 the ,saviour appeared and drew the sinking one out of the waters4 ,even where there is little to be changed outwardly1 conversion is always followed by remarkable effects2 the light of the morning is like a new creation on the cultivated field as well as on the barren moor4 ,our young convert saw everything in a new light4 ,she understood now1 as she had not before1 why her mother1 stealing precious hours from sleep1 wearied her fingers and weakened her eyes with the self-imposed task of providing for the necessities of children not her own4 ,if a ruling motive is one of the greatest things in the secret of a human life1 the grandest of all forces on earth is the love of ,christ4 ,this she felt1 and it was to her a divine revelation4 ,from the feeble starlight of natural sympathies she had passed into the clear day of ,christian affections1 and she now knew the secret joy and power of self-sacrifice4 ,a hundred lessons and practical illustrations given her by both her parents were suddenly lighted up with a new meaning1 and clothed with a beauty she had not heretofore seen1 and a power she had not hitherto felt4 ,all she had learned before of truth1 and prudence1 and kindness1 she learned over again1 and learned with the quickness characteristic of the young convert4 ,very soon her whole treasury of knowledge and feeling1 of experience and character1 was laid with youthful jubilance on the altar of the ,lord4 ,from that hour she began to work for ,christ with an intensity of enthusiasm that ever since has known no abatement4 ,,god',s ,,answers4 ,,chapter ,i4 #ahfa-ahfi4 ,prayer of ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,baptist ,noel--,residence in ,cambridgeshire-- ,visit to ,london in #ahfa1 and first attendance at ,barnet ,conferences-- ,visit of ,rev4 ,w4 and ,mrs4 ,pennefather--,east of ,london1 #ahfa--,left ,cambridgeshire1 #ahfe--,work in ,bedford ,institute--#ahff3 ,voyage to ,new ,york and return1 #ahfg--;,first girl rescued--,matchbox makers--,first boy rescued--,revival ,refuge open for boys and girls--#ahfh3 ,home of ,industry secured--#ahfi3 ,opened4 ,the winter of #ahfj-fa is a time to be had much in remembrance before the ,lord4 ,it was then that the ,east of ,london1 with all its sins and sorrows1 was laid as a heavy1 burden on the heart of ,his faithful and beloved servant ,reginald ,radcliffe4 ,before the commencement of his labours1 a few ,christian friends met for prayer at the invitation of the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,baptist ,noel4 ,the ,east of ,london1 and its stunning-tide of human care and crime1 was not the only thought of that revered man of ,god4 ,his faith looked forward to greater things1 and one well-remembered petition was1 that blessing through the work then to be begun in that deeply degraded and neglected region1 might not be stayed there1 but might flow from thence to far-off lands4 ,one then present1 the ,dowager ,lady ,rowley1 was not long permitted to sow precious seed with her own hand1 but was instrumental in the fulfilment of this petition1 as it was through her leading that ,miss ,macpherson's voice was first heard in the ,east of ,london4 ,at that time ,miss ,macpherson was residing in the neighbourhood of ,cambridge with her sister and brother-in-law1 ,mr4 ,merry1 and1 was already a worker in the ,lord's vineyard4 ,she thus writes of the year #ahfa3-- ,it was a turning point in my life4 ,i made a pilgrimage to ,london to attend the preaching of ,reginald ,radcliffe in the ,city of ,london ,theatre1 ,shoreditch4 ,there ,i met ,dr4 ,elwin4 ,on the following evening1 at the ,young ,men's ,christian ,association1 ,great ,marlborough ,street1 he introduced me to ,lady ,rowley1 ,mr4 ,morgan1 and many other ,christian friends4 ,through them ,i was led to attend the next ,barnet ,conference1 where ,i learned what it was to wait for the coming of the ,lord4 ,with this bright and blessed hope she returned to work with a strength and power before unknown4 ,many souls had already been awakened1 but the full tide of blessing had not yet come4 ,in the villages around her hundreds of labourers were employed in digging for coprolites1 a fossil which1 when ground1 is useful as manure4 ,among these men were many of the wildest wanderers1 and ,miss ,macpherson's heart was deeply stirred for their spiritual welfare1 and her time and strength were given to reach them by every means in her power4 ,she had established evening schools1 lending libraries and coffee-sheds1 and of these and further efforts she wrote3-- ,second to the preaching of the gospel1 we lay every laudable snare to induce men to learn to read and write4 ,in doing this1 spare time is occupied to the best account1 and the enemy is foiled in some of his thousand-and-one ways of ensnaring the toil-worn navvy at the close of day4 ,the more our little band goes forward1 the more we feel that drink1 in all its forms and foolish customs1 must be resisted1--first1 by the powerful influence of a felt example2 and secondly1 by gently and kindly instructing the minds of those amongst whom we labour as to its hurtful snares4 ,we are accused by some of putting this subject before the blessed gospel4 ,god forbid6 ,but when we look on every reclaimed one and know that this was his besetting sin1 we regard the giving it up as the rolling away of the stone before the ,saviour's voice1 ',come forth1' can be obeyed4 ,these first endeavours to spread the gospel story in a more enlarged way were made in villages where the ,rev4 ,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon had laboured when not yet twenty years of age1 and where souls had been blessed through the youthful preacher4 ,some of these converts became my helpers1 and are co-workers to this day4 ,it was in #ahfc that ,i first became an almoner for others1 whilst filled with a desire to build a missionhall among the coprolite diggers in ,cambridgeshire4 ,the friends attending the ,barnet ,conference heard of my wish and shared my burden4 ,the following letter to ,dr4 ,elwin shows the sympathy that he felt in her work3-- ,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,thanking you for your daily remembrance of my continual wants in this the ,lord's work among these poor migratory coprolite diggers1 ,i must say it was indeed refreshing to think that this little hidden vineyard was laid on your heart to present to the ,lord at the ,bristol ,conference4 ,the answer has come1 and now it is my blessed privilege to ask you to rejoice and praise our loving ,father for another six souls born anew4 ,yes1 dear brother1 they are those ,i have laid before you again and again to plead for1 that the dead form of godliness might be broken down4 ,though diggers1 they are residents in a neighbouring village1 and have attended my ploughmen's ,bible-class for some years4 ,from the mouths of many witnesses1 in a series of outdoor gatherings every ,lord's day evening in the past summer1 they have heard1 on their own village green1 a present1 free1 and full salvation4 ,is it not kind of the ,master to employ us feeble women in ,his service1 by allowing us to use our quiet influence for ,him1 and to do many little things1 such as inviting wanderers to listen1 providing hymns and seats1 also refreshment for those sent to deliver the ,king's message8 ,and oh6 it is indeed a hallowed privilege to be a ',hur1' to hold up the hands of the speaker1 and watch the index of the soul as the message of love or of warning falls2 to slip in and out of the group1 and meet the trembling soul with a blessed promise1 or grasp the hand with ,christian sympathy4 ,then for us women such service affords opportunity of giving the little leaflet or book1 such as the case requires1 and following it up in the home with ,bible in hand4 ,the ,lord was very good in sending me helpers1 i4e41 brothers1 to speak during all those summer ,lord's-,day evenings4 ,on one occasion ,i was left alone1 and yet not alone4 ,at another time my faith was tried4 ,no one had come to speak4 ,the people had gathered4 ,i opened my ,testament on the passage1 ',come and see' 7,john iv47 ,if the ,samaritan woman was led so boldly to say to wicked men1 ',come and see1' surely my ,lord knew my burden1 and my need for a brother to speak to that village gathering4 ,we sang a hymn4 ,i was led to pray4 ,on arising from the grass1 a young man came round the corner and said1 ',miss1 the ,lord has laid it on my heart to come here and preach to-night4 ,can ,i be of any service8' ,he took for his text1 ',yet there is room4' ,i know you like to trace the links in the chain of blessing1 so ,i will enter a little into detail4 ,one village displayed the most perfect outward form of all that is considered correct as to the using of means4 ,there were clubs1 saving of money1 young men well dressed and regular at their place of worship1 four nights a week at their evening school2 but oh6 my friend1 not one soul of them with a warm heart towards the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,they read and answered my questions on ,scripture better1 and sought after the library books with more interest1 than any in the other villages2 but it was all head-work1 no heart2 all intellect1 no love4 ,on ,christmas ,day six of these joined our coprolite party to tea1 and from eight to ten solemn prayer seemed laid on every heart for them2 and again the following evening nineteen young men met to pray still for this village4 ,last evening eighteen ,christians of various denominations met in a cottage at this said village4 ,there was no formal address1 but after earnest prayer1 one of the brethren felt this passage laid solemnly on his heart1 ',to-day1 if ye will hear ,his voice1 harden not your hearts4' ,then some converted stone-diggers pleaded for a blessing4 ,the answer of four years' prayers came1 and the feeble infant wail was heard from one after another amid weeping and sobbing4 ,surely the angelic host had songs of praise while1 in that holy stillness1 these young men had a sight of themselves4 ,oh1 pray on that our faith waver not1 for we believe we shall see still greater things4 ,you remember the village where you preached upon ',jesus passing by4' ,there is now a band of more than a dozen praying young men meeting constantly in their little outhouse4 ,the more we go forward in this labour of love the more evident it is that the cursed drink is our great difficulty4 ,this stone must be rolled away4 ,another evening home for these men is a stern necessity1 and must be provided2 a place which they may call their own4 ,each building would cost #cj pounds4 ,the men would furnish it cheerfully and support it nobly4 ,two such buildings have been erected1 are now in operation1 and answer beyond my most sanguine expectations4 ,morning1 noon1 and evening1 groups of men1 while at their hasty meals1 are willing to listen to the ,holy ,scriptures or whatever else may be brought before them4 ,the memory of the just is blessed4 ,it is sweet to recall any incident in the life of him who will ever live in the hearts of many4 ,miss ,macpherson thus records the day of blessing3-- ,it was at a meeting in ,july #ahfd1 at ,mildmay ,park1 that it was laid on my heart to gather together1 before the harvest-time1 the stone-diggers1 villagers1 and their friends1 and to invite the ,rev4 ,w4 and ,mrs4 ,pennefather to see face to face the hundreds of souls for whom they had wrestled with ,god4 ,early in the afternoon of the day appointed1 streams of poor men and women came1 having walked distances of from two to ten miles to be with us4 ,conveyances brought earnest lively ,christians from ,cambridge1 and1 including the stone-diggers1 there were representatives from more than thirty towns and villages4 ,on the arrival of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,pennefather1 great was our joy2 and who of you cannot imagine our beloved friend in the midst of this multitude1 of warm hearts1 as with tears in his eyes he exclaimed1 ',this is another conference'8 ,gatherings on the grass were formed as tables were insufficient1 and our dear friend went in and out among them1 every feature showing forth the love with which ,god had filled his heart4 ,his loving eye alone discovered poor ,tom1 lately out of the workhouse1 standing trembling1 and afraid to approach the party2 behind the tent tears of joy streamed after he had secured1 amid the rush for tea1 a supply for the wants of this poor ,tom4 ,a lovely sunset was shedding its radiance over the humble gathering1 when ,mr4 ,pennefather rose and spoke to them of 'the coming glory1' first reading ,luke ix4 #be-ce2 and knowing that many before him would as ,christians be called upon to endure ridicule from ungodly companions1 he pointed out to them that in all the ,gospels which speak of the ,transfiguration1 the event is preceded by an account of the ,christian's path of self-denial4 ,after an earnest address to the unsaved1 this delightful gathering was closed by his telling them that a little offering had been made at ,mildmay ,park1 and that1 by the help of that money would now be presented to each man and woman1 7stone-diggers and boys included71 a pocket ,testament1 to be used in the intervals of harvest toil4 ,many are their struggles in resisting bad companionship and drink1 in trying to improve in reading1 in seeking to clothe themselves1 to help their parents1 to work for ,jesus with little light1 and less time1 and few talents4 ,oh1 how much do they glorify ,god compared with some in other circumstances1 who have been surrounded by heaven-breathing associations all their days6 ,well1 indeed1 can we understand that verse1 ',the first shall be last1 and the last first4' ,scenes of a different character must now be described4 ,sad and deeply humiliating as the sights and sounds of the ,east ,end of ,london still are1 none who now visit the vast region lying eastward of ,st4 ,paul's can realise the sense of desolation that overpowered one's spirit when beholding it at the time ,mr4 ,radcliffe began his services in #ahfj-ahfa4 ,at that time the condition of the millions who existed there was ignored by those dwelling in more favoured regions4 ,no railways had been as yet constructed by which visitors could come from the north and west4 ,the space now occupied by the great railway stations in ,broad ,street and ,liverpool ,street was then crowded with unwholesome dwellings1 well remembered for deaths in every house4 ,no centres of usefulness where ,christian workers could meet for prayer or counsel then existed4 ,the ,bedford ,institute had not then been built1 and no ,temperance ,coffee-,palace had even been heard of4 ,the power of the ,lord had been very present to wound and to heal in the ,city of ,london ,theatre and at other services held by ,mr4 ,radcliffe1 and the young women who had been blessed were invited to meet for a week-evening ,bible-reading and prayer-meeting1 and for this purpose ,lady ,rowley rented a room in ,wellclose ,square4 ,in this meeting1 and in ,lady ,rowley's mothers' meeting in ,worship ,street1 ,miss ,macpherson began the ministry of love which has extended so widely4 ,she afterwards visited the homes of the poor1 and the toil and suffering she witnessed1 especially in those where matchbox-making was the means of livelihood1 lay heavy on her heart4 ,with her feelings of pity were always quickly followed by practical effort4 ,in the midst of the winter's distress1 one of the most cheering gifts received was from her praying band of coprolite diggers4 ,after a watchnight service1 they had spent the first moments of the consecrated new year in making a gathering from their hard-earned wages4 ,miss ,macpherson had placed the ,east of ,london foremost in the list of subjects to be remembered at their prayer-union every ,lord's ,day4 ,little did the praying band think that in fulfilling this petition1 the ,lord would take their beloved leader from among them4 ,it was in #ahfe that ,miss ,macpherson was guided of the ,lord to leave scenes endeared to her by many hallowed associations1 and to encounter the trials and seek the blessings of ,christian work in the ,east of ,london4 ,her first efforts were in answer to an invitation from the ,society of ,friends to hold classes for young men1 both on the ,lord's ,day and on week evenings1 at the ,bedford ,institute1 a building lately erected by that ,society1 and which stood out conspicuously as a monument of ,christian love4 ,on the week evenings1 instruction in reading and writing was the inducement held out to attend4 ,the first fruits may be seen in ,g4 ,c41 once a violent opposer1 afterwards a valuable helper in ,canada1 and now a preacher of the ,gospel in ,china4 ,the work at the ,bedford attracted so much interest1 that many helpers were drawn to it from other parts4 ,the ,sunday ,bible-classes became an object of remarkable interest4 ,perhaps such an assemblage has seldom been seen4 ,many tables were filled in one hall with men1 in another with women1 many of whom were very aged1 all with large-print ,bibles before them1 and each table headed by some earnest teacher1 all at the close being gathered together for the final address4 ,other ,gospel meetings were also held at the ,bedford1 but ,miss ,macpherson's labours could not be confined to this spot4 ,in several little rooms poor ,christian women were gathered for prayer1 and depots for tracts were established1 and ,scripture texts placed in the windows1 in streets which were never so lighted before4 ,but these and all other efforts for the poor ,east ,end were interrupted in the autumn of #ahff4 ,she felt the ,lord called her to accompany her sister and brother-in-law1 ,mr4 ,merry1 with their young family across the ,atlantic4 ,mr4 ,merry's object was to settle his four sons in the ,western ,states of ,america4 ,the voyage proved most perilous and stormy4 ,on arrival in ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,merry's health entirely broke down1 and the medical opinion given was that nothing would restore him but return to his native land4 ,in ,march #ahfg they were welcomed back with exceeding joy4 ,how mysterious did this trial appear6 ,why were those who had sought the ,lord's counsel so earnestly1 permitted to undertake a voyage apparently so useless1 and accompanied by so much anxiety and suffering8 ,how little could any one then conjecture that the ,lord was thus training ,his children for the great life-work before them6 ,not for the welfare of their own family were ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,merry to be permitted to settle in those broad western lands2 but many voyages were to follow1 and they1 and subsequently their children also1 were to be fellow-helpers in the glorious work of finding homes on earth1 and training for a heavenly ,home1 thousands of children who would have been otherwise homeless and uncared for4 ,what ,i do1 thou knowest not now1 but thou shalt know hereafter4 ,blessed hereafter6 when we shall see all the way the ,lord our ,god has led us2 not a smooth way1 not an easy way4 ,the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way2 but the ,lord led them by the right way4 ,with her usual energy1 ,miss ,macpherson again entered on her ,god-given work among the poor of the ,east ,end1 and at once resolved to do all in her power to help the destitute children with whom she came in daily contact4 ,in the very month of her return1 the first girl was rescued and received into her own ,home1 then at ,canonbury4 ,her story was thus written at the time3--,e4 ,c41 aged sixteen1 was sent to my lodgings to know if ,i could provide a home for her4 ,in ,august #ahff the father of this poor girl had bidden her farewell as she was leaving home on an excursion with the ,sunday-school to which she belonged4 ,on her return1 cholera had numbered him among the dead4 ,the mother threw herself into the canal1 and1 though restored1 was lying helpless in a workhouse4 ,e4 ,c41 who had before been learning dressmaking1 was tossed about from one poor place of service to another--her clothes all pawned1 or in tatters--till her last resting-place was on the flags4 ,then she applied at the ,rev4 ,w4 ,pennefather's soup-kitchen in ,bethnal ,green1 and slept in the room at that time rented above it4 ,the two following days were occupied in vain endeavours to procure admittance into one of the existing ,homes for girls1 the third1 in preparing clothing for her1 while1 at the same time1 no way appeared open for her to be received anywhere4 ,when her clothing was ready1 our first visit was to a sufferer paralysed and convulsed in every limb1 at times compelled to be fastened to his bed1--one whose garret reminded one of the dream of ,jacob2 for answers to prayer were so direct1 it seemed as though heavenly visitants were ever ascending and descending4 ,he prayed1 and while he was yet speaking1 the ,lord sent ,his 'answering messenger4' ,miss ,macpherson had felt it laid on her that day to come to the ,east ,end to my help1 though knowing nothing whatever of the present need4 ,when poor ,e4 ,c4 returned from the baths and washhouses in her clean clothing1 7having sold her former rags for twopence-halfpenny71 she was met by the loving offer of a home4 ,she seemed afraid to believe it1 and followed1 as if in a dream1 the friend so mercifully raised up for her4 ,she was afterwards placed in service with a ,christian friend1 and her two little brothers were among the first inmates of the ,revival ,refuge4 ,most mercifully for the poor little matchbox-makers was ,miss ,macpherson's return ordered at this time4 ,much sympathy had been awakened concerning them1 and much help had been sent for their benefit from the kind readers of the ,christian paper4 ,they numbered many hundreds1 and ,miss ,macpherson undertook care and responsibility concerning them1 for which the strength and powers of an older labourer were totally unfit4 ,in this1 and countless other instances1 ,miss ,macpherson has proved herself ever ready to fulfil the law of ,christ 7,gal4 vi4 #b74 ,the case of these infant toilers had rested on her heart from the first moment she had been made acquainted with their sufferings4 ,the first sight of them is thus described by her own pen3-- ,in a narrow lane1 having followed high up a tottering spiral staircase till we reached the attic1 the first group of tiny1 palefaced matchbox-makers was met with4 ,they were hired by the woman who rented the room4 ,the children received just three farthings for making a gross of boxes2 the wood and paper were furnished to the woman1 but she had to provide paste and the firing to dry the work4 ,she received twopence-halfpenny per gross4 ,every possible spot1 on the bed1 under the bed1 was strewn with the drying boxes4 ,a loaf of bread and a knife stood on the table1 ready for these little ones to be supplied with a slice in exchange of their hard-earned farthings4 ,this touching scene1 which my pen fails to picture1 gave me a lasting impression of childhood's sorrows4 ,never a moment for school or play1 but ceaseless toil from light till dark4 ,miss ,macpherson's first attempt for their benefit was to open evening schools1 the inducement to attend which was the gift of sadly needed clothing4 ,these schools were opened in various localities1 the chief gathering being held in a house kindly provided for us by ,charles ,dobbin1 ,esq41 still one of our unwearied benefactors4 ,not only reading1 but the art of mending their tattered garments was a new thing to them1 and their outward condition was such1 that when for the first time a country excursion was planned for them1 it was with the greatest difficulty they were made fit to appear4 ,whilst making every exertion to raise the matchbox-makers from their hitherto almost helpless state1 her heart yearned over their brothers4 ,a tea-meeting was given for boys by the veteran labourer ,george ,holland1 at the close of which one lad was noticed so much to be pitied1 that it was felt1 if nothing could be done for the others1 he at least must be saved4 ,money was not plentiful1 the need of the ,east ,end was then comparatively little known1 but a young believer1 the son of that honoured servant of the ,lord1 ,w4 ,greene of ,minorca1 had just set apart a portion of his salary to help some poor1 ,london boy1 and the letter telling this was on its way from the ,mediterranean when this lad's history became known4 ,thus he was educated1 and eventually raised to a position in which he became a helper of others4 ,many other homeless boys were found among that evening's guests1 and ,miss ,macpherson felt it was impossible permanently to raise their condition without receiving them into a ,home1 where they could be taught and trained to regular work4 ,the ,lord gave the desire1 and through the active sympathy of ,e4 ,c4 ,morgan1 the editor of the ,christian1 the means were provided4 ,a house was found at ,hackney1 and named the ,revival ,refuge1 where thirty boys could be at once received4 ,a few weeks afterwards1 looking at these bright1 intelligent young faces1 it was difficult to believe in the dark surroundings of their earlier years4 ,so great was the encouragement in caring for them1 spiritually as well as physically1 that ,miss ,macpherson could not rest without enlarging the work1 and a dilapidated dwelling at the back of ,shoreditch ,church was fitted up to receive thirty more boys4 ,in the house first mentioned1 besides the matchbox-makers' evening schools1 mothers' meetings and a sewing class for widows were conducted by ,mrs4 ,merry1 and the upper storey was devoted to the shelter of destitute little girls4 ,but in these1 as in all ,miss ,macpherson's undertakings1 the ,lord blessed her so greatly that more accommodation was required for the constantly increasing numbers4 ,the needed building was provided in a way that could have been little conjectured1 but the ,lord had gone before4 ,along the great thoroughfare leading from the ,docks to the ,great ,eastern ,railway1 lofty warehouses had taken the place of many unclean1 tottering dwellings formerly seen there4 ,during the fearful visitation of cholera in #ahff one of these had been secured as a hospital by ,miss ,sellon's ,sisters of ,mercy1 and water and gas had been laid-on on every floor1 and every arrangement made for convenience and cleanliness4 ,when the desolating scourge was withdrawn the house was closed1 and many predicted that it would never be used again4 ,in the following year ,mr4 ,holland suggested how well it would be to secure it for a ,refuge4 ,the doors had been closed twelve months when ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,merry and three other friends entered the long-deserted dwelling1 and joined in prayer that where death had been seen in all its terrors1 there souls might be born to ,god1 and that the voice of praise and prayer might be heard within those walls which had once resounded with the groans of the dying4 ,then the doors were locked1 and for twelve months more remained as before4 ,then they were again opened1 and on a gloomy winter's evening1 with one candle the vast unlighted dwelling was again entered4 ,the little company included ,r4 ,c4 ,morgan1 ,charles ,dobbin1 and ,henry ,blair1 of the ,madras ,civil ,service1 whose interest in the work now begun1 only ended with his death4 ,through the kindness of these friends the building was secured1 and the rent promised1 but then a new difficulty arose4 ,it had been hoped that ,mr4 ,holland1 who had first suggested the effort to secure the building1 would have been willing to undertake the charge1 but the work at ,george ,yard was too dear to be given up4 ,and now1 who would bear this burden8 ,it could hardly be believed that any woman would undertake the responsibility1 for women had not then been called forward in this country so prominently as they now are4 ,here may be seen something of the ,lord's purpose in having permitted ,miss ,macpherson's voyage to ,new ,york4 ,in that city she had seen the faith and courage the ,lord had given to women to attempt great things for ,him1 and the day is well remembered when many prayers were answered that she would accept the post4 ,it is a post far advanced into the enemy's territory1 for the adjoining streets are known as the ,thieves' ,quarter4 ,three thousand1 it is supposed1 have their headquarters here4 ,in the square mile in the midst of which the ,refuge1 7now called ,home of ,industry71 is situated1 #abj1jjj of our poorest population are to be found4 ,from the first ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,merry gave themselves as willing and invaluable helpers to the enormous work connected with the undertaking4 ,it appeared great from the beginning1 but little could any one have imagined how it would go on spreading and increasing4 ,it is difficult1 or it may be impossible1 to name any form of distress or any class which has not been here relieved and blessed4 ,every hour of the day1 and even far on into the night1 the voice of praise and prayer has been heard in some part of the building4 ,even in the vaults beneath the pavement was a little sanctuary made4 ,under the very stones1 before trodden by them as homeless wanderers1 some have joined in asking the ,lord's blessing on those who had rescued them4 ,in ,february1 #ahfi1 the ,lord granted us the desire of our hearts1 and the ,home of ,industry was opened with praise and prayer4 ,the ,lord had done great things for us1 but far more than any heart then1 conceived were the blessings yet in store4 ,on ,february #bb1 ,miss ,macpherson wrote as follows in the ,christian3-- ,,beloved ,,helpers1--,to-night how your hearts would have rejoiced to have seen me and my happy hundreds of little toiling children in our new schoolroom in the ,refuge4 ,how varied their feelings6 ,one whispered1 ',it was here my mother died of the cholera4' ,another1 ',oh6 ,i was once in this ward before1 so ill of black cholera4' ,dear children6 our prayer was that it might still be a house of mercy to many a sin-wearied soul4 ,we have never had such a large schoolroom before1 nor the advantage of desks4 ,their joy knew no bounds when told to invite their mothers to come one afternoon in the week to help me to sew and to earn sixpence1 my object being twofold1--to secure an opportunity of telling them the gospel1 and to endeavour to help them in the management of their homes and little ones4 ,the following will show something of the trials attending holding the fort in such a spot3-- ,last night ,i felt it right to sleep at the ,refuge for once1 so as to be able to enter into all its needs4 ,no words can describe the sounds in the streets surrounding it throughout the night2--yells of women1 cries of ',murder6' then of ',police6'--with the rushing to and fro of wild1 drunken men and women into the street adjoining the building1 whence more criminals come than from any other street in ,london4 ,at three o'clock the heavy rumble of market-waggons commenced1 and then the rush of the fire-brigade4 ,thus much by way of asking special prayer for those whom ,god has made willing to live in the midst of such surroundings4 ,on the other side of the building is an empty space1 known as ',rag ,fair1' filled in the morning with a horde of the poorest women selling the veriest old rubbish4 ,we are thankful to have among these a faithful ,christian woman1 who1 though a seller of rags1 is able to testify of the great love of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #ahfi-ahgj4 ,emigration of families--,a visitor's impressions--,the great life-work --,emigration of the young1 begun #ahgj--;,first party of boys to ,canada with ,miss ,macpherson and ,miss ,bilbrough--,their reception--,mr4 ,merry takes second party of boys--,miss ,macpherson returns to ,england and takes out a party of girls--,canadian welcome and happy homes-- ,canadian pastor's story4 ,emigration had now for some time been in view as the only means of relieving the chronic poverty of the ,east of ,london1 and in ,april #ahfi a circular to this effect was issued by ,miss ,macpherson and ,miss ,ellen ,logan4 ,fifty families were selected as being suitable for such help1 and these were gathered together at a farewell tea-meeting before leaving for ,canada1 all expressing deep thankfulness for the opening given to them4 ,the preparations for the voyage of these fathers1 mothers1 and little ones required much thought and labour1 both for their temporal and spiritual welfare1 but from the very beginning of the work1 sisters in ,christ came from a distance1 giving hours or days as a labour of love1 and besides personal help on the spot1 many busy fingers were at work in their own homes4 ,the first party was followed by others1 all involving much care and labour4 ,before the close of the year very encouraging accounts were received from many of the travellers1 and the contrast was great between their condition in the new country and that which might here have been their lot4 ,whilst this important work was being carried on1 evening reading and sewing classes for the little matchbox-makers1 and mothers' meetings1 were continued without intermission1 together with the teaching and training of boys begun at the first ,homes2 and on the ,lord's ,day1 besides the very large gathering of matchbox-makers1 every effort was made to bring all around under the sound of the gospel4 ,a stranger thus describes his impressions after a visit to the ,home of ,industry1 ,november1 #ahfi3-- ',the mighty cry of anguish' that has gone up for so long from the ,east of ,london has1 thank ,god1 touched many a heart1 and led some to carry ,god's answering messages in person to the suffering poor1 and others to help in the lesser service of gifts4 ,determined to see how the matter stood as regards one portion of that great mass of misery1 ,i gave myself up to the skilful guidance of one whose whole life is spent in the service of ,god and ,his poor4 ,leaving the rail1 we proceeded to visit the sick-bed of one of the voluntary workers in the ,refuge4 ,we found him recovering from a severe attack of enteric fever complicated with pneumonia of the right lung4 ,a fine1 handsome young man1 once the leader of the singing in a philharmonic club1 now the devoted servant of ,god1 his whole anxiety seemed to be as to when he could return to his work4 ,during our visit1 it was most touching to see the tenderness and anxious care of his companion1 a young man called ,fred1 a labourer in the large wine vaults at the docks1 who1 though smelling of wine1 and his clothes saturated with the fumes of spirits1 was a staunch teetotaller2 and judging from the intelligent way in which he answered our questions1 would be a valuable witness before any commission of inquiry into the practices which wine-sellers term 'mixing1' but which he vulgarly called 'adulteration4' ,every night during the many weeks of illness ,fred had paid his friend a visit1 and watched over him with all the love of a ,jonathan to a ,david4 ,we now pressed him into our service to conduct us through some of the many licensed lodging-houses and thieves' kitchens1 which abound in the neighbourhood of ,spitalfields4 ,on our way we met two little girls1 matchbox-makers4 ,the outline of their lives was given in a few moments4 ,the father1 a drunkard1 had absconded six years ago1 leaving his wife and six children to struggle with awful poverty as best they might1 having previously so beaten and kicked his wife about the face1 that she had become almost blind4 ',where's father now8' ',in the workhouse1 stoneblind4' ,in a room with a roaring fire were seated some thirty men and a few women with infants4 ,the landlord's reception was anything but gracious4 ,in answer to our ',good evening1' he growled out1 ',we don't want talk2 those men want bread4' ,and hungry enough many seemed4 ,so while one was sent for a supply of bread1 which was received with unmistakable gladness1 and devoured greedily1 we spoke to them of that living bread which came down from heaven4 ,all were interested1 and one young man seemed to wince and to be ill at ease when the love of ,god was spoken of4 ,i could not but feel that conscience was at work1 perhaps memory carrying back his mind to a godly mother1 who once had spoken the same loving words1 but had gone to her rest in tears4 ,we then entered a licensed lodging-house accommodating #cej4 ,this was a sad sight1 because three-fourths of the men were unemployed poor1 chiefly dock-labourers1 willing and glad to work1 if work could be got4 ,on many a face there were stamped hopelessness and apathy4 ,two poor fellows were sipping a cup of tea1 without milk or sugar1 given to them by a poor man1 but they had not a morsel of bread2 and this was their breakfast1--a late one truly1 for it was ten at night4 ,out all day in search of work1 their last coppers were paid for the night's lodging1 and a cup of poor tea was their only meal4 ,it made one's spirit groan to think of the misery that sin and selfishness had wrought for these poor fellows4 ,in the next house the inmates were mostly thieves4 ,but here is one poor fellow1 a workman1 but with no work2 he has been out in the streets three nights1 and now one of his companions pleads with us for three-pence to procure him a night's rest4 ,we peeped into several other such dwellings1 but the same story was repeated in each4 ,in all we were struck with the kind reception we met with1 evidently due in part to the presence of our companion1 who1 although a lady1 feels called of ,god to labour among these dens of misery1 where there is so much to do and so few to do it1 and to the fact that we lent a kindly ear to their tale of distress1 and did what lay in our power to relieve the immediate pressure of the very destitute4 ,but1 above all1 we were thankful to meet with such a spirit of hearing1 and a ready attention when ,jesus was lifted up as the ,saviour of sinners4 ,we now entered a court to visit a poor woman whose husband had died suddenly the week before4 ,it was between nine and ten1 and we found the widow had been washing1 the clothes hanging from lines in the room4 ,her two children1 aged nine and eleven1 were busily employed in matchbox-making4 ,the rapidity and neatness of these little human machines were truly most remarkable2 the number of boxes made in a day1 from half-past six in the morning to ten at night1 was something fabulous4 ,the floor of the room was covered with boxes2 they earned a shilling each a day2 often days passed when they were unable to get work to do4 ,poor children6 thin and wan-looking1 life seemed a terribly serious thing to them1 their days spent in incessant toil when work was plentiful1 their nights--well1 they had a bedstead with a bundle of dirty rags for a bed1 but not a stitch of bedclothes2 the clothes the children wore were their only covering at night4 ,in another court we found a silk-weaver hard at work1--from eight in the morning to eleven at night4 ,this man1 a ,christian1 had formerly been a weaver of velvet1 but finding that a living could not in any way be made out of it1 in an evil hour he was tempted to go into a skittle-alley as a helper4 ,here1 though receiving good wages1 he found he could not be happy1--could not 'abide with ,god2' so he gave it up1 and now he is earning barely tenpence a day2 but hard as his lot is1 he is happy in the consciousness of doing right1 and still manages to spare a little time to take his reading-lesson from the ,bible1 and to tend a flowering-plant1 his only companion1 which representative of the vegetable world seems to have nearly as hard a struggle to live as its master4 ,our next visit was to a poor old woman between sixty and seventy years of age1 surrounded with every discomfort1 and troubled with constant cough and weakness4 ,apparently she had only a few days to live1 but she was able to rejoice in ,jesus as her ,saviour1 whose presence even then made all things bright4 ,the next visit was to a poor dying girl2 in a room so small that there was only a margin of about three feet round two sides of the bed for standing ground1 the floor covered with rags1 7her mother being a rag-mender71 lay one1 who1 though poor and miserable1 was yet an heir of glory1 and was upheld in all her wretchedness by ,him who was sent to be 'the ,comforter4' ,we thanked ,god for these two bright spots1 where divine light and love were seen and felt4 ,at the ,home of ,industry we had been invited to take tea with two hundred and fifty destitute widows4 ,the testimony of one of these1 a clean1 tidy old woman1 was very precious4 ,she had once been in affluent circumstances and drove her carriage2 her fortune lost in one day1 she was now reduced to poverty1 but1 ',sir1' she said1 ',i would not go back to it all and be as ,i then was2 no1 not for all the world4' ,possessing ,christ as her own1 she felt she had the riches of ,god1 and knew that there was an inheritance reserved for her in heaven1 incorruptible1 and undefiled1 and that fadeth not away4 ,the great lifework of ,miss ,macpherson and her devoted family may be said to have begun this year4 ,the need of emigration may be expressed in her own words3-- ,boys came to us for shelter instead of going to empty barrels1 railway arches1 and stairways4 ,we found they were grateful for all that was done for them4 ,the simple gospel lesson was our lever to lift them into new thoughts and desires4 ,the sharp dividing knife of the ,word of ,god would discover the thief and liar1 and rouse the conscience to confession more than anything beside4 ,but our walls had limits1 and our failures in finding employment for many away from their old haunts became a great difficulty1 and the ,god-opened way of emigration to ,canada was pressed upon us4 ,thy ,god hath commanded thy strength4 ,to the astonishment of many1 ,miss ,macpherson expressed her determination to pioneer the first band1 and ,he ,who of old sent forth ,his disciples two and two1 was mindful of the present need1 and so strengthened the heart of a young sister 7already deeply interested in the work1 and singularly gifted in many ways7 to lay all at the feet of her ,master1 and to offer to share whatever toils and trials might be in the way4 ,ye have not passed this way heretofore4 ,it was a new way1 an untrodden way4 ,we have now been for many years so accustomed to hear of the kind welcome given in ,canada1 and the prosperity of the young emigrants1 that we cannot realise the faith and courage required by ,miss ,macpherson1 and her co-worker1 ,miss ,bilbrough4 ,many misgivings arose in the hearts of some at the thought of these two sisters in the ,lord arriving uninvited in a new land where neither owned a friend1 and1 greatest of all1 fears were entertained that those who had known the wild roaming life of city ,arabs might defy the control and authority of the leaders4 ,but how vain were all these fears6 ,wisdom had been asked of the ,lord in every step of the way1 and ,he had given liberally1 according to ,his gracious word4 ,how blessedly was the title of ,counsellor as well as ,leader and ,commander of ,his people then fulfilled6 ,the following description of the departure of the first party was written at the time3-- ,our souls are in ,god's mighty hand1 ,we're precious in ,his sight4 ,these words1 sweet and true at all times1 surely never sounded sweeter than when sung by the band of young emigrants gathered for the last time within the walls of the ,refuge1 which to many of them is hallowed as no other spot on earth can ever be4 ,how precious in ,his sight1 none can tell but ,he who watched over those young wanderers1 and surrounded them with the loving care and prayers which still follow them to a distant land4 ,the beloved helpers at a distance1 who have toiled1 and collected1 and borne to a throne of grace the burdens of their beloved sister in the ,lord1 ,miss ,macpherson1 will like to know every detail1 even to the outward appearance of those once ragged1 shoeless wanderers4 ,now they stood in ranks ready to depart1 dressed in rough blue jackets1 corduroy suits1 and strong boots1 all made within the ,refuge1 the work of their own hands4 ,all alike had scarlet comforters and ,glengarry caps2 a canvas bag across their shoulders contained a change of linen for the voyage1 towels1 tin can1 bowl and mug1 knife1 fork1 and spoon2 and one kind friend1 the last day before starting1 brought them a present of a hundred strong pocket-knives4 ,a ,bible1 a ,pilgrim's ,progress1 and a little case of stationery1 were provided for each1 and while they stood thus indoors1 singing their last farewell1 a dense crowd filled the street without1 having waited for hours in the pouring rain4 ,it was with difficulty the police could keep struck with the sight of the boys1 all remarking that they had never seen more intelligent countenances1 and one observed1 after hearing something of their history1 ,this is real religion4 ,liverpool was reached at #d ,a4,m41 and all went at once on board the ,peruvian4 ,then came a trial of patience1--they had to wait some hours for breakfast1--but restraining grace was so manifest throughout1 that one's heart was continually lifted up in praise and thanksgiving for this mercy as well as for countless others1 and most especially for the loving-kindness of the ,lord in strengthening and supporting ,his beloved servants at the time of parting4 ,from want of space1 it appeared impossible1 7as far as could be judged from the first day's experience71 to gather all the boys together1 but even amid the difficulties attending first going on board1 ,miss ,macpherson succeeded in holding a little service with a portion of them4 ,some of the passengers and crew gathered round2 all were remembered in her supplications1 and a deep solemnity rested on all4 ,then she called on those boys who knew what it was to draw near with assurance to the throne of grace to ask for blessing1 and1 with her undaunted energy1 exhorted them not to be afraid to speak for ,jesus4 ,prayer was followed by the oft-repeated hymn1-- ,there is a better world1 they say1 ,oh1 so bright6 ,the tender brought on board a band of ,christian friends1 who once more thronged around her1 till the parting signal was given1 and then the last sounds heard on leaving were1 ,yes1 we part1 but not for ever1 and ,shall we gather at the river8 ,the following note of cheer quickly arrived1 to the joy of many anxious hearts and the praise of a prayer-hearing ,god3-- ,on ,board the ',peruvian1' off the ,coast of ,ireland1 ,may #ac1 #ahgj4 ,,my ,,dear ,,sisters1--,fearing lest in your anxiety for us you may have imagined a rough night for the first1 ,i send a few lines to assure you that all is love1 even to the smallest details4 ,each rolling wave reminds me of that word in the ,epistle of ,james1 ',let him ask in faith1 nothing wavering4 ,for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea1 driven with the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the ,lord4' ,many a faithful prayer has ascended for a prosperous voyage2 prosperity of soul is often realised by being kept in the lowest place1 and when my boys told me how ill some of them had been in the night1 and how they had1 notwithstanding1 held little prayer-meetings1 crying to ,jesus in the midst of what to them seemed a storm1 ,i rejoiced4 ,thus trial sends us to ,jesus1 the ,captain of our salvation4 ,with the exception of two1 all are on deck now1 as bright as larks2 they have carried up poor ,jack ,frost1 and ,franks1 the runner4 ,it is most touching to see them wrap them up in their rugs4 ,michael ,finn1 the ,shoreditch shoeblack1 was up all night caring for the sick boys2 he carries them up the ladder on his back4 ,poor ,mike6 he and ,i have exchanged nods at the ,eastern ,counties ,railway corner these five years2 it is a great joy to give him such a chance in life4 ,oh1 to win his soul to look to ,jesus for everlasting life6 ,the following extract will tell the answer to the many prayers by which ,miss ,macpherson was upheld1 and how assuredly it was the ,lord who had guided her way across the pathless deep3-- ,mr4 ,stafford1 the agent at ,quebec1 would willingly have kept the hundred boys there1 but we only left him eleven1 and brought the rest on to ,montreal2 and there too they were anxious to keep them1 and said if it were made known1 in three days we should not have one remaining4 ,as it was1 we left twenty-three1 and all in excellent situations4 ,some of the best were picked out1 numbers of them as house-servants4 ,then we left eight at ,belleville1 half way between ,montreal and ,toronto4 ,these boys were left in charge of ,mr4 ,leslie ,thom1 who had acted as schoolmaster at the ,home of ,industry1 and whose help was invaluable on arrival in the new country4 ,miss ,macpherson's youngest sister1 ,mrs4 ,birt1 thus writes concerning the departure of the second family1 so readily sent out in answer to the invitations of dear friends in ,canada3-- ,i am sure our dear friends will feel exceedingly pleased and gratified to hear that the departure of our second band of boys for ,canada this year1 under the care of ,mr4 ,merry1 took place on the #bast of ,july1 leaving our hearts filled to overflowing with thankfulness and praise for the very marked way in which the ,lord has led us on step by step4 ,little did we think1 a month ago1 that it would be possible in so short a time to select1 teach1 and outfit seventy boys1 and to soften their manners1 even if we had the necessary money for their expenses4 ,but the ,lord has most wonderfully brought it all about in ,his own way4 ,the money was sent1 boys anxiously in search of employment came beseeching help1 the needful work for their outfits was accomplished in far less than the usual time by faithful widows1 who sewed away as diligently as though each had been making garments for her own son4 ,an active1 earnest1 clever teacher was also provided by the ,lord1 to give to these rescued ones that punctual and diligent1 daily attention that seemed to us so important4 ,even the postponement of their sailing from the #adth inst4 to the #bast inst4 was overruled for good2 ,mr4 ,merry was enabled to become more personally acquainted with each1 and we know that 'the good seed of the ,word' was sown in many hearts1 we trust to bear fruit4 ,on reaching the ship1 we were told that our band would have the benefit of a place set apart for themselves1 whereas1 had they sailed the previous week1 they would have been crowded up with other emigrants4 ,after three days' rest we return1 the ,lord willing1 to the ,refuge1 to select and prepare a band of young girls4 ,our sister ,miss ,macpherson writes to us that she has been besought most earnestly by the ,canadian ladies to send them out some little ,english maids2 and that they promise to watch over them and care for them as if they were their own4 ,after the arrival of ,mr4 ,merry in ,canada with the second party of boys1 ,miss ,macpherson returned to ,england and wrote as follows3-- ,my ,,beloved ,,fellow-,,labourers1--,you will be surprised to hear that1 after a pleasant voyage1 with renewed health1 ,i am again in my privileged place of service in the ,east of ,london4 ,my song of praise is very full4 ,the ,council of the county of ,hastings has given me a house capable of holding #bjj1 free of all expenses1 situated in the town of ,belleville1 ,ontario1 leaving the management in my hands1 entirely untrammelled by conditions4 ,thus a work of faith is now commenced on ,canadian shores1 where our little street wanderers can at once be sent and trained under our own schoolmaster1 ,mr4 ,leslie ,thom4 ,my friend ,miss ,bilbrough1 assisted by the ,christian ladies of the town1 has undertaken to furnish this ,distributing ,home in readiness for ,mr4 ,merry's arrival4 ,there all will undergo a training1 and will be kept till suitable situations are appointed for them4 ,after remaining a short time in ,england1 ,miss ,macpherson1 accompanied by her sister1 ,mrs4 ,birt1 returned to ,canada with the third party of young emigrants1 numbering over a hundred4 ,the following is an extract from ,mrs4 ,birt's first letter after their arrival3-- ,in my memory are associated two scenes connected with the pretty park in which the ,distributing ,home is situated1 scenes that can never be forgotten2 first1 the long procession of the tired and weary little travellers1 wending their way up the carriage-drive1 the clear1 starlit sky overhead1 and the quiet1 bright full moon shining down on their upturned faces1 as they stood in front of their new home1 and sang so earnestly-- ',praise ,god1 from whom all blessings flow1 ,praise ,him1 all creatures here below2' and secondly1 on awaking the next morning and looking out1 the sight of the whole party scampering about the park1 just like so many little wild animals let loose from a cage1 rushing about under every tree1 as if trying whether their freedom was real4 ,i had to call my sister to look at them2 and in mind we carried them back to ,london at six o'clock in the morning1 and felt it was indeed good for them to be thus in ,canada4 ,how longingly we wished we could fill the ,distributing ,home with just such a number every month of the year1 for certain it is we could find places and homes for them all4 ,a little later ,miss ,macpherson wrote3-- ,yesterday afternoon ,miss ,bilbrough drove us out into the cleared backwoods to visit some of our children4 ,the country was charming2 woods and green valleys1 with every now and then rich orchards laden with rosy apples2 the long ,concession roads1 forming at times magnificent avenues1 in which here and there a maple1 which had caught a cold blast1 prematurely showed the lovely autumnal tints so peculiar in richness to this country4 ,everywhere we called the warmest hospitality was shown us1 very like the 'furthy auld kintra folk' of ,scotia in days lang syne4 ,our first recognition was a boy named ,ambrose1 of the second detachment2 he was busy in the farmyard1 but soon1 with a bright face1 came to the side of our vehicle1 telling us he was so happy and well2 indeed1 it required no words to assure us of this4 ,our next call was to one of the first settlers of fifty-eight years ago1 still living in the house he had at first erected4 ,his dear wife1 on hearing of the arrival of the little ,english orphan children1 could not sleep all night1 but had her horses put into the team1 and drove in to ,belleville1 and for the ,lord's sake1 who had been so good to her and hers1 took away two1 one for herself and one for her married daughter1 whose home had never rung with the voice of a little prattler4 ,it was great joy to see that they loved and cared for these little waifs as though they were their very own2 my heart alone knowing whence they had been taken1 and their little memories still keen as to the awful contrast of former want and this present abundance of food1 fruit1 and kindness4 ,with this dear1 pious couple1 we drank tea4 ,such a spread at this meal is never beheld in the old country4 ,around my cup of tea were seven different kinds of choice dainties at the same time4 ,this is their way1 and it is done with few words but warm welcome4 ,the homespun1 well-worn coat and well-patched shoes of our aged host were all forgotten when listening to his intelligent remarks on men and things2 and though seventy-eight years of age1 every faculty of head and heart seemed to keep pace with the times4 ,he was a ,wesleyan ,methodist1 and with pleasure told us of the erection of their new ,zion1 whose glistening tinned spire we could see rising among the woods at no great distance4 ,miss ,bilbrough wrote at this time3-- ,miss ,macpherson has been able to spend during this summer much of her time in visiting among the different farms where our children are located1 within some twenty or forty miles of ,belleville in the counties of ,hastings and ,prince ,edward4 ,she would start some sunshiny morning on a week's tour1 dining with one farmer1 having tea at another's1 and passing the night at some special friend's1 ,charlie1 the mission horse1 receiving the best of fare2 while next day the farmer harnesses his horse and takes her round to the neighbouring farms where the little ,english emigrants have found a resting-place2 and oh6 the joy of these children to see again the well-remembered face1 and hear the cheery voice of her who had first seen and relieved their misery in the old country1 and now bringing fresh cheer and comfort in the new6 ,with what haste the table is spread and soon loaded with substantial food1 and afterwards what opportunities arise for a few words of counsel6 ,some verses are read from the ,word of ,god1 and then kneeling down1 we and the new friends would commit the child to the care of ,him who has said1 ',i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4' ,here1 too1 the numerous tracts and books brought from ,england1 ',god's ,way of ,peace1' ',the ,blood of ,jesus1' ',british ,workman1' ',band of ,hope1' and ',the ,christian1' often containing a letter from ,miss ,macpherson1 are eagerly sought after and read2 and when passing along the road1 ,charlie seems now instinctively to stop when meeting some pedestrian1 that out of our well-filled handbags may be given some tract or book4 ,the following is a record of days of travel in the backwoods3-- ,,marchmont1 ,,belleville1 ,october4 ,my friend ,miss ,bilbrough and ,i started1 after an early dinner1 from ,marchmont1 having declined the kind offer of a friend's conveyance1 preferring to go by the usual stage-waggon1 as our object was to study the country people1 and know those with whom our little ones mingle4 ,in so doing we increase our opportunities of distributing books and tracts1--a new thing in these outlying districts4 ,we ask prayer for a blessing on these1 and for every dear boy and girl who has been under our care1 that the ,holy ,spirit may bring to each mind the remembrance of the truth in ,jesus1 which has been set before them4 ,our faith is from time to time strengthened by seeing one after another joining the ,lord's people4 ,the novelty of our position was increased when the driver and our fellow-passengers1 seven in number1 discovered that we were the friends of the orphan children4 ,their politeness was touching4 ,we had to take the best seat1 the curtains were drawn down to shelter us from the wind1 and the driver strove to interest us by telling us histories of such of our boys as he knew at different points of his journey4 ,for miles the country seemed well cleared1 except where portions of forest were left to supply wood for the years to come4 ,the cedar-rail fence and ',concession roads' marked all into well-defined portions4 ,on these roads the homesteads are built in every variety of style1 from the log-hut built of cedar-trees laid one upon the other1 cemented together1 and roofed with bark1 to the stone and brick edifice1 with barns and stables1 and other surroundings1 like unto one of our own old country farmhouses4 ,our fellow-travellers were farmers1 returning from ,toronto ,fair4 ,they seemed amused and willing to listen to our conversation with the driver1 and received our books most politely4 ,the 'lumbering district' stretched away northwards1 some seventy-five miles from where the giants of the forest had been felled4 ,the recollections of our fellow-passengers were interesting as to the few years ago1 when the very country we were passing through was a dense mass of similar unhewn timber4 ,now on every side there were homesteads telling of plenty1 and enlivened by rosy1 healthy little ones4 ,who will question the desirability of thus peopling our ,father's glorious landscapes1 and gathering up our poor perishing children from our overcrowded dens and alleys1 where they are dying by thousands yearly for want of pure air and sunshine1 many becoming criminals ere they scarce leave their mother's knee8 ,the past encourages us to hope that ,he will not permit us to go before ,him1 and will both send sufficient strength for the day1 and sufficient means for the support of all ,he would have us rescue from misery1 by bringing them under the influences of a pious home1 placing them in ,sabbath schools1 and above all1 gathering them beneath the sheltering wing of the loving ,shepherd4 ,we arrive at length at ,roslin1 and soon find the pretty house of our friend ,dr4 ,h---1 where we are warmly greeted for the ,master's sake1 and ere long introduced to the only little baby prattler1 its mother1 and her widowed sister4 ,they had lived in the city1 had visited the old country1 were friends of ,mr4 ,gosse1 and readers of ',the ,christian4' ,hence we soon found that though in a ,canadian backwood settlement1 we had tastes and topics in common1 and one longing especially united us--the burden of precious souls to be won for ,him we all loved4 ,through a chain of circumstances1 ,dr4 ,b--- had obtained one of our boys1 who had been engaged in a similar capacity in a suburb of ,london1 but had lost his situation1 and become an orphaned wanderer in our great city4 ,his knowledge of dispensing was a recommendation for his appointment to another doctor2 and1 to my great joy1 hitherto he had conducted himself so well1 that in all the neighbourhood around other boys were so much in demand1 that we now have no less than forty children in that district among the farmers4 ,my friend1 ever a true helper as secretary1 remembered that a small boy named ,smith1 who had left a mother sorely fretting after him1 lived near1 and proposed to go and get a report of him at once4 ,the ,doctor's conveyance soon was at the door1 and in less than an hour my friend returned with a bright account of the comfortable home and the happiness of its young inmate4 ,the short hours after tea swiftly passed in conversing over the basket of books and tracts1 many of these the gathered-up stores of my friends1 which when read had been sent to the ,refuge1 and were now being spread freely in ,canadian homes4 ,we also talked over the principle which we were endeavouring to work out with these friendless children1 namely1 that as the ,lord ,jesus had given ,himself to save us1 so we ought to reach out the hand of love1 and endeavour to snatch others from lives of misery and want4 ,if we cannot open our own doors to the lost and wayward2 ought we not to help in finding out those who can1 that the lost and wandering lambs outside in the wilderness might be gathered beneath a sheltering wing inside some happy fold8 ,dr4 ,h--- and his intelligent wife and sister held a long conversation with us on the method best suited for those whom we are seeking to benefit--whether to educate them for a series of years in our institutions in the old country1 or to afford them only a temporary residence with us1 where their character1 temper1 and talents could be studied for a few months with a view to determine what family they would suit best4 ,our experience with the three hundred children now placed out and watched over by our co-labourers in ,canada brought us to the latter conclusion1 and the testimony of others in ,germany was to the same effect4 ,pastor ,zeller1 who himself founded an orphan asylum at ,beuggen1 had long before strongly advocated the placing of bereaved children in ,christian families as the very best method of training them4 ,commenting on this1 ,m4 de ,liefde observes--',an establishment which contains from fifty to seventy children 7and this surely is only a small one71 however well managed1 cannot help being unnatural in many respects4 ,nature seldom puts more than twelve children together in one house2 quite enough for a man and his wife to control1 if due attention be given to the formation of the different characters and the development of the various talents4 ,the training of a band of children beyond that number cannot help assuming the character of wholesale education4 ,the larger the number1 the greater the resemblance of the establishment to a barrack2 it becomes a depot of ready-made young citizens1 got up for social life at a fixed price1 and within a fixed period of time4 ,no wonder that they often turn out unfit for practical realities1 and uncured of inveterate defects4' ,the noble ,immanuel ,wichern felt this objection so forcibly1 that his famous ',rauhe ,haus' institution is like a village of families1 each homestead with its house-father and house-mother1 and its twelve boys or girls1 as the case may be4 ,he considered that he could not otherwise do justice to those whom ,god had committed to his care than by bringing the principles of family life to bear upon each individual4 ,in the course of conversation we asked1 how it was that so far from the city they had heard of our having boys to dispose of1 and it was pleasant to hear that the weekly ',christian' was the link that led them to depute a relative to watch for our passing through ,montreal4 ,family worship closed this day of sweet service4 ,the next morning our kind host studied the various ,concessions in which our children had been located1 and soon the 'democrat' 7a peculiar carriage suited for this country7 was brought to the door1 and the doctor1 and his sister accompanied us for the day's drive4 ,the day was balmy1 like one of our bright ,june days1 and beeches and maples1 firs and cedars1 were beautiful to behold in their autumn loveliness4 ,our first call was at ,mr4 ,v---'s4 ,he was a widower1 and1 finding his home lonely1 had sought at ,marchmont for a little one to love and cheer him4 ,he had taken the twin-like brothers1 ,freddy and ,tommy1 whose sweet little faces bore some resemblance to his own4 ,we found the children at school1 looking hearty and happy in the playground as we passed the schoolhouse4 ,mr4 ,v--- was from home1 but his mother1 a pious woman1 received us most kindly1 and spoke affectionately of the children4 ,she took us to see her lovely flowerbeds of annuals1 all laid out with taste in front of the wooden house1 and tended by her own hands when house-work was over4 ,my heart longed for the joy of telling the happiness of these children to the aged pious grandmother pining away in want and sickness1 and forsaken by her own son1 the father of these boys4 ,passing onwards1 we drove past a rosy-cheeked little fellow climbing a bank4 ,a month in the fresh air had so changed him from the delicate1 pale1 thin boy1 that we looked again ere we recognised ,alfred ,bonkin4 ,his widowed mother will sing for joy to hear of his being thus educated1 clothed1 and fed1 and growing up to an honest life4 ,alfred was 'fixed up' 7to use a ,canadian term7 with two others of our children in a family settlement4 ,one was a grown-up lad1 employed in farm work1 and the other a little matchbox-maker4 ,the venerable couple who had adopted them had won our hearts when calling upon us at the ,home4 ,they were both over eighty years of age1 had thirty grandchildren and six great-grandchildren1 and yet room to love our little ones1 and not miss the 'bite and the sup4' ,it was washing-day2 but the old lady left her tub 'right away1' and hoped we would not be 'scared1'1 by her being in a bustle1 but just 'take off1' and she would soon spread the table8 ,we spoke of our long round of calls1 and with difficulty we got away1 not before we had been laden with a basket of the finest apples we had ever seen1 and had promised to come and pay a long visit next time4 ,from all we witnessed1 we could not but rejoice in the way ,god had opened homes and ,christ-loving hearts to receive our perishing little ones4 ,peace and plenty smiled on every hand4 ,tears came as a relief when fondling little ,annie ,parker took my hand1 saying1 ',tome and see my father's new house6' ,the memory came back of ,mr4 ,morgan1 ,mr4 ,holland1 and a few friends meeting with me in ,john ,street to form a ',little ,girls' ,home4' ,two years have now passed since ,annie and her whole family were carried to the ,fever ,hospital4 ,both the parents died2 the four girls took a room1 and lived by matchbox-making4 ,annie and ,maggie were the youngest1 starved and ragged beyond description4 ,since that time they have both been cared for1 have learnt their letters1 and can now read and write4 ,surely the most inveterate opponents to emigration could not but approve of and seek a blessing on such a change4 ,where in all ,england could we have found1 in a few weeks1 hearts and homes for forty adoptions8 ,these families are thrifty and homely--spinning1 weaving1 knitting1 knowing what small means with a blessing can do1 and are the very people to train up our children for a common-sense battle with the difficulties of life4 ,we were interested in observing the forethought displayed in laying up stores for the winter2 apple being peeled1 quartered1 strung upon strings1 and dried either in the sun1 or over the kitchen stove2 pumpkins cut into parings and dried1 c4 ,all that remained at this late season 7,october7 in the fields was the buckwheat4 ,when this is cut and placed in stacks1 its red roots are exposed1 affording a pleasant contrast to the dark green of the up-springing fall-wheat4 ,more immediately around the houses1 lay the immense yellow pumpkins1 still attached to their dying stems4 ,the time for ,miss ,macpherson's return to ,england now drew near1 and with a heart filled with thankfulness for the mercies they had already experienced ,miss ,bilbrough offered to remain at ,marchmont1 to brave alone the first ,canadian winter1 and with ,mr4 ,thom's help to watch over any case of difficulty that might arise among those who had come out2 for as yet the work was an experiment4 ,a ,,canadian ,,pastor',s ,,story4 ,annie and ,maggie1 the children before mentioned1 were taken out to ,canada by ,miss ,macpherson1 and were at first unavoidably placed in families residing at some distance from each other4 ,the younger one was brought back to the ,marchmont ,home on account of a peculiar lisp1 which her master's children were acquiring from her4 ,almost immediately another farmer called for a girl to assist his wife in the care of her little ones4 ,he saw little ,maggie1 cared nothing for her lisp1 and would have her away with him4 ,on taking down his address1 it was found that he lived on the farm next to that where the elder1 sister was placed4 ,it was near the end of the week1 and on the next ,sabbath morning an unexpected meeting occurred1 feelingly described in the following verses4 ,the incident was related to ,miss ,macpherson by the pastor himself4 ,come now1 a story1 dear papa1 ,now find a knee for each2 ,you said1 papa1 that once you heard ,two little sisters preach ,a better sermon far than you3 ,jane says that cannot be4 ,we want to know1 so tell us now1 ,before they bring the tea4 ,come then1 my darlings1 you must know1 ,beyond the wild deep sea1 ,in ,london's streets1 these sisters grew ,in want and misery4 ,their parents died1 and they were left1 ,poor girls1 in sore distress2 ,ah6 dear ones1 may you never know ,an orphan's loneliness6 ,but kindly hearts1 which ,god had touched1 ,felt for them in their grief2 ,he taught them too the surest way ,to give such woes relief4 ,away from ,london's crowded streets1 ,they bade the sisters come1 ,within our brave1 broad ,canada1 ,to find a pleasant home4 ,a pleasant home for each was found1 ,but far apart they lay2 ,and thus apart the sisters dwelt ,while long months rolled away4 ,poor little girls6 'twas very sad2 ,they were too young to write2 ,and no one guessed the quiet tears ,poor ,annie shed at night4 ,among our ,sabbath-scholars soon ,i learned to watch her face2 ,a quiet sadness on her brow ,i fancied ,i could trace4 ,one summer's morning1 ,sabbath peace ,filled all the sunny air1 ,and all within ,god's house was hushed1 ,to wait the opening prayer2 ,when up the aisle a neighbour came1 ,with hushed but hasty tread2 ,and by the hand with kindly care ,a little girl he led4 ,a sudden cry ran through the church1 ,a cry of rapture wild2 ,and starting from her seat we saw ,our quiet ,english child4 ,sister6 my sister6 was the cry ,that through the silence rung1 ,as round the little stranger's neck ,her eager arms she flung4 ,and tears and kisses mingling fast1 ,she pressed on lip and cheek2 ,for silent tears can sometimes tell ,what words are poor to speak4 ,then soft o'er cheek1 and brow1 and hair1 ,her trembling fingers crept2 ,then heart to heart1 and cheek to cheek1 ,those loving sisters wept4 ,nor they alone1 for strong men sobbed2 ,women stood weeping by2 ,and little ones looked up amazed1 ,and asked what made them cry4 ,oh1 broken was the prayer we prayed1 ,scarce could we raise the hymn2 ,and when ,god's holy book ,i read1 ,my eyes with tears were dim4 ,and yet we felt the ,saviour there1 ,right in our midst that day2 ,will you not love my little ones8 ,we almost heard ,him say4 ,no need of laboured words that day ,long hardened hearts to move2 ,well had the sisters' meeting preached ,the lesson1 ,god is ,love4 ,his heart had felt their childish grief1 ,the while they mourned apart2 ,his loving-hand had wrought the plan1 ,to bring them heart to heart4 ,s4 ,r4 ,,geldard4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #ahgj-ahga4 ,workers' meetings at home of industry--,training home at ,hampton opened--,personal experiences--,welcome in ,western ,canada--,help for a ,glasgow home--,scottish ferryman--,out of the mouths of babes and sucklings4 ,before the close of the year ,miss ,macpherson had returned from ,canada1 and at the usual monthly meeting for workers was again enabled to tell of the goodness and mercy that had followed her4 ,one of the great needs of the ,east ,end which has already been mentioned1 was that of some central spot where ,christian workers might meet for prayer and counsel4 ,this need was abundantly met at the ,home of ,industry1 open at all times1 with a welcome and words of cheer ready for the servants of the ,lord from every part of the world4 ,the workers' meetings1 once a month1 have given opportunities for hearing tidings of the spread of the gospel in the regions beyond4 ,those who had hitherto been standing idle have been aroused1 and many who have long borne the burden and heat of the day have been refreshed4 ,it would be difficult to reckon the number of those who have in the ,home of ,industry first heard the summons from the ,lord to go forth1 as messengers of the glory of ,christ1 and are now toiling in distant lands4 ,the difficulty of keeping a number of active restless spirits within the hounds of a house in the position of the ,home of ,industry1 without one inch of yard or playground1 and in the midst of streets in which it was unsafe for one of these boys to be seen1 can hardly be imagined4 ,it was a subject of the greatest astonishment to a descendant of ,immanuel ,wichern's that in such circumstances ,miss ,macpherson was enabled to keep them under control4 ,it was1 however1 most desirable to find some place where their active energies could be employed in some sort of training for the ,canadian out-door life4 ,miss ,macpherson thus refers to her thankfulness that such a spot was found3-- ,those who share with us the burdens of this work will rejoice to hear that we have now a ,home in the country1 where we can cultivate a few acres1 and where the children can become efficiently trained for ,canada under the superintendence of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,merry4 ,it is situated near the village of ,hampton and is now being furnished4 ,this will enable me to rescue another hundred from street-life at once4 ,what a boon from the ,lord ,whom we serve6 ,it proved to be just what was needed1 as is shown by the testimony of another friend3-- ,the ,training ,home at ,hampton bids fair to be a most valuable addition to ,miss ,macpherson's scheme for rescuing these dear children if only for their health's sake2 the pure air1 the early hours for rising1 the outdoor and spade exercise1 the plentiful supply of real milk1 are all good2 and the absence of all noise and excitement gives a much fairer chance of seeing what the boys really are1 and the probability of their taking to ,canadian life4 ,the next party was arranged to leave for ,canada by the ,prussian on the #dth of ,may1 and on this occasion one who had the privilege of accompanying them thus wrote3--,i feel it as impossible to convey to friends in ,england a true idea of the kind welcome accorded to our poor little ones1 as it is to give to dear ,canadian friends any adequate idea of the crowded misery of our own dens and alleys4 ,it has scarcely been credited by some that so many hundreds of little travellers could have crossed the ,atlantic in many successive voyages and not have experienced one storm4 ,how we realised the power of ,him 'who stilleth the noise of the sea1 the noise of their waves1 and the tumult of the people6' for on this voyage1 as on every other1 it has been remarkable that no discord has arisen among her many young charges4 ,the work begun on land was carried on at sea1 and many young hearts were blessed of the ,lord ere they left the ship4 ,it was pleasant to hear many testimonies in their favour among the passengers and crew2 pleasant also to hear testimonies of thankfulness for ,miss ,macpherson's presence in the ship2 for she laboured unceasingly among the crew and steerage passengers as well as with her own special charges4 ,kind letters of welcome were received off ,quebec4 ,for a few hours we were detained at ,point ,levi1 waiting for the emigrants' train1 and watching with delight the sun descending and streaming with splendour on the cliffs and magnificent river2 some of the heights bare1 others clothed with firs1 all picturesque and grand4 ,the evening star shone before us as we were carried westward2 one of the little orphan girls said it looked as if watching over us to help us2 and in the morning we reached ,montreal ,junction1 where one of the warm ,canadian friends who have welcomed ,miss ,macpherson so cordially entered the cars1 and spoke very encouraging words to the young travellers1 telling them how he had himself been as dependent on his own exertions as any of them could be1 and how by perseverance in the situation he had first entered1 he had risen from the humblest post to the highest1 and had long been in a position to help others4 ,this friend is the superintendent of a large ,sunday-school1 and his scholars have undertaken the support of an ,english child4 ,a lovely cloudless day was just dawning as we arrived at ,belleville1 and we were greeted at the station by the kind voice of ,mr4 ,henderson1 one of the evangelists1 for whose labours in ,canada we have had so much reason to praise the ,lord4 ,the sun had not risen when we were first taken across the blue rushing river ,moira1 carrying with it the floating logs1 felled far away1 and borne by its rapid current to the ,bay of ,quinte1 the beautiful shores of which we caught sight of just 'as the crimson streak in the east was growing into the great sun4' ,but we were now at ,marchmont2 and lovely as it was in the fresh green of spring1 7the maples1 not yet in full leaf permitting a glimpse of the bay17 yet all other feelings were lost in the joy of being welcomed by dear ,miss ,bilbrough1 who had been watching for us all through the night4 ,miss ,macpherson was allowed but few hours to rest before the throng of visitors came to welcome her1 and to take away the newly arrived little ones4 ,among the first was a lady1 the mother of eight girls1 who had lost her only son1 and who carried away1 with tears of joy1 a boy brought from ,southampton workhouse4 ,there were farmers from many miles round1 bringing their recommendations from ministers or other well-known friends2 there were children who had been brought out the previous year1 some earning good wages1 and bringing their savings to ,miss ,macpherson1 too full of joy to say much1 but clinging round the one whom the ,lord had blessed in rescuing so many from want and misery4 ,among these were three former little matchbox-makers1 who had known more sorrow and care during their early years than is sometimes crowded into a lifetime4 ,tears on both sides were sometimes the only greeting given4 ,pages might be filled with records of one day at ,marchmont1 records of the ,lord's goodness to the fatherless and motherless1 and those rescued from a worse fate still2 whose parents would have dragged them down into the haunts of drunkenness and sin1 from which1 in later years1 it would have been so much harder to reclaim them4 ,oh1 that many more in our own land could witness with their own eyes the boundless openings for work1 and provision made for our poor children in the broad lands the ,lord has so mercifully spread before us6 ,the first experience ,i had of the home of a ,canadian farmer was in the neighbourhood of ,stirling4 ,our drive was partly along the banks of the river ,moira1 which1 perhaps1 from being the first with which ,i was made acquainted1 has always appeared to me one of the loveliest in 'this land of broad rivers and streams4' ,after leaving the river1 our road passed through woods1 in which we saw wild flowers of larger size and brighter colours than our own1 though fewer in number2 and from a rising ground we saw ,stirling beneath us1 and a few miles beyond reached the dwelling of one who had come out with no other riches than the strength of his own hands4 ,his house was humble in outward appearance1 but contained every comfort1 and was surrounded by orchard and garden1 and many acres of cultivated land4 ,huge barns to hold the abundant produce are always the most conspicuous feature in every ,canadian farm4 ,cattle1 sheep1 and poultry were all around1 and all his own1 and in his own power to leave to the sons growing up around him4 ,in this family the sons were all following the father's occupation4 ,in most families that ,i have seen1 as a good education is within the reach of all1 some of the sons have preferred following the study of law or medicine2 the farmers have therefore the more need of helpers1 and welcome the more eagerly the young hands brought out4 ,though we were quite unexpected1 all but one of our party being perfect strangers1 we were pressed with the usual ,canadian hospitality to remain the night2 and while our horse rested1 our kind host took out his own team and drove ,mr4 ,thom to visit children settled in the neighbouring farms4 ,my next experience was that of a farm beyond ,trenton1 where one of the boys was engaged4 ,our drive was along the bay1 and the opposite shores of ,prince ,edward's county often reminded me of the ,isle of ,wight as seen from the ,hampshire coast4 ,our road first passed the ,deaf and ,dumb ,asylum1 a grand and spacious building1 a mile out of ,belleville1 and then was bordered by orchards and rich cornfields1 scattered cottages and farmhouses1 with lilac bushes clustering round the doors and verandahs4 ,outside every farmhouse may be seen by the roadside a wooden stand1 on which are placed the ample cans of milk waiting for the waggon to carry them to the cheese factories4 ,no fear1 it appears1 is here entertained either of milk being stolen or of fruit being missed from the abundant spoils on either side the road4 ,at ,trenton1 beautifully situated near the head of the bay1 a boy rushed out at the welcome sight of his friend1 and farther on more greetings of love and gratitude awaited her4 ,the farm we this day visited was one of more importance than the last4 ,four hundred acres of ground surrounded a well-built house1 two stories high1 and covering much ground4 ,in such a dwelling a handsome piano is seldom missing1 and here stood one in the inner drawing-room4 ,luxuries that could be purchased for money were not wanting1 but labourers were not so easily procured1 and the contrast between the interior of the house and the rough approach to it was most remarkable4 ,so much must necessarily be done with so few hands1 that time for a flower-garden1 or even the making of a neat footpath1 cannot be found4 ,the mistress of the house looked sadly worn and wearied from want of help in her indoor labours4 ,within easy reach of this house stood a much smaller one1 built by the owner of the farm for himself and his wife to retire to whenever their eldest son should choose a bride and undertake the farm4 ,this ,i have seen elsewhere in ,canada and have also known the heir of the property to go out for the day helping at another farm1 where no labourer could be found in the neighbourhood4 ,no contrast could be greater to one coming from the sight of the constant distress in the crowded ,east of ,london1--distress arising from want of work1 food1 light1 air1 and room to live and breathe in1 and the comfort here beheld and experienced through the abundance of all2 the pure fresh air1 the sight of ',god's blessings growing out of our mother earth1' the ground ready to bestow so rich a return for all the labour bestowed on it1 and the only want that of the human hands--the hands that1 in our own land1 are to be had so easily1 that human beings are expected to work like machines1 and human frames are used as though made of brass or iron4 ,miss ,macpherson was not permitted to remain many days quietly at ,belleville4 ,the call came for her to go farther into ,western ,canada1 and this eventually resulted in the establishing of the ,home at ,galt4 ,the journey is thus described in her own words3-- ,believing that our gift was to pioneer1 we left our dear friends embosomed at ,marchmont among the bursting maple trees in loveliest spring-time4 ,at early dawn on ,may #bcrd we started1 with a party of twenty of our boys of different ages1 for ,woodstock and ,embro1 a district of country where thousands of ,scotch families have settled1 and where there has been a wave of blessing from the ,lord1 through the faithful preaching of evangelists in the past year4 ,therefore we longed to 'spy' the land1 not so much to gain an increase of dollars or more cultivated land for our boys1 but our object was to find hearts that had been awakened to newness of life2 and we trusted that with such our children would be nourished by the sincere milk of the ,word1 and grow thereby into godly men and faithful witnesses of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,at the close of a long and hot day's travel1 we reached ,woodstock2 and though a single telegram had been the only announcement of our expected arrival1 warm hearts greeted us4 ,next day the boys were gazed at1 admired1 wished for1 questioned1 and feted1 until we began to fear lest they should be spoiled by seeing the great demand for them1 and the eagerness with which they were sought after1 being considered1 as they term them1 'smart boys4' ,with ourselves it was a day of much prayer for the needed wisdom4 ,and in the afternoon1 7being the ,queen's birthday1 and kept by loyal ,canadians as a complete holiday71 the dear boys went off with us through shady groves for a walk4 ,we went into a cemetery1 and read together from our penny ,gospels the #ith of ,st4 ,john4 ,but here we were found out1 and invited to one of the loveliest country-seats we had ever seen4 ,it had been an old ,indian settlement1 and from its groves we had a view of the distant woodlands clothed in richest foliage4 ,on a beautiful lawn1 the old ,scotchman1 with tearful tenderness1 fed our dear boys with unaccustomed dainties1 and jugs full of new milk4 ,in the evening a ,scotchman arrived from a still more western district1 ,arkona1 deputed by his neighbours to come for seven more boys4 ,we could1 however1 only spare him five4 ,the boy he took from us last year had behaved so well1 that the demand had increased4 ,then came those painful leave-takings2 and to see great boys of sixteen and seventeen sobbing1 was no easy work for my clinging heart2 but ,he who scattered ,his disciples1 and went ,himself by lonely pathways1 knew our need1 even at this time4 ,next day we went farther inland1 nine miles beyond the railroad1 to ,embro4 ,there we found 'democrats1' each with a pair of horses1 for the boys and luggage1 in which they went off in high glee1 under the care of a good man of my own name2 and for myself and friend1 a ,highlander long frae the hills of our native land1 had sent a carriage and pair of splendid spirited horses4 ,our party of boys had by this time considerably decreased2 and had they been hundreds instead of ones1 of similarly trained boys1 there would have been no difficulty in distributing them into good homes4 ,canada is just now in a most prosperous state4 ,farmers' sons do not remain at home1 but either1 enter professions or stores1 or go farther ,west to colonise4 ,hence the need of further help1 which is met by our boys1 who take their place1 beginning with the ,a ,b ,c of farm-work1 or1 as ,canadians express it1 'choring round4' ,this new district was very pleasing to a ,scotch eye--hill and dale1 rich woods1 substantial farmhouses1 richly cultivated orchards1 beautiful with blossom2 picturesque views of gushing rivers in wild gorges1 with grand old monarchs of the forest telling the tales of years gone by1 ere the emigrant's axe had laid their companions low4 ,we reached a lovely village1 and were warmly welcomed by ',macs' of every name1 reminding one of childhood's summers spent in the ,highlands of old ,scotia4 ,here we were at home2 the sweet assurance of a ,saviour's love shone in the faces that now surrounded us2 we were on the trail of an evangelist1 and ,jesus 'lifted-up' had been beheld1 making faces beam with thankfulness to ,him who had given ,himself for them4 ,the kind ,mc,auley1 who had opened his house and heart in expectation of the whole twenty boys from ,london1 had himself been overwhelmed with love-offerings in the shape of food the good neighbours had sent in1 vying with each other in showing kindness to the orphan and the stranger4 ,ah6 what a power and privilege is granted to us women1 in that we are permitted to arise and second the work of the evangelist by showing our faith by our works1 and giving to the ,christians in this land of plenty and no poverty objects upon which to work out their love6 ,words fail to depict the extreme tenderness and delicate attention shown to us1 for ,jesus' sake1 during the forty-eight hours we spent in the midst of this kindred people4 ,in the evening the old ,scotch kirk was filled to the door1 and after the singing of some sweet hymns and several heart-breathings of prayer1 we spoke of the dealings of the ,lord in this mission among the children of our million-peopled city4 ,whilst doing this1 it was difficult to realise that we were not at home1 among the dear brothers and sisters who are wont to meet with us for prayer at the ,home of ,industry4 ,the thank-offering to the ,lord at the close was spontaneous1 also the supply of food sent in by the farmers1 and which was sufficient for a hundred children4 ,it seemed almost more than my poor heart could bear when ,i called to mind the starving multitudes gathered in1 and ravenously devouring the morsel of bread dealt out to them in ,london4 ,it made me long that the ,christian women of our land would rise up in some great national movement1 and help many thousands of our oppressed families to come out to this land of plenty1 where millions of acres are crying for labour4 ,it is no romance nor ideal of a heated brain1 but a plain1 practical way of showing our ,christianity1 this bearing the burdens of many a sinking1 crushed-down family4 ,the much-dreaded ,canadian winter is really the most enjoyable period of the whole year1 and when it is over one hears of nothing but sorrow that 'winter's noo awa4' ,miss ,macpherson had intended returning to ,england in ,october1 but was delayed for a time by many calls for service4 ,from ,montreal she writes3-- ,strike another note of praise for the answer to the many prayers of our ,glasgow fellow-labourers4 ,a friend in ,scotland has been stirred up to give #bjjj pounds in order to build an ,emigration ,refuge in that city1 that homeless lads may be trained for ,canada4 ,let us unite in asking that ere long similar ,homes may be opened in ,edinburgh and ,liverpool1 where poor and oppressed orphans abound4 ,before returning to you1 we trust that corresponding ,homes on this side will be in course of preparation1 one in the ,east and another in the ,west1 so that when the #aej young emigrants arrive at ,quebec1 fifty can proceed at once to each ,home for distribution4 ,we leave ,marchmont accompanied in our mission carriage by two boys2 and these two have histories which contain a lesson for all boys4 ,their antecedents in ,england were much the same--orphanage1 want of caretakers1 misery4 ,one is still self-willed1 having no mercy on himself1 a runaway from the home in which we had placed him1 and was brought to us a second time by the police as homeless4 ,we are now taking him back to his master to hear all about the grievances1 and find out that they arose from his determination not to go to school4 ,a boy that does not value the opportunities afforded him1 but prefers growing up in ignorance1 must suffer for it sooner or later4 ,may all boys who read this determine to apply themselves to every lesson heartily2 each difficulty overcome will render it more easy to master the next4 ,the other boy was one of the first hundred2 he arrived by train from ,toronto at midnight1 and rang us up1 expecting admittance1 for he felt that he was coming home to see his friends1 his master having given him a holiday4 ,this boy1 though utterly alone in the world1 snatched by us from a life in ,london stables1 stands there1 at fourteen1 a self-reliant little man1 with his purpose in life clearly defined4 ,he is not many minutes in the house before he discloses the joy it is to come home1 and tells us how he has as good a suit of ,sunday-clothes to put on as any gentleman4 ,next morning he sits during ,bible-lesson in the schoolroom side by side with the ne'er-do-weel4 ,both are received for ,jesus' sake1 the one in his poverty and self-will1 the other in his good suit and self-complacency1 but both still wanting the 'one thing needful' to fit them for the home and mansions on high4 ,whilst endeavouring to explain how ,jesus had loved them1 and wrought out a righteousness for them1 and was as willing to receive them as we had been1 and that ,he had a large and loving heart1 and cared for the many hundreds still wandering about in the great city1 tears filled the eyes of the little group4 ,just picture what we felt as ,j--- ,p---1 in the most humble and childlike way1 put his hand in his pocket and drew out twenty-five dollars1 saying1 ',miss1 that will bring another4' ,my words ceased1 and a choking feeling came into my throat as the lesson was being learnt by half-a-dozen of self-willed returned boys4 ,much we longed that all our children could have witnessed this scene4 ,very few of them1 except the selfish and depraved1 would like to be behind ,j--- ,p--- in having the privilege of giving us so much encouragement in this work4 ,the first year ,j--- ,p--- received no wagers1 only his food and clothes2 now1 his services having become valuable1 he gets six dollars a month4 ,he has purchased for himself a silver watch1 a good overcoat1 and has also returned most honourably his passage-money1 therefore he has received his neatly framed and beautifully illuminated discharge1 to hang up1 showing he is now no longer a poor emigrant4 ,j--- holds that the habit of saving the cents is the secret of success1 and he intends plodding on until he can purchase a farm of his own1 and we think it will not be very long before he does so1 if his life is spared4 ,thus he accompanies us as a son1 and as such is received and lodged in the various homes we visit4 ,it was most amusing to hear him tell the runaway sitting by him in the carriage how to get on and advise him not to give way to his own will and his own temper4 ,by boys this advice is more easily given than taken1 as was proved in this case4 ,we left the boy on his promising that he would be obedient and go to school4 ,but the subtle enemy1 ere the day was out1 gave this boy of fourteen years old the idea of being his own master1 rather than live out that wondrous word of four letters1 obey4 ,again he escaped from a good home1 and after wandering many miles1 knocked late at night at a ferryman's1 and asked for food4 ,here ,robert ,jack1 a kind ,scotchman1 recognised the ,english corduroy1 and at once met him with1 ',you are one of ,miss ,macpherson's' boys4' ,he was fed and lodged1 and strange to say1 next day we were led1 in the course of our journey1 to cross that very ferry4 ,the young runaway seeing us from the window exclaimed1 ',oh6 here comes ,mr4 ,thorn1' and would have hidden away from our sight1 knowing he was doing wrong1 for he would not understand that we were his friends1 willing to help and love him4 ,oh1 may all boys who read this seek earnestly to believe that ,jesus is their very best ,friend1 and ,he only can remove their self-will and blindness of heart6 ,in crossing the ferry early in the summer1 we had spoken faithfully to this ferryman1 and had sent him the ',life of ,robert ,annan' by post4 ,they had been schoolfellows together1 and after reading the book1 he got many others to read it also4 ,this small sixpenny gift1 accompanied by prayer1 had done a work4 ,robert was willing to become a co-worker with us1 and is now trying to train to honest industry our little self-willed runaway4 ,thus we hope that in the log-hut of the ,scottish ferryman he may learn to read and write1 and that the blessed ,spirit will work on the hearts of both master and boy4 ,the experience of yearning over this orphan boy moved our hearts to speak of ,jesus1 who bore with such long-suffering love our own rebelliousness ere we came to ,him4 ,the story has been told before of the first poor girl rescued in the ,east of ,london through ,miss ,macpherson's blessed agency1 one whose father had died suddenly of cholera1 whose mother had thrown herself into a canal1 and1 though rescued1 had been1 through drink1 a source of misery to her children4 ,the eldest brother ,footnote3 ,this boy1 now a shoemaker1 has written asking to be allowed to have one of the lads1 as an apprentice4 of this poor girl1 about sixteen years of age1 had been brought out the previous year to ,canada1 and appearing one day at ,marchmont1 ,i thought from his looks and dress that he was one of the farmers' sons come to engage a boy1 little thinking that so short a time had passed since he was destitute as the poorest among them4 ,in ,england we are so accustomed to the sorrowful sight of neglected children1 it can hardly be imagined by us how such a fact strikes a ,canadian4 ,often have ,i seen the tears in the eyes of the farmers at the sight of little ones brought so far to seek a home at such an early age4 ,this was especially the case with regard to little ,annie referred to in the following lines1 the youngest of three sisters left motherless in a workhouse4 ,when ,i last saw this little sufferer health and strength had been given to her1 and she was the pet of all in a home of comfort4 ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,mouths ,,of ,,babes ,,and ,,sucklings4 ,from the mouths of babes and sucklings1 ,was the ,psalmist's grateful word1 ,thou hast perfected ,thy praises1 ,and ,i thank ,thee1 gracious ,lord4 ,and e'en yet from infant voices ,words of wondrous meaning fall1 ,and the ,christian's heart rejoices1 ,for he knows his ,father's call4 ,little ,annie sat beside me1 ,smiles upon her baby face2 ,early sorrow1 early suffering1 ,on her cheek had left their trace4 ,little feet1 too weak to wander ,where the merry children play2 ',neath the flickering aspen shadows1 ,by broad ,quinte's sunny bay4 ,thoughts of pitying love came thronging ,as ,i thought how ,jesus came2 ,how ,he blessed the little children1 ,how ,he healed the sick and lame4 ,so ,i asked the little maiden1 ,annie1 ,jesus cares for you-- ,if we saw ,him now beside us1 ,can you think what ,he would do8 ,strangely solemn1 seemed the answer1 7,listen1 sisters o'er the sea72 ,jesus1 just to you would give me1 ,and would bid you care for me4 ,english sisters1 rich and gifted6 ,ask your hearts1 ,can this be true8 ,christ hath many a homeless orphan1 ,is ,he saying this to you8 ,take this child and nurse it for ,me8 ,will you dare to say ,him nay8 ,dare to let ,his children perish1 ,or in evil paths to stray8 ,if too stately are your dwellings1 ,send them hither1 let them come2 ,in our fair ,canadian homesteads1 ,gladly we will make them room4 ,room where orchard boughs are dropping ,fruit that waits their hands to pull2 ,room to rest1 and room to labour1 ,room in home1 in church1 in school4 ,when the winter snow lies sparkling1 ,they shall share our winter joys1 ,tinkling bells and merry sleigh-ride1 ,with our laughing girls and boys4 ,when our maple pours its nectar1 ,they shall share the luscious treat2 ,where the woodland strawb'ries cluster1 ,glad shall stray their little feet4 ,when our ,sabbath-scholars gather1 ,they shall join the joyous throng2 ,sweet will sound their ,english voices1 ',mid the burst of children's song4 ,sisters1 shall we share the blessing8 ,bring the lambs to ,jesu's fold8 ,ours are homes of peace and plenty1 ,to your hands ,he gives the gold4 ,s4 ,r4 ,,geldard4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #ahgb4 ,the need of a ,home further ,west--,burning of the ,marchmont ,home--,home restored by ,canadian gifts--,miss ,macpherson and ,miss ,reavell arrive in ,canada--,first visit to ,knowlton in the ,east--,belleville ,home restored by ,canadian friends--,help for the ,galt ,home--,miss ,macpherson returns to ,england--,miss ,reavell remains at ,galt4 ,in her first letter on returning to ,england ,miss ,macpherson writes3-- ,,beloved ,,fellow-,,workers1--,once more at home among the old familiar scenes in the ,east of ,london1 the sadness and the sin shadows our joy and thanksgiving4 ,my first visit in the immediate vicinity of the ,refuge ,i shall not soon forget4 ,taking good news of ,andrew in ,canada to his mother1 ,i found his father lying dead drunk in one corner1 and his little brother lying dead waiting to be carried off to the grave by the parish in the other4 ,in the first low women's lodging-house1 ,i found a poor misguided girl asking me1 ',how's my little sister8' ,passing on to ,mr4 ,holland in ,george ,yard1 ,i cheered him with answers to his many inquiries as to the placing out of his rescued ones4 ,many a warm shake of the hand ,i had from poor costermongers and grey-headed men1 for what had been done for their belongings in taking them from the sin and want around4 ,my way is now open to go forward1 as means permit1 to rescue girls and train them for ,canada or for service in ,england4 ,miss ,macpherson goes on to tell of the purchase of the ,galt ,home1 #cjj miles westward1 and states the need in these words3-- ,we found that to educate our ,canadian family1 and thoroughly fit them to be of value to the farmer1 a few fields to work upon would be an advantage1 that they might see the effects of new soil and climate1 in the growth of vegetables1 shrubs1 and farm produce4 ,thou hast tried us as silver is tried4 ,we went through fire and through water1 but ,thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place4 ,this was the experience of the beginning of the year #ahgb4 ,miss ,bilbrough's letter brings to mind ,deut4 xxxiii4 #ab4 ,,belleville1 ,january #bi1 #ahgb4 ,,dearest ,,annie1--,it is indeed difficult to begin a letter to you1 when ,i know you always open our letters feeling sure of good news4 ,and yet this one brings you the best you ever had4 ,lives spared1 ,i trust1 to work more than ever for ,him who hath done such great things for us4 ,our song is one of continual thankfulness and praise1 and ,i know you will join us in giving thanks4 ,our beautiful ,home lies in ruins1 only the walls standing1 and there is one little grave dug by ,benjamin ,stanley's1 containing the ashes of little ,robbie ,gray4 ,i hardly know how to begin1 it still seems so terrible and real4 ,we had had a happy ,sabbath4 ,we were to have an early breakfast next morning1 and ,i awoke in the night thinking it was daylight4 ,miss ,baylis came to my door1 which was shut1 saying1 ',miss ,bilbrough1 there's smoke6' ,i jumped up1 and oh1 the feeling1 when ,i saw the house full of dense white smoke6 ,i knew well what it must be4 ,i rushed to ,mr4 ,thorn's room1 he was sleeping heavily1 but ,i roused him1 saying the house was on fire2 then ,i went down to the boys1 ,philips and ,keen1 who were in the schoolroom1 called them up and told them to save the children1 and rushed upstairs1 nearly choked1 calling ',fire6' ,mrs4 ,wade1 ,miss ,baylis1 ,miss ,moore1 all came out4 ,downstairs ,i ran again and unfastened the front door1 and went to the corner of the verandah4 ,philips was getting out the children1 and the flames were coming on with frightful rapidity2 it was blowing a perfect hurricane1 and the whole building was enveloped in smoke and ashes2 ,i ran back half-way upstairs to see if ,i could get a dress1 or my cash-box1 or watch1 but ,i was too much suffocated1 and had to get back to the front door4 ,mrs4 ,wade1 ,miss ,baylis1 and the children1 were making for the fence4 ,i saw ,mr4 ,thorn1 and called to him to search again with ,philips for the children4 ,the intense cold in the snow seemed almost worse to bear than fire4 ,we all climbed the fence and ran to the nearest house4 ,poor ,mrs4 ,wade had got her hands frozen1 even in that short time1 as the thermometer was about twelve or fifteen degrees below zero4 ,here we called over the names of the children2 some were here1 some in another house1 sitting over the stove with bare legs and only their little shirts on4 ,soon little ,robbie was found missing1 but ,philips had lifted him out1 and he had been seen running with the others2 we suppose that the poor child1 blinded with smoke1 ran to the front door1 and then went through into the schoolroom1 the place he knew best1 where he must soon have been suffocated4 ,it was all over in a few minutes1 all around was fearfully bright and lurid4 ,the engine came1 but was of course too late1 the fire spread with such terrible rapidity4 ,we sat almost stunned with fright and cold4 ,soon the ,shearings and ,elliotts came1 bringing clothes1 c41 and we went to dear ,mrs4 ,elliott's house in a sleigh4 ,it was not four ,a4,m41 and the fire was almost out1 burning round the verandah and the window-sills4 ,oh1 how our hearts went up in thankfulness to ,god for sparing mercies6 ,a few moments more1 and we dread to think of what might have been4 ,miss ,baylis' door being ajar1 the smoke got in2 mine was shut1 my room was free1 but ,i saw the light on the window4 ,miss ,moore was in ,miss ,lowe's bedroom2 she could not realise it1 and1 after being first roused1 was going to bed again4 ,as soon as it was daylight ,i went with ,mr4 ,thorn to see the ruins4 ,all around the melted snow had frozen like iron2 the thermometer1 which was hung on the verandah1 was found uninjured2 nothing was found but a table and one stove2 all gone4 ,books1 papers1 clothes1 everything2 but there in the blackened ruin lay distinctly the charred frame of little ,robbie4 ,mr4 ,thorn went for ,dr4 ,holden and a coffin1 and the remains were brought to ,mr4 ,elliott4 ,dear little fellow1 he was the most prepared of any of the little ones to go4 ,this is such a comfort to me now4 ,i had gathered the little ones round me in the evening before the fire1 when the others were at church1 and we had sung some sweet hymns4 ,i made ,robbie especially stand beside me1 and made him sing alone4 ',i will sing for ,jesus1' was the hymn he chose4 ,he sang it sweetly4 ,how little did ,i think in a few hours he would be singing the 'new song' before the throne6 ,his history in our book is very touching4 ',robert ,gray1 aged six2 a happy little man1 who can say little or nothing about himself4' ,the rest of the page is blank1 as he had never been away from ,marchmont4 ,an inquest was held over the body4 ,we wished it especially1 so that we might have an investigation as to the cause of the fire4 ,dearest ,annie1 when ,i think what it might have been1 and the grief of all at home1 and the intense sorrow1 oh1 it makes one so thankful6 ,i felt ,jesus very precious through it all1 recognising ,his hand in so many ways4 ,i had had much blessed communion with ,him that ,sunday1 and several seasons of sweet prayer4 ,i can fully realise that for me it would have been all right1 if the ,lord had ordered it otherwise2 but for the sake of those at home ,i bless ,god for life spared1 and trust earnestly the ,lord may give us all increased power and spiritual life4 ,having passed through 'the fire1' may we also receive the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and oh1 may our lives be more and more devoted to ,his service6 ,not our own1 but bought with a price1 may we live more and more unto ,him who hath loved us6 ,miss ,moore was out at nine o'clock in the woodshed2 all was safe then4 ,mrs4 ,wade locked the doors at ten with stable lantern in the wood-shed 7the boys' summer dining-room71 and then all was safe2 the fire in the kitchen stove was out4 ,she came shivering in to-prayers a little after ten4 ,the parlour fire was nearly out1 and ,miss ,baylis and ,i were quite cold4 ,the fire upstairs was not lit1 nor had any ashes been taken up on ,sunday morning4 ,if any had been removed on ,saturday1 they were placed in iron vessels in the first kitchen4 ,the fire broke out in the further corner of the wood-shed4 ,the cause is so far quite unknown1 and will1 ,i suppose1 ever remain so4 ,i send you the account of the inquest1 and other papers1 as ,i know well it is better to see and know all particulars4 ,i cannot1 however1 tell of all the kindness and sympathy we have met with--a telegram from ,mr4 ,claxton1 offering money1 c41 ,hon4 ,george ,alien wishing to take the children2 ,mr4 ,eason3 ',i am praying for you1 can ,i help by coming8' numbers of friends coming with clothes of every kind2 subscriptions got up to start a new ,home immediately2 sewing societies at work and ladies canvassing the town in every direction for help to furnish another ,home at once4 ,i could not even begin to particularise our friends4 ,mr4 ,flint came up at eight1 begging me to come to his house4 ,this afternoon we have buried little ,robin4 ,the service was held in ,mr4 ,elliott's church4 ,how often we have thought of home friends during the last few days1 and longed that you might not hear the news in any way till this reaches you1 which will be nearly three weeks6 and now you must fancy us happy at our work again1 and as much under the loving care and protection of our ,god as ever1 trusting only to ,him for everything1 that whether absent from the body1 or still in the flesh1 we may be more and more filled with faith and love for the ,lord's work4 ,wednesday4 ,we seem each day to realise only more fully our marvellous escape4 ,the firemen say they never remember such a night1 nor saw a house burn so rapidly4 ,now every one is so kind2 things keep pouring in for the new ,home2--it is to be ,canadian this time1 not ,english4 ,mr4 ,flint says he has written to you1 telling you all1 but he could not tell you one quarter of the kindness we have met with on every hand4 ,oh1 that verse in ,isa4 lxiv4 ,,ii1 is so expressive3 ',our beautiful house where we praised ,thee is burnt up with fire1 and all our pleasant things are laid waste4' ,what a ruin ,marchmont is now6 the blackened ashes all around--nothing but the walls standing4 ,i feel such mingled feelings as ,i look at it--all the happy days we have spent there--the holy associations never to return again4 ',we have no continuing city here1' was the text which filled ,mr4 ,thorn's mind1 and it is one we hope more than ever to keep before us4 ,this trial seems to have given the four of us deeper sympathy and interest together4 ,so nearly entering eternity together1 and yet saved1 we trust1 to render more devoted service to the ,master1 for having passed through this fiery trial4 ,i can hardly bear to think of all the sorrow you are feeling for us2 but oh6 let thanksgiving and praise be uppermost4 ,it is the one thought that fills our minds4 ,we are wonderful in health1 no cold1 and are as occupied as possible1 looking after the children1 and preparing for the new ,home4 ,happily1 ,charlie the horse1 the sleigh1 and the buffalo robes are safe1 and most useful we find them now4 ,i am so thankful that it will be nearly three weeks ere you know1 and you must think of it as past and gone1 and1 if possible1 just at first see the beginning of great good in making the work more known1 and rousing the sympathies of others4 ,what1 ,marchmont gone6 ,that pleasant ,home nought but a memory now2 ,and yet1 in humble thankfulness we bow1-- ,father1 ,thy will be done4 ,it was but lent3 ,thou wilt not that ,thy children fix their heart ,on aught below3 theirs is a better part-- ,a treasury unspent4 ,still are its memories dear6 ,the maple shadows that around it lay1 ,stirred by the breezes from the silvery bay1 ,or bathed in moonlight clear-- ,how fair were they6 ,lovely when decked with earliest buds of spring1 ,loveliest when radiant autumn came to fling ,a glory on each spray4 ,oh home of praise and prayer6 ,where glad sweet voices raised the morning hymn1 ,pleaded for blessing in the twilight dim1 ,or thrilled the midnight air4 ,can we forget ,the meetings and the partings we have known8 ,the welcome glad1 the farewell's sadder tone-- ,ah1 we remember yet4 ,we were not there ,when thro' its halls the fierce destroyer swept2 ,but ,god was watching1 while our dear ones slept-- ,safe were they in ,his care4 ,all safe with ,him2 ,yes1 for our ,robbie sings for ,jesus now ,in sweeter tones1 with far more sunny brow1 ,and eyes no tear's can dim4 ,they wait ,his word-- ,stanley and ,robbie side by side--and we ,caught up together with them soon shall be ,for ever with the ,lord4 ,s4 ,r4 ,,geldard4 ,all former kindness was as nothing compared to that now received1 as will be seen by the following from ,miss ,bilbrough3-- ,,belleville1 ,february #b1 #ahgb4 ,i know that many many prayers are now being offered for us1 and that the ,lord is answering them every minute1 giving us sustaining grace and wisdom1 and help as to the future4 ,i knew it would be five weeks before ,i could hear from you1 and ,i could trust that all we might arrange here would meet your approval1 as it has generally done4 ,however1 the ,belleville people1 with ,mr4 ,flint at their head1 quite took the matter out of my hand1 being determined that they would provide and furnish themselves a still better house than ,marchmont4 ,the sympathy awakened is great1 and the pleasure of friends at hearing that we could have a large substantial house on the ,kingston ,road for our orphan children was equally so4 ,mr4 ,flint has secured it for three years1 the ,council paying the rent and taxes1 and sufficient is already gathered to furnish it4 ,so that when the first arrivals come in ,may1 all will be ready for them4 ,how good the ,lord is6 even out of apparent trial ,he brings the good4 ,we had been praying for special blessing1 and in this way1 7strange as it seems to us71 we do recognise the answer4 ,in ,march1 ,miss ,macpherson writes3-- ,,beloved ,,friends1--,while you are reading this1 my pathway will again be upon the mighty deep4 ,the ,lord willing1 ,i look to leave ,liverpool by steam-ship ',scandinavian1' ,march #gth4 ,miss ,reavell1 who has for two years been our scribe in the ,refuge1 accompanies me4 ,your prayers have gone up that blessing may be ours1 as a little band of feeble workers for our ,lord1 and if ,he has been pleased to try our faith by the trial of fire1 shall we not praise ,him for anything ,his loving hand doth send us8 ,and as one has beautifully said1 ',what ,god takes it is always gain to lose4' ,heaven is nearer now our little ,robbie is there2 ,jesus is dearer1 and has quickened us all by ,his constraining love4 ,my object in going now to ,canada without children is twofold4 ,strength being given1 my desire is to visit the new districts1 where ,i hope in the coming summer to place out the hundreds now under excellent training and holy influence here and in ,scotland1 and to find out ,christian families who may be willing to receive them on arrival4 ,plead that the ,holy ,spirit may fill with power those who are daily seeking to win these wanderers back to the fold4 ,secondly1 ,i wish to make use of the late sad calamity1 and ,god's wonderful interposition in saving life1 so that the teaching may not be lost upon the hundreds of immortal souls connected with our mission4 ,it is impossible to describe the eagerness with which the arrival of these dear friends was looked for1 and day after day1 those in service in and around ,belleville would come with the hope of seeing them4 ,and among these were former match-box makers1 who had been rescued from such depths of sorrow2 one of whom had already saved from her wages sufficient to pay her brother's passage out1 besides bringing offerings of her own work towards the furnishing of ,miss ,macpherson's room in the new ,house4 ,through many dangers they were brought safely1 in answer to many prayers1 but ,miss ,reavell had suffered much on the voyage1 and one special instance of the ,lord's care ,i cannot help here recording1 ,they shall abundantly utter the memory of ,thy great goodness4 ,miss ,reavell had been a most diligent and necessary labourer at the ,home of ,industry night and day4 ,at sea her strength seemed to fail2 she only existed on oranges1 and the last orange was gone4 ,in the midst of a fearful storm1 signals were made by another vessel that they were without food1 and the life-boat was put off from the steamer1 carrying to the distressed vessel a barrel of flour and pork ,in return1 a thank-offering came in the shape of two boxes of the best oranges1 the ship being from ,palermo1 bound for ,new ,york with a cargo of fruit4 ,even the very hairs of your head are all numbered4 ,the visit of ,miss ,barber1 a ,canadian lady of influence1 to the ,home of ,industry1 was the means of interesting friends in the ,eastern ,townships' ,province of ,quebec1 and of leading them to open a ,home at ,knowlton4 ,the following letter is from ,miss ,macpherson3-- ,the year's experiment in this new district will enable us to test it as to whether it will be a suitable one for our children2 if so1 it will not cost many pounds of ,english money4 ,the old house we have taken was formerly a tavern1 and its ball-room will make us an excellent dormitory2 the rent is only #bj pounds1 and is paid entirely by a ,canadian4 ,should the children thrive under the fostering care of our dear friend ,miss ,barber 7now doubly dear to us all after the winter of help she has given us in the ,east of ,london71 there will be no difficulty in establishing a permanent ,home1 built of brick1 half of the necessary sum having already been subscribed in and around ,sheffield1 ,leeds1 and ,nottingham2 and the other half our friends in the province of ,quebec have freely offered to collect4 ,thus will those both on this side and at home share the benefits2 the old country seeing hundreds educated that might otherwise in a few years become expensive criminals1 and the new country1 receiving1 ere habits are fixed1 young life which1 in future1 will call ,canada 'the home of its adoption4' ,though1 according to all accounts1 this is an uncommonly heavy snow-season1 ,i have no fears for the children1 the air is so dry and clear1 and well fitted to invigorate their frames4 ,this morning ,i started about five o'clock1 and soon forgot the fear which had crept over me but a week ago1 when ,i took my first winter journey among these snowy hills4 ',knowledge is power1' and the experience of dangers met and passed gives quietness and confidence4 ,you will be imagining that owing to these prolonged snow-storms all work is stayed4 ,not so2 everything goes on most vigorously--lumbering1 carting1 cutting wood for summer's need4 ,ladies seem always busy2 yet as it is often seen1 those who have most to do can best arrange to be at leisure4 ,there is an education of forethought caused by having to watch against the heat and cold2 this has deeply interested me in the practical manner in which they are going to work in furnishing this ,eastern ,townships' ,home4 ,in return for the kindness shown to this ,mission1 may the whole district be spiritually blessed1 and may our loving ,lord be the joy and strength of each faithful labourer6 ,the heavy calamity that it pleased our ,father to send by fire1 has accomplished in a few weeks that which would otherwise1 humanly speaking1 have taken many years to make known4 ,our motives and principles of service were all new1 and even our simple faith and trust in prayer were often misunderstood4 ,though we had travelled several thousands of miles in ,canada1 seeking to stir up ,christians to aid us in finding and watching over the right home for our children1 we had no medium on this side like ',the ,christian1' by which we could communicate with those like-minded1 and tell them of our burdens4 ,the ,hon4 ,b4 ,flint tells us how the hearts of his fellow-townsmen were moved with compassion on hearing of the destruction of the ,children's ,home1 on that terrible night1 and that some of them attempted to ascend the hill and offer aid1 but had to turn back1 unable to face the hurricane and tempest4 ,the citizens of ,belleville have contributed freely towards replacing the ,home1 and the ,lord's dear children all over the land have sent their love-offerings4 ,the ,county ,council received testimonies from many of the homesteads concerning the six hundred children placed out round ,belleville1 and generously contributed #ejj dollars to show their esteem for the work4 ,the funds in hand led ,mr4 ,flint1 after the withdrawal of the rented house at first proposed1 to purchase a freehold of three and a quarter acres1 possessing a good house and out-buildings1 which were adapted to our use by the addition of dormitories1 and furnished by the aid of the ladies of ,belleville4 ,this ,home is now given to us for so long as it shall be used by our mission band in connection with the emigration of children to this district4 ,in ,april1 a detachment of thirty elder boys arrived1 to be followed quickly by others4 ,in ,june #ahgb1 when #aej emigrants arrived1 #ej children were sent to each of the three ,homes now opened to receive them1 and for several years this order was observed1 until other arrangements were made to meet the growing character of the work4 ,the following tells of the progress of the ,galt ,home3-- ,many will wish to know how this ,home at ,galt shapes itself1 and would be amused at the varied occupations of the past week4 ,a ,canadian springtime is very brief1 so we have had to buy a span of horses and a plough1 and1 with the aid of other neighbours' ploughs1 the corn and clover seed will soon be all sown4 ,the ladies of several churches have met in the council-chamber1 and worked at all household gear1 others superintending the house arrangements1 and purchasing necessary things4 ,my part has been that of a faithful recipient1 giving praise from hour to hour to ,him who hath laid my every burden here on ,his own children's hearts4 ,the past little season has been to me a precious rest-time1 seeing others work4 ,we expect to be all in order by the arrival of our next party4 ,the threshing-floor we have transformed into a dining-room2 one of the barns is fitted up as a dormitory4 ,the chaff-house makes a lavatory2 and1 from the interest around1 we do not expect to keep our little men very long out of the homes waiting for them4 ,the love-tokens here1 as at home1 are varied in their character4 ,our farmer's wife has set us up with poultry1 another with eggs2 a little boy brought us his pet hen as an offering2 indeed1 wherever we turn1 some kind thought is shown1 and our hearts are gladdened1 and our faith is able to rejoice at the prospect of returning home1 and gathering up another thousand precious young immortals from the depths of our sin-stricken cities1 and placing them out in homes where ,jesus is loved4 ,in ,june1 ,miss ,macpherson was welcomed back with warm thanksgivings1 having left the ,home at ,galt under the wise and loving care of her faithful companion1 ,miss ,reavell4 ,in after years ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,merry devoted themselves chiefly to this branch of the work1 and have been the watchful and tender foster parents of this ever-varying family4 ,it would be hard to say whether ,mrs4 ,merry's presence was more valued here1 or among the sorrowful widowed mothers in ,spitalfields4 ,,chapter ,v4 #ahgb-ahgd4 ,letter from ,rev4 ,a4 ,m4 ,w4 ,christopher--,letter from ,gulf of ,st4 ,lawrence-,mrs4 ,birt's ,sheltering ,home1 ,liverpool--,letter to ,mrs4 ,merry--,letter from ,canada--,miss ,macpherson's return to ,england-- ,letter of cheer for ,dr4 ,barnardo--,removal to ,hackney ,home4 ,though human praise is not sought1 we cannot but feel peculiar pleasure in giving the following testimony from a servant of the ,lord so much revered as the ,rev1 ,a4 ,m4 ,w4 ,christopher of ,oxford3-- ,of all the works of ,christian benevolence which the great love of ,christ constrains ,his servants to carry on1 with which ,i have become personally acquainted1 not one1 has impressed me more deeply1 by its great usefulness1 than the work of ,god carried on by ,miss ,macpherson and her fellow-labourers4 ,she has in three years transplanted more than twelve hundred boys and girls from almost hopeless circumstances of misery and temptation in ,great ,britain1 to healthy1 happy1 industrious homes in ,canada4 ,and this has not been all2 daily efforts have been made in faith and love during the period of training1 and on the voyage1 and in the ,distributing ,homes in ,canada1 to win these young hearts for ,christ by means of the ,gospel4 ,there can be no doubt that ,god has blessed these labours of love to bring many to ,himself in the ,lord ,jesus4 ,when ,i was in ,canada last ,september1 ,i made three special journeys expressly to visit ,miss ,macpherson's three ',distributing ,homes' at ,galt1 ,belleville1 and ,knowlton1 respectively in the west1 centre1 and east of the ,dominion4 ,on ,september #aj1 #ahgb1 ,i left ,toronto at #e4cj ,a4,m41 and travelled #aac miles to the east along the ,grand ,trunk ,railway to ,belleville1 which is #bbj miles west of ,montreal4 ,i took the ,lady ,superintendent1 ,miss ,bilbrough1 by surprise4 ,her sister was with her1 having lately brought over a hundred boys4 ,these two young but experienced ,christians are evidently full of faith and energy and delight in their work and of lore to the children4 ,about a thousand boys and girls brought out1 or sent out by ,miss ,macpherson1 had passed through the ,home in three years4 ,she has herself placed out #hjj boys and girls1 #fjj of whom are in homes around ,belleville4 ,she meets with the kindest reception from the farmers with whom she has placed these children4 ,she could place out a thousand more if they were at once sent out1 the demand is so great4 ,all the orphan children under nine years of age are adopted by farmers who have no children1 to be treated exactly as if they were their own4 ,miss ,bilbrough1 and also the ,lady ,superintendents at ,galt and ,knowlton1 never place a child in a home unless the farmer brings a testimonial from his minister4 ,the burning of the ,home very much touched the people of ,canada1 who had learned to appreciate the efforts for good connected with it2 and1 unasked for1 dollars from kind ,canadians poured in4 ,miss ,bilbrough had daily to write thanks to many4 ,more than #cjjj dollars 7#fjj pounds7 were soon sent in1 and instead of renting a house1 they were able to buy the first-rate one they now occupy1 and which was given to ,miss ,macpherson1 with so much kind feeling1 by the ,canadians4 ,i was equally interested in the work of ,miss ,reavell in the ,home at ,galt1 to the west of ,toronto4 ,this had only been established a few months before ,i visited it4 ,here also ,i was greatly impressed by the patient1 painstaking ,christian lore of those who had charge of the children4 ,the children looked healthy1 and happy1 and ready for work4 ,the last ,home ,i visited was at ,knowlton1 an eastern township of the ,quebec ,province1 south of the ,st4 ,lawrence4 ,i heard that ,miss ,barber1 the ,lady ,superintendent1 was nursing some of the children who had the smallpox4 ,i went to see her4 ,it was quite clear that the love of ,christ constrained her to devote herself with all her heart and strength to the children committed to her care4 ,i spoke with the uninfected children before ,i saw her4 ,i was interested to see how accustomed they had been whilst in this ,home to be treated with love4 ,soon three little ones climbed upon my knees1 whilst ,i talked of ,jesus to them and the elder ones4 ,miss ,barber is a lady of good position1 the half-sister of the excellent ,judge of that district1 lately ,minister of ,agriculture in the ,dominion ,government4 ,in early life she had very bad health1 but has been raised up frond great weakness to work most diligently for ,christ among the children who pass through her ,home4 ,her brother1 the ,judge1 and his wife1 who live at ,knowlton1 zealously do all they can to help the good work4 ,many in ,england know better than ,i do the great work for ,god1 carried on in connection with ,miss ,macpherson's ',home of ,industry1' ,commercial ,street1 ,spitalfields1 and the similar ,homes at ,glasgow1 ,edinburgh1 ,dublin1 and ,liverpool4 ,others may visit these1 and have their hearts stirred up to help forward the work by what they see in those ,homes2 but ,canada is a great way off1 and1 as an independent witness1 ,i desire to bear the strongest testimony to the ,christian usefulness of the work1 and to the faithful1 the wise and careful manner in which it is carried on4 ,a far greater number of children might be thus transplanted with the best results1 under ,god's blessing1 if sufficient means were supplied to ,miss ,macpherson4 ,may ,i not hope that the great love of ,christ will constrain those who read this paper to send help promptly1 so that this work may be extended1 and that many more children may be rescued4 ,remember1 dear reader1 the love of your ,saviour for little children4 ',look not every man on his own things1 but every man also on the things of others4 ,let this mind be in you1 which1 was also in ,christ ,jesus' 7,phil ii4 #d1 #e74 #aj pounds will fit out1 and pay the passage of a child4 ,how can #aj pounds be better spent8 ,try1 dear reader1 and raise #aj pounds among your friends1 if you cannot give it yourself4 ,or do what you can1 however little that may seem to you to be4 ,the matter is urgent1 the season is passing away4 ,pray send help at once1 and strive to interest your friends in the work4 ,how many more might be rescued6 ,what a contrast there is between the photographs of the miserable1 hopeless children1 taken when they are received at the ,homes in this country1 and the photographs of the same children after they have been a few months in ,canada2 ,i have many such contrasts with me4 ,they would move you to help this work of love4 ,but1 the love of ,christ must be the great motive2 yet we should not forget that the ,holy ,spirit taught ,st4 ,paul to write1 ',he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly2 and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully4 ,every man according as he purposeth in his heart so let him give3 not grudgingly or of necessity1 for ,god loveth a cheerful giver' 7#b ,cor4 ix4 #f1 #g74 ,in ,may of this year1 ,miss ,macpherson took out another party of young emigrants1 and writes as follows3-- ,on board ',circassian1' ,gulf of ,st4 ,lawrence1 ,may #eth1 #ahgc4 ,,my ,,dear ,,fellow-,,workers1--,hitherto our blessed experience has been that ',the beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by ,him1 and the ,lord shall cover him all day long2' ',the eternal ,god is thy refuge1 and underneath are the everlasting arms4' ,our song is one of unmingled praise1 and our little band is strengthened and invigorated by the voyage1--no storm permitted to alarm us by day or night ,we are now entering the mighty ,gulf1 and passing through fields of ice2 but ',he who hath compassed the waters with bounds1 and divided the sea with ,his power1' maketh a right way for us and our little ones4 ,morning and evening1 my dear fellow-workers have been enabled to continue sowing precious seed in these young hearts1 so soon to bid us farewell4 ,our steerage has been the rendezvous1 when weather permitted1 of those who love praise and prayer4 ,in quietness and rest we have sought to renew our strength by waiting upon the ,lord2 holding up your hands by prayer1 dear fellow-labourers1 grasping the precious fulness of the promises1 for you as well as for ourselves1 that every opportunity given you upon ,rag-market1 in the courts and sorrowful dens around our ,home1 in every small room prayer-meeting1 or-when you gather around the ,word1 may have been used1 and accompanied by the 'demonstration of the ,spirit' and signs following4 ,we have to-day realised answers to your prayers for us1 whilst cutting through miles of ice1 going at the rate of two knots an hour1 but all has been peace and safety4 ,we are now beyond the vast acres of frozen sea1 and every hour brings us into a warmer climate1 and nearer to our desired haven4 ,those interested in our little band1 may rest assured it has been a happy voyage with each one4 ,not one case of disobedience has caused us anxiety4 ,early to sleep and early on deck has given good appetites1 as all their brown and rosy cheeks do testify4 ,at this point of our journey we recall the experience of ,may #ahgj1 entering a way unpassed heretofore4 ,now can we praise with a full heart1 and testify that ,his own ',i wills1' in ,isa4 xlii4 #af1 have been realised by us as a little band4 ,we are now about to land with our #aebjth child1 our twelfth voyage1 without a storm1 thousands of welcomes from warm hearts awaiting us4 ,open doors in scores of towns around each of our three missionary centres1 ready to receive the evangelists who travel with us4 ,we ask continued prayers that they may be young ,stephens1 filled with faith and power1 and that we maybe guided in the right distribution of the tracts and books we carry with us4 ,and oh1 dear pleaders1 remember the many lonely1 little hearts we are finding homes for2 it is very sorrowful work unbinding1 as it were1 the little twinings their sweet1 obedient ways have already bound around us4 ,many were writing letters this morning ready to post when landing1 but very many had not a love-link to earth4 ,one little fellow said1 ',i ain't got nobody to write to but you4' ,the one most lonely as to earth's relationships will soon become a solitary one set in a family2 and again1 if permitted1 we shall return and gather in another family from the sad1 sad1 million-peopled city4--,yours1 in the bonds of the ,gospel1 ,annie ,macpherson4 ,p4 ,s4--,may #g4 ,we have landed under the brightest sunshine1 on a warm1 balmy ,june-like day1 feeling deeply thankful for all our heavenly ,father's mercies4 ,a deputation of ,quebec ,christian sisters awaited our touching the shore4 ,what a bond is ours in ,christ ,jesus6 ,allusion has been made to the ,home opened by ,mrs4 ,birt at ,liverpool2 and the following letter will show the heart-rending nature of the scenes occurring there as in ,london3-- ,august #g4 ,dear ,friends1--,on the #abth of ,may last we opened the above ,home1 and there were present on the occasion more ladies and gentlemen whose hearty sympathy seemed with us1 than the large room could comfortably hold4 ,one little destitute fellow was presented as the first to enter for protection and kindly care4 ,since then ninety poor tiny creatures have been admitted1 and these alike share in the love1 attention1 and comfort found within the walls of this happy ,home4 ,through the great kindness of the friend who placed the premises at our disposal1 we have obtained an additional room1 which enables us to rescue some little girls1 many of whom are orphans1 who dragged out a miserable existence by begging for food1 and sleeping wherever they could find shelter2 others1 worse off1 were1 through their relationship1 running every risk of being reared to a life of infamy and ruin4 ,others are the children of widowed mothers1 who say they are willing to work1 but finding none of a continuous character1 have rapidly sunk to a condition of wretchedness from which it seems impossible they can rise4 ,seventy have rapidly progressed1 and are so obedient and anxious to please1 that so far as training in this country is concerned1 they are in a fit state of preparedness for emigration to ,canada2 and from the statements received from our sister1 ,miss ,macpherson1 of the increased and increasing demand from ,canadian families for useful boys and girls1 to assist them in their house and farm duties1 we do think that these should be taken without delay to the comfortable homes waiting to receive them1--homes in which they will be trained to habits of industry1 usefulness1 and saving4 ,the boys' clothes are near completion1 and the girls' outfits are being made1 and greatly helped on by the kind-hearted exertions of ,christian ladies in ,liverpool and ,birkenhead1 who have brought to the ,sheltering ,home their own sewing-machines1 and plied them at full speed on our behalf at the weekly sewing-meetings held on ,wednesdays1 from eleven till five ,p4,m4 ,at these gatherings1 much to the gratification of the ladies1 the little ones whose garments they were sewing1 have sung for their pleasure children's sweet hymns of praise to ,him by whose love they were being cared for4 ,my heart1 and the hearts of my few but loving helpers who live with me in the ,home1 have been nearly broken this afternoon by witnessing a sight so terrible1 that we hope and pray we may never see the like again4 ,a most depraved1 drunken1 and wicked father1 set on by two women more wicked 7because more cunning7 than himself1 dragged out of our ,home by main force two dear little girls he had himself1 when more sober1 besought us many times to take in4 ,they knelt1 they prayed1 they begged as for dear life to be left in the ,home2 when1 refused by him again and again1 they saw he was urged on by the women to drag them out1 they gave way to their poor little wills and screamed1 ',i won't go with you6 ,i won't go with you6 ,i know where you will take us to6 ,you never cared one bit for us1 but now1 that we are clean and comfortable1 and learning to read1 you wish to take me back4 ,if you do1 ,i will get something to take my life away1 rather than live with you6' ,and by the man's sheer force they were carried screaming from the ,home2 and the last thing we heard1 through their shrieks1 was the father uttering threats we cannot repeat4 ,i ran to my little room to hide myself and weep2 but ,i heard them screaming still1 as the poor girls made one more desperate effort at resistance4 ,though now it is three hours since1 ,i hear their screaming yet2 and1 dear friends1 ,i think ,i shall hear it till ,i die4 ,as a little band1 we are completely petrified1 bruised1 and sore1 quivering in every nerve1 looking up earnestly to ,god to know ,his ,will1 and praying that we may have all the other dear ones left to train for ,him2 for the ,roman ,catholic spirit is bitterness itself against thus teaching the little ones4 ',jesus loves me1 this ,i know1 ,for the ,bible tells me so2 ,little ones to ,him belong1 ,they are weak1 but ,he is strong4' ,dear friends1 pray for our little ones4 ,money is useful1 personal help is useful2 the thoughtful gifts we receive from time to time are useful2 but prayer--which 'moves the hand that moves the world'--is more useful than all beside4 ,pray for our children2 for those we purpose taking to new homes in a distant land1 that they may never disgrace the ,home they have been sheltered in2 and for those who have been torn away from us1 that they may be preserved from temptation1 and from becoming a curse4 ,then shall we joyfully take them forth1 and in ,god's good time return1 and again fill up this spacious ,home1 and feel it the greatest privilege of our life to labour among the poor neglected little ones of the streets of these large cities4 ,share then in the blessing wrapped up in the ,king's word1 ',inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these ,my brethren1 ye have done it unto ,me4' ,how great is the contrast in turning from these heart-rending details1 to the following letters from across the ,atlantic3-- ,,belleville1 ,june #gth1 #ahgc4 ,my dear ,mrs4 ,merry1--,i wish you had been with us to-day1 and seen part of the result of all your patient toil and joyous service for the ,lord daring the past five years' work among ,his little ones4 ,knowing the joy it would be to so many of them to see dear ,miss ,macpherson1 we sent out postal-card invitations to those living within #be miles4 ,some few were unable to accept2 but between seventy and eighty children1 with their employers1 came in one by one1 looking so brown and healthy4 ,you would hardly recognise in the tall1 slim youth1 now quite a help to his master1 a carpenter by trade1 the little1 tender-hearted ,george ,m--1 eldest of three orphan brothers4 ,it hardly seems three years ago since their father stood up in a gathering of ,christians1 and with failing breath declared what the ,lord had done for his soul4 ,then you remember how quietly he passed away1 leaving his three boys entirely in ,miss ,macpherson's care4 ,all doing so well in ,canada--,fred and little ,johnnie still in their first homes4 ,one great pleasure of the children was to roam over the ,home under the orchard blossoms1 glancing over the books of photographs and recognising some friend or mate with whom some far different days had been spent4 ,among the attractions were the tables of toys1 pictures1 books1 c41 sent out by ,english friends2 and here the little ones spent some of their hoarded cents1 thinking so much of anything really ,english4 ,about twelve o'clock we gathered in the flower garden in front1 while sandwiches1 buns1 and milk were passed round among the children4 ,your sister sat with them chatting to them of old times1 and answering many questions as to former companions and still loved though often silent ,english friends4 ,can you picture the eager listeners to the familiar voice of one who was to them the link between the sorrowful past and the happy future8--a ,bible lesson on the lost sheep4 ,my eyes often filled with tears when ,i looked at their bright faces1 and blessed ,god for the open door for them in this country4 ,there stood ,jamie ,d--1 who1 with his little brother ,hughie1 formed one of the saddest photographs of childish wretchedness even ,glasgow streets could produce2 so bright1 so well-dressed1 though still with a little of the old look of childish care4 ,william ,c--1 the little fellow of four years old1 whose mother died in ,india1 and the father on his return sank in a ,london hospital1 leaving little ,willie friendless1 was here with a lovely bunch of hot-house flowers ready to present to ,miss ,macpherson1 and to receive from her one of the beautifully illustrated scrap-books made by little ,english children4 ,willie has been nearly three years in his happy home1 surrounded by all the influences of education and refinement4 ,now the friends were gathering thickly1 and listened while an earnest address was given to the boys by ,miss ,macpherson4 ,when she ceased1 first one and then another gentleman stood up and gave their earnest1 hearty sympathy with and approval of the work1 and of the character of the boys4 ,and here ,i must tell you1 in passing1 we attribute much to the loving1 tender training of your ,hampton ,home4 ,it is not that ,canadian farmers would put up with anything1 or that a bad boy is so useful that his faults are overlooked2 for here every single boy is thoroughly known1 and discussed over all the country side4 ,mr4 ,grover1 from the village of ,colborne1 quite cheered our hearts with the good accounts of the twenty in his neighbourhood1 most of whom have joined his classes1 and by their steady industrious conduct are recommending themselves4 ,he said1 ',i do not speak without personal experience4 ,w4 ,o--- has been two years in my employ1 and a more truthful1 upright1 honest boy1 ,i would not wish to have2 he has left now to learn further about farming1 and ,i immediately applied for another one from ,marchmont1 and believe ,w4 ,s--- will prove as successful and honest a servant4' ,then the ,rev4 ,william ,bell stood up and bore testimony to your favourite ,tommy--one of the rescues from ,mr4 ,holland's ,shelter1 in #ahfi4 ',i have boarded now over a year in the good farmer's home1 where ,tommy ,s---lives4 ,he is as good1 and truthful1 and honest a boy as ,i would wish to have about a house2 and his master so appreciates his services that he gives him fifty dollars for his first year4 ,these boys are in every way a blessing1 and advantage to our country4' ,mr4 ,v41 who has been already alluded to1 said1 ',i sought guidance and direction from the ,lord before ,i came to the ,home1 now nearly three years ago1 and then ,i only intended to take one boy2 ,i have never regretted ,i took two4 ,except one or two days1 they have never missed school2 indeed ,i do not believe any one could hire them to stay away4 ,i know that their labour morning and evening repays me for any expense ,i am at1 and they can be at school all the time4' ,miss ,macpherson then told these two boys1 ,f--- and ,t---1 of her last visit to their grandmother in the tidy attic in ,bethnal ,green1 and how pleased she was to receive the five dollars they had sent her4 ,mr4 ,ward1 a farmer from ,sidney1 had brought his little boy1 ,tommy ,s---2 and ,johnnie1 the brother1 had come from a home across the ,bay of ,quinte4 ,so there was a touching meeting1 and many experiences for the two brothers to relate1 during one month's absence4 ,mr4 ,ward told how he intended to educate his boy1 and trusted he might yet fill some prominent position1 for which by natural gifts he seemed well qualified4 ,speaking of the religious character of the work1 he said1 ',i asked him who had taught him so much of ,jesus8 ,he told me he did not even know who ,he was till he was taken into the ,refuge2 but now he knows about ,him1 and of ,his love for little children4' ,i know you will like to hear particulars of ,h4 ,w---1 whose sad history excited so much sympathy1 and for whom the noble-man's little son gave up his pet pony that he might have the money to emigrate him4 ,well1 you could not tell the round-faced1 happy boy1 to be the same4 ,he brought four dollars he had earned towards his passage money2 is in a good home1 and doing well4 ,also of ,george and ,mary ,f---1 who met1 after ten months' separation1 so changed that they hardly recognised each other4 ,how it would cheer their kind rescuer's heart 7,mr4 ,george ,holland7 could he see them now6 but ,i knew nothing1 not even such joy as this1 could tempt him away from his special work2 so ,i sent the children1 to their great delight1 to the town to get their likenesses taken to send him4 ,altogether the day was a most happy one4 ,but no onlooker could fully understand the deep1 rich joy of looking into those happy faces4 ,only those who had watched over and prayed with them from the beginning could at all enter into this peculiar feeling2 and many earnest prayers ascended that these loving1 tender hearts might be won for the ,saviour1 and from among them many ambassadors for ,jesus might yet go forth4 ,and for you too1 dear friend1 that you may be strengthened and helped2 ever remembering the promise1 ',cast thy bread upon the waters2 for thou shalt find it after many days' 7,eccles4 xi4 i74--,yours1 in sweet work for the ,lord1 ,ellen ,a4 ,bilbrough4 ,my very dear ,sister1--,could you but see me this morning1 started on my peregrinations in these snowy regions1 you would be amazed4 ,the poor worn head perfectly well1 after a whole week in the quiet1 restful ,home at ,knowlton1 where children are being trained1 sewing-meetings and ,bible-readings held1 farmers conversed with1 and my privilege has been to hold up the hands of my two companions1 who went forth to address ,sunday-schools or to preach the gospel4 ,fancy me starting yesterday morning1 fixed up in my delightfully warm fur cloak1 and many other ingenious devices1 to defy the cold1 wintry blast1 a drive of eighteen miles4 ,during the journey we stopped twice4 ,the first time we met with one of our once poor1 pale-faced rescues1 ,katie ,d---4 ,what a change1 now happy and useful1 compared to the time when we sheltered her from the dreaded return of her drunken father from prison6 ,as the night closed in1 the cold caused us to hasten to our journey's end as quickly as the strength of our ,home horse would admit of4 ,but cheery was it to be told by our friend1 as we passed one farmhouse after another1 ',we have a boy here and a girl there doing well4' ,sometimes it would be1 ',we have had to move a boy2 his temper did not suit2 but since he has been back to the ,home1 and placed out again with a firmer master1 he is doing much better4' ,a very hearty ,canadian welcome awaited us4 ,ushered into a warm room1 our wraps taken off1 soon we were seated1 enjoying a 'high' tea4 ,it snowed all night1 and drifted in at every crevice of our bedroom window4 ,snow fell all day1 and to my idea it seemed improbable for many to gather for a meeting4 ,the village street was enlivened all day by the constant passing of the sleighs1 with merry jingle of bells4 ,it was indeed a new scene to witness the gathering of a meeting to hear of the orphan and destitute children1 whose cause we had come to plead1 and contradict a report which had gone forth in their district1 that it was a mass of jail-birds we had brought from ,england4 ,as we arrived1 a farmer kindly offered to broom the snow from our feet--a process all seemed prepared to do for each other4 ,then1 in a good-sized hall1 about fifty of all ages gathered around an immense stove--ministers1 doctors1 and farmers1 with their belongings4 ,chairs in front of the stove were set for the minister and myself4 ,after singing ',rock of ,ages1' etc41 and prayer1 it was so like a family1 that it became easy just to tell real story after story as to how we find the children1 where the means come from1 and what is required of those who receive them4 ,the minister then present was one who1 having heard of the work at the commencement2 had gone to the ,home and received little ,bessie1 aged ten4 ,she now came up and gave me a hearty kiss1 and then1 so childlike1 showed me her new winter garments4 ,now who was ,bessie8 ,the child of a surgeon who had rained his family by intemperance4 ,the mother1 a teacher in a ladies' school in ,germany1 earning her own bread1 after a long and heavy struggle4 ,bessie is loved and is being educated in everything to make her a useful woman4 ,next morning we started for visits to several children4 ,found the first child gone to school4 ,we saw her looking well as we passed the school-house1 and called her out4 ,all we saw that day filled our hearts with deepest thankfulness4 ,the meeting in the evening was held in the ,congregational ,church1 well warmed and lighted1 and a most intelligent-looking gathering4 ,ere long ,i espied one of the orphan lads1 and called him to me1 that he might speak for himself1 knowing that his own words would endorse the work more forcibly than anything ,i could say4 ,he was a bright1 intellectual looking youth of fourteen1 who in a most manly way answered me a few questions4 ,in this way we are securing the prayers of ,god's dear children1 and1 we trust1 opening many a heart and home for those who may yet come forth from the dens of sin and iniquity of our great cities4 ,our ,canadian horse seemed to enjoy the snow as much as we did1 even though the depth had tripled since our leaving home4 ,how much on this journey we have learnt of the continued loving-kindness of our covenant-keeping ,god1 making our fears fly1 and giving protection from the stormy blasts1 in forms so comparatively new to us4 ,every person is so kind to us that we are so glad we have been led to yield to this service as a child4 ,many a door1 we trust1 will soon be wide open for earnest evangelists to come and be fresh voices1 cheering our brethren who are labouring on in these small towns away from the front4 ,pray on for us1 as a band1 that we take not one step before the ,lord1 but that we hold not back on account of our weakness or the fear of man4 ,ask for us that we may each one live so close to the ,lord1 that we may be fitted to deal personally with those we meet with4 ,we are frequently holding up your hands and praying that daily the ,lord will send the means with the children1 and that you all be sustained in health4 ,grace and peace be with you all--,yours1 in sweet fellowship1 ,a4 ,,mp4 ,eastern ,townships1 ,prov4 of ,quebec1 ,november #ah1 #ahgc4 ,in ,march1 #ahgd1 ,miss ,macpherson returned from ,canada filled with praise for the encouragement met with4 ,she had been enabled to plead the cause of her children before many in positions of influence1 judges1 merchants1 lawyers1 and doctors4 ,a choice of two hundred homes1 amidst the love and affluence of that country1 were now awaiting her little rescued ones4 ,her own joy was increased by receiving the letter of which she thus writes3-- ,the enclosed letter will cheer our brother ,dr4 ,barnardo1 by showing what a home ,god has provided for a dear little boy he was permitted to rescue and train4 ,surely the departed mother1 from whom our brother received the child1 would feel that the ,lord is indeed the ,father of the fatherless4 ',,dear ,,miss1--,i embrace this early opportunity of letting you know how well pleased we all are with1 and how much we like1 little ,henry ,tuppen4 ,he is such a willing1 obedient1 and loving fellow1 he has won all our hearts1 and we feel very much attached to him already4 ,many1 very many thanks to you and your fellow-labourers for the invaluable1 yes1 priceless1 lessons he has received under your kind care4 ,surely this is much more than the cup of cold water1 and you shall in no wise lose your reward4 ,oh1 may we discharge our duty as you have towards this dear little orphan6 ,my visit to you and your home that morning was a great blessing to me2 never shall ,i forget it4 ,to hear that dear little fellow sing ,bright ,jewels1 and look around over the group of little ones1 far from native home1 and father and mother1 brother and sister1 and think1 ,these are the jewels1 precious jewels1 it seemed to bring heaven near4 ,and truly the ,saviour was present4 ,i never think of it but the tear starts1 and a silent prayer is offered that the ,lord will give them all good ,christian homes1 and that they may be all 'bright jewels1' and great shall be your reward4 ,their heavenly ,father sees it all4 ',but ,i am forgetting my main object in writing to you1 which is to ask you if the little girl1 the elder of the two whom we saw1 is yet provided with a home4 ,if not1 we have room for her1 and should be glad to have her4 ,she would be such good company for my sister1 who is at home with mother4 ,she would be treated in every way as a daughter and a sister4 ,father is very sorry he did not bring her that morning4 ,it seems he thought of it then1 but wished to talk it over with the rest of the family4' ,miss ,macpherson adds3-- ,who is the little girl asked for to become a daughter and sister8 ,none other than the little ,eliza who was found deserted seven years ago1 when only a few weeks old1 and who has been most carefully trained since then by our beloved sister-labourer1 ,miss ,mittendorf1 whose toil among infant wanderers deserves the deepest gratitude of the children of ,god4 ,the ,homes at ,hampton1 endeared as they were by recollections of many blessings1 were this year vacated4 ,the distance from ,spitalfields had always been a great strain on the strength of wearied workers1 and both time and fatigue were spared by removal to ,hackney4 ,the opening of this ,home is thus mentioned3-- ,november #e1 #ahgd4 ,on ,saturday1 the ,new ,home situated in ,london-fields was opened with prayer and thanksgiving4 ,it consists of two large old-fashioned houses thrown into one1 and the situation is1 for the neighbourhood1 remarkably open and airy4 ,many friends assembled1 ,mr4 ,dobbin presided1 and suggested1 at the opening of the meeting1 an analogy between the ,home of ,industry1 with its various stations1 and the pool of ,bethesda 'having five porches4' ,much prayer1 and praise followed1 and worshipful hearts told themselves out in love and adoration4 ,such hymns as ',call them in1' ',till ,he come1' and ',more to ,follow1' aptly expressed the aspirations and hopes of the earnest workers4 ,mr4 ,merry1 ,mr4 ,maude1 and others spoke1 and then ,mrs4 ,birt1 only two days since returned from ,nova ,scotia1 gave accounts of the success of the recent voyage1 when eighty-three rescued children found happy homes on the other side of the water1 and most touching particulars of the death of little ,dickie1 who went actually into the earthly harbour1 and entered the heavenly haven of rest at the same time4 ,in the bustle of arrival1 'he was not1 for ,god took him4' ,,chapter ,,vi4 #ahge-ahgg4 ,mrs4 ,way's sewing--class for ,jewesses--,bible ,flower ,mission--,george ,clarice--,incidents in home work--,the ,lord's ,day--,diary at sea-- ,letters of cheer from ,canada4 ,the ,home of ,industry has been already likened to the ,pool of ,bethesda with its fine porches4 ,many sights there have been peculiar to itself1 and in no instance has this in past years been more remarkable1 than in the meeting for ,jewesses1 which has been carried on ever since the year #ahgj4 ,from fifty to seventy daughters of ,israel are gathered weekly1 through the ,lord's blessing on the patient1 unwearied labours of his honoured servant ,mrs4 ,way4 ,greatly indeed should she be honoured1 for she diligently sought out these lost sheep1 when few comparatively could be found to care for their souls4 ,when first told of the name at which every knee shall bow1 much scorn and contempt were manifested1 but ,mrs4 ,way is now cheered by many signs of the ,spirit's work1 and when a hymn of praise to the ,crucified ,one1 is heard from the inner hall on the ground floor1 visitors may be startled to know the voices are those of ,hebrew mothers4 ,again the ,pool of ,bethesda is brought to mind1 as love for the sick and suffering is shown in a way hitherto unthought of4 ,in #ahge1 the ,home of ,industry became a centre of the now well-known ,bible ,flower ,mission4 ,one of the much-loved helpers recorded this touching incident3-- ,in the early spring of #ahgd1 a snowdrop1 primrose1 and two or three violets which had been casually enclosed in a letter from an ,east-end worker to ,mrs4 ,merry1 were passed round her sewing class of #bjj poor old widows1 'for each to have a smell1' and then divided and given to three dying ,christians1 one of whom breathed her last fondly clasping them4 ,from that time flowers were collected through the medium of ',woman's ,work1' etc41 and during the season distributed by the ladies at the ,home of ,industry among the sick in the neighbouring courts1 and in different hospitals4 ,again the hedges1 tipped with tiny coral buds1 primroses1 and daffodils peeping up amid the brushwood1 golden-eyed celandines and daisies lifting their sweet faces with smiles of welcome1 remind us of the near approach of the bright spring-time4 ,but the heart is saddened1 and the joy of seeing this fresh burst of resurrection--loveliness is clouded1 when we turn to gloomy1 stifling courts and lanes in the crowded cities1 where gleams of sunshine scarce ever penetrate2 the lives of whose miserable inhabitants are yet more utterly devoid of brightness2 to whom the voice of spring is an unmeaning sound2 to sick ones in these courts1 who have no easier couch for the pain-filled limbs than a heap of shavings on the hard floor of a room filled with noisy children1 and disorderly men and women2 to other sufferers tossing feverishly in hospital wards1 with nothing softer for the tired eyes to rest on than the endless stretch of whitewashed walls1 the background of long rows of patients whose sad pale cheeks vie in whiteness with the sheets and walls3 and the cry ascends8 ',oh1 that a tithe of the wealth of fragrant1 many-coloured flowers so lavishly spread over gardens1 fields1 and hedgerows1 could be brought to cheer those who so dearly prize each separate bloom6' ,and once more down1 deeper down1 into the haunts of vice1 smiling so sweetly with the radiance of heavensent gifts1 these messengers may go--ready-made missionaries--to open doors and hearts fast locked hitherto1 but which must yield to their gentle influence2 and thus prepare the way for the ministry of the word of salvation4 ,oh1 that men and women surrounded by loveliness could see as the angels do6--strong natures1 hardened by years of sin1 whose stony hearts are melted at sight of the flowers1 and weep 7as only such can7 when the deep hidden springs are touched1 and memory recalls days of childhood's innocence1 long1 long past2 lessons in that village ,sabbath-school of the holy ,god2 the story of the ,son of ,his love dying in die stead of guilty sinners1 to raise them to the bright1 pure land above1 where is no sin1 no curse1 no sorrow1 but cloudless day and endless rest and joy2 and the spotless flowers seem to beckon them onwards and upwards1 to seek and find the way thither2 for are not the flowers one of the first links in that chain of love which draws the poor1 wearied1 sinful heart up to ,god and heaven8 ,ah6 and would to ,god the country folk might hear6 ay1 and that the sounds could penetrate into the halls and castles of our land2 the silent cry of hospitals with several hundreds of patients1 and but rarely a flower8 ',i should so like a little buttercup4' ,and the weary murmur of gladness that steals through the wards when a chance bouquet is brought in2 and the heartfelt blessings from many dying lips on the flower-gatherers4 ',tell them we may never meet on earth1 but we shall thank them in heaven4' ,oh6 could the veil be lifted for a brief moment and the dull ears quickened to catch the pleading accents of the blessed lord8 ',do it unto ,me'8 none would longer count their flowers and fruit their own1 the ,royal seal would be seen on each1 whether growing wild in copses1 or carefully nurtured in hothouse and conservatory1 and these treasures would be poured out for those so sadly needing them1 ',for ,jesus' sake6' ,,the ,,bible ,,flower ,,mission4 ,it is needless to say that the appeal thus made has been answered by thousands of loving hearts4 ,the work at the ,home of ,industry is thus carried on3--,twice in the week one of the spacious floors is devoted to receiving these fragrant treasures1 and dear friends from a distance come1 some of them many miles1 and spend one or two hours in arranging them1 and attaching to each little cluster an ornamented card with some message of redeeming love4 ,by twelve o'clock the baskets are generally filled1 and all assemble to hear1 either from ,miss ,macpherson or some other tried servant of the ,lord1 words of counsel and cheer2 and then to seek wisdom for the labourers1 and to spread before the ,lord the spiritual needs of those to whom they are going1--many cases continually occurring for whom the comfort of earnest united prayer is felt4 ,when the lovely burdens are carried forth1 it is hard for the bearers to resist the entreaties from many a doorstep for one flower1 one single flower4 ,of the thankfulness with which they are received when they reach their destination1 we might tell countless instances1 and of conversions through the messages they bring we believe not a few4 ,indeed who can say where the blessing ends8 for those who have found a blessing themselves will not keep the cards under their pillow1 but have sent them to soldier sons in ,india and ,china1 and to sailors afar off upon the sea4 ,the following lines were written by a poor woman1 aged #gj1 in the ,mile-end ,union3-- ,many an eye with the film of death1 ,with fading pulse1 and bating breath1 ,have cast a look on those things so bright2 ,and perchance a prayer with electric light1 ,has passed through the brain with magic power1 ,brought to the heart by a beautiful flower4 ,beautiful thought to bring to the sad1 ,sweet bright things to make them glad4 ,of the numbers of labourers and abundance of texts and flowers required1 some idea may be formed when it is mentioned that thirteen ,hospitals1 four ,unions1 some containing over #ajjj inmates1 and one ,lunatic ,asylum1 are provided for from the ,home of ,industry4 ,nor is this all4 ,the secretary supplies ,bible women and city missionaries with flowers for solitary sick ones at home1 and receives constant appeals from various1 missions for these bright messengers of ,god's love4 ,who can read the following without praise to the ,giver of every good and perfect gift8 ,those who knew the condition of ,spain had earnestly prayed for evangelists for that dark land4 ,one 7,senor ,previ7 was raised up through the instrumentality of the ,bible ,flower ,mission1 and the following extract1 from the report of a workers' meeting1 as given in the ,christian1 tells of his conversion1 and the way in which the ,lord led a fellow-labourer to join him in this almost untrodden path4 ,he came from ,malaga in the summer of #ahge to the ,ophthalmic ,hospital1 ,moorfields1 for treatment4 ,one afternoon1 two ladies belonging to the ',bible ,flower ,mission' at the ,home of ,industry1 brought flowers and texts to give to the patients4 ,one of the visitors was about to offer a bouquet to the ,spaniard1 ,senor ,previ1 when the nurse remarked1 ',it's of no use giving him a text1 for he is a ,roman ,catholic1 and besides he can't speak a word of ,english4' ',never mind1' was the reply1 ',i will offer him a bunch of flowers1 and then see what ,i can do4' ,but what about a text8 ,surely it was the ,lord's doing that for the first time she had brought one written in ,french2 and it was indeed appropriate8 ',there is one ,god1 and one ,mediator between ,god and men1 the man ,christ ,jesus4' ,after pointing him to the ,great ,high ,priest1 she asked if he would accept a ,spanish ,bible4 ,this he refused to do1 saying1 ',no1 ,i cannot1 for it is a bad1 forbidden book2 besides1 ,i shall leave the hospital to-morrow morning4' ',nevertheless1 ,i will send you a copy1' was the answer4 ,with great difficulty the lady procured a second-hand ,spanish ,bible1 and sent it off just in time for him to take away4 ,senor ,previ then told us how1 after studying that ,bible for several months1 the eyes of his soul were opened to see ,jesus as the 'one ,mediator4' ,thus was fulfilled that promise so precious to all seed-sowers8 ',my ,word shall not return unto ,me void4' ,soon afterwards he entered ,mr4 ,guinness's ,college1 employing his free time in distributing ,gospels1 c41 on board foreign ships1 and assisting every ,sunday at the services in the ,spanish ,chapel1 thus gaining experience for future work in the vineyard4 ,he spoke most warmly of the kindness of ,miss ,macpherson1 and the happy hours spent in the 'dear ,home of ,industry1' where1 at a previous workers' meeting1 the ardent desire had first been kindled in his heart to tell the good news of ,jesus1 the 'one ,mediator1' to his own countrymen4 ,for some time he prayed earnestly that the ,lord would raise up a friend to go with him4 ,this petition has been fully answered4 ,mr4 ,lund then rose1 and told us that whence1 student in ,stockholm the desire to work in ,spain had been laid on his heart for nearly four years4 ,he studied the language1 but1 seeing no opening1 was on the point of starting for ,america1 when he received a letter from ,mr4 ,guinness which entirely altered his plans4 ,he came to ,london1 and on meeting ,senor ,previ1 offered to accompany him to ,spain4 ,the two brethren earnestly requested the prayers of the meeting for their new and difficult work4 ,the prayers here offered were more than answered4 ,the first labourer has fallen in the field1 but others have filled the ranks1 and the light kindled in a dark place is now shining brightly4 ,miss ,macpherson's own words here follow3-- ,what is the cry from all ends of the earth8 ,for men and women to witness of a ,saviour's love by ,his death and resurrection4 ,and we are not only to pray the ,lord to send forth labourers into the fields that are white1 but to look at the things we oft call our own as belonging to another4 ,there are hundreds of young men and women who have been brought to the truth1 and whose souls long to be free for ,christ's service1 but they need a helping hand in little things4 ,let us pray that1 from this mission1 there may be many results such as the following letter shows4 ,six years ago the writer was the first-fruits after a winter's labour in the ,bedford ,institute1 ,spitalfields--a wild1 musical ,shoreditch youth4 ,we offered to teach him to write4 ,the ,lord changed him1 and he has ever since been a consistent ,christian4 ,he has been the means of leading his mother to the ,saviour4 ,he went to ,canada1 earning sufficient money to place himself this winter at ,oberlin ,college4 ,i was asked if ,i knew of one suited to become an artizan-missionary among the tribe of the ,basutos4 ,his reply encourages our faith that many more1 led thus simply on1 may soon go forth as working missionaries1 after the pattern of ,st ,paul1 reaching souls by their simple1 holy life1 as well as by their preaching4 ,,oberlin ,,college1 ,,ohio1 ,march #be1 #ahgc4 ,my ,,dear ,,mother ,,in ,,the ,,lord1--,your welcome letter to hand on the #bbnd1 and the book on the ,basutos on the #bdth4 ,my soul doth bless the ,lord for all that ,he hath done for me4 ,my soul was filled with praise when ,i read your proposition to go to ,africa4 ,i had been bound in spirit for you1 as you for me1 and ,i had been asking the ,lord for many days that ,he would incline you to write to me4 ,previous to receiving the same1 ,i had cast myself upon the ,lord more than ever4 ,i could not see my way to run in debt1 and ,i was wondering whether ,i should go and work on the road2 but ,i had a burning desire to labour most of all for ,christ1 and ,i was longing to go ,south1 or somewhere to tell the heathen of ,jesus4 ,but when ,i received your letter1 ,i took it as an answer to prayer from the ,lord1 and ,i could hardly finish reading it before ,i was telling my landlady to rejoice with me4 ,how blessed to trace the hand of the ,lord in this6 ,i have learned by this to praise the ,lord for what ,he has done1 and it has enabled my soul to trust ,him for what ,he has promised4 ,believing this call is of ,god1 and after much prayer1 ,i have laid myself1 all that ,i am or hope to be1 upon the altar1 for ,africa1 to labour to lead souls to the ,lamb of ,god1 to the blessed ,lord ,jesus4 ,i expect to be consumed by the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 to be fitted through ,him for the work ,i am called to1 to be used as the ram's horn1 to be spoken through1 to lead souls to ,jesus1 not to receive the praise of men1 but of ,god4 ,and ,i feel led to say1 if it is for anything save for the glory of ,god that ,i accept this call1 to be used to the salvation of souls1 may the ,lord take me home to ,himself on sea or on land1 that ,i see you not in the flesh but in glory4 ,i have written this in prayer before ,god to you1 and this is my burning desire1 to be used of ,god4 ,i do pray the ,lord to keep me1 and put down all vain-glorying thoughts1 which will naturally rise at such a point as this1 and ,he is doing it4 ,i want to see ,jesus more1 the value of precious souls1 and all the realities ,i profess4 ,i have read ',the ,rides in the ,mission ,field of ,south ,africa4' ,i was much interested1 and ,i had a longing to go1 but ,i could see no place for such a hope2 ,i hare lent it to others here to read4 ,i am reading ',the ,basutos1' and ,i enjoy it2 ,i am reading in prayer that the ,lord will show me what things would be necessary to take4 ,i shall speak on this point presently4 ,i had a letter lately from some of my old neighbours in ,muskoka1 telling me of the conversion of a young man ,i had often spoken to and prayed for4 ,i rejoice that my mother has given me up joyfully for ,africa1 and ,i am so glad she continues bright in the ,lord4 ,i am praying that ,i may have the privilege of seeing them all brought to ,christ1 before ,i leave for ,africa1 ,i cease not to pray for you4--,your son in the faith1 ,g4 ,c4 ,interest in the ,basuto tribe could not but be deepened from the touching incident that in ,february of this year a feast for the little matchbox-makers was provided from the contributions of ,basuto children1--those who had been blessed through the ,lord's long-tried labourers1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,dyke4 ,how little could any one then anticipate the deep waters through which those servants of the ,lord have since been called to pass4 ,the workers' meetings at the ,home of ,industry are often a time of mingled joy and sorrow4 ,it is not alone the little emigrants for ,canada who are sent forth1 but many a brother and sister in the ,lord1 leaving home and kindred for ,his dear name's sake1 have here been commended with tearful prayers to ,his gracious keeping4 ,the workers' meeting in ,july this year was a season of peculiar interest1 as ,george ,clarke1 the first-fruits of the work1 was present on the eve of his departure for ,china4 ,the way had not been made open for him to join the mission in ,south ,africa1 as he had desired1 and since his departure at this time for ,china1 he has laboured in connection with the ,china ,inland ,mission1 not once revisiting his native land4 ,a few incidents in home work are here recorded3-- ,having asked the ,lord to send those ,he would have rescued for ,him1 no less than five children came to the ,refuge last ,wednesday4 ,their touching histories need no comment4 ,a struggling mother desires a start in life for her boy of ten1 whose stepfather subjects him to ill-treatment4 ,the lady interested in him 7for the woman attends her mothers' meeting7 writes3 ',william would be saved from destruction1 to which he is fast hastening from unkind treatment4' ,arthur's story is summed up in his own words3 ',i saw my father kill my mother2 he stamped on her when he was drunk1 and killed her1 and ,i cried out4' ,then1 turning to his new friend and protectress1 the little fellow went on3 ',but when ,i get a big man ,i'll work for you1 and pay you back for taking care of me when ,i was a little boy4' ,the next group1 clad in deep mourning1 is brought by a professional opera singer3 a babe in arms1 a boy and girl aged two and four1 evidently born in a much higher sphere--pretty1 refined children4 ,at their mother's death this young woman took charge of them1 their father having promised to pay #a pound a week for their support2--an empty promise it proved1 for the 'gentleman' absconded1 heavily in debt to many others4 ,the children's friend can no longer afford to keep them1 though she seems tenderly attached to them1 and will not part with the baby as long as she can maintain it4 ,the only way open to her was to let the children wander on the street1 on the chance of their being taken up by the police and put in the workhouse1 at the same time risking her own imprisonment if discovered4 ,mercifully she heard of the ,refuge1 and came to beg a home for these deserted lambs4 ,a widowed mother1 whose failing eyesight prevents her sewing1 and whose earnings by charing cannot support herself and four children1 heard ,miss ,macpherson speak at the ,moorgate ,street ,hall ,noon ,prayer-,meeting1 and was led to bring little ,alice to her1 pleading for ,christian care4 ,amid many tears she tells of the wayward wilfulness of the elder girl1 out at all hours of day and night1 and whose pernicious example is too likely to ruin the little sisters4 ,could such cases be sent away1 or a deaf ear turned to the cry of these young children asking bread1 and no man giving it them8 7,lam4 iv4 #d47 ,miss ,macpherson also writes3--,many of those1 once the little match-box makers1 are now ,christian girls taking our counsel and going as servants into ,christian families4 ,thus our child-loving hearts cannot refuse to rescue the sorrowful children that come to us to escape the atrocities of the almost unacknowledged bloodless war that goes on in our midst4 ,most of the fifty rescues now under our care are here through the slain upon the battle-field of drink1 shaven heads telling the tale of neglect4 ,the last two motherless little girls sent to us were turned out by their drunken stepfather4 ,the leader of our class for mothers and widows says that it is almost impossible to visit them1 their unmurmuring sufferings are so touching4 ,in many of their little garrets almost everything is sold4 ,and these are the saints of the ,lord--those who will very soon go in to the ,king more than conquerors4 ,yes1 these are they from whom we learn our best lessons of trust and patience1 how to deal with sceptics1 and how to go down and share our crust with a suffering sister4 ,oh1 friends1 listen to a mother's sad words4 ',some days nothing all day4 ,a little relief comes with the parish allowance2 but many a morning those hungry voices ask8 ,mother1 is this the day for bread8' ,hear in fancy your loved and cherished little ones asking this1 and you will feel for that mother's heart4 ,she recalls one day that she left them crying for bread2 but she left ,one with them1 the children's ,friend4 ,he quieted them2 and when after two hours the mother returned1 she found them sleeping4 ',but1 oh1' she said1 'that sight just broke-my heart1 so starved they looked--even the baby in ,lizzie's arms--all just like little skeletons6 ,i couldn't help it2 ,i just sat down and wept4' ,only with tears could we hear such a tale4 ,no other response would come as we took in the picture2 and it did not mend our sorrow when she added1 ',there were thousands such as these4' ,oh1 the intense longing that her voice could reach to those drawing-rooms yonder6 ,will not the echo of it1 coming in this form1 cause some1 not in imagination merely1 but in reality1 to come and see8 ,climb the dark stair1 and hear for yourself these melting stories1 which will fill your heart with pity1 and not leave you wondering what will interest next4 ,what a privilege1 yea1 high honour1 it is to be allowed to take messages for ,jesus6 ,it was stated lately in a crowded gathering of six thousand1 as the misery of the poor was dwelt on1 that if ,god were to ask the angels in heaven if any were willing to spend fifty or a hundred years down here to befriend some8 little shoeless1 homeless boy1 for whom no ,christian was caring1 to tell him of ,jesus1 and lead him to heaven1 'why1 in three minutes1' were the burning words1 ',i don't believe there'd be an angel left within the pearly gates4' ,my ,father worketh hitherto1 and ,i work4 ,that which is called the day of rest1 is at the ,home of ,industry one of varied and incessant labour2 one day may serve as a specimen4 ,before the usual hour for morning service1 two of the lady-workers start for the ,fenchurch ,street ,station1 to hold a ,bible-class with the railway porters2 others at the same time leave for ,bird ,fair4 ,bird ,fair would he a sad sight to witness on any day in any place1 how humiliating it is to behold on that which is called the ,lord's ,day in a so-called ,christian land4 ,here1 from eleven till one1 dog-stealers parade their ill-gotten prey1 and crowds through which it is scarcely possible to make one's way1 are occupied in gambling and betting on them1 and on the beautiful pigeons here made such an instrument of sin4 ,the character of the neighbourhood may be1 known from the appeal made by two poor boys who came on a week day to ask shelter from a blind1 ,christian woman4 ,they were locked out of their own home 7a bird and rabbit shop71 for their parents were both out drinking1 and they said1 ,father and mother keep sober only on ,sundays1 because there is more business to be done4 ,there1 amid many interruptions1 the ,gospel is preached to those who would never hear it elsewhere4 ,the preaching station on this occasion was in a railway-arch1 here the harmonium was placed1 and two brethren1 who came purposely from a distance1 gave the help so much needed2 for the strain is great on head1 heart1 and voice4 ,in the afternoon the spacious floor1 well known to many who attend the workers' meetings1 is filled by adult classes of women4 ,at the close an address is given1 often by a returned missionary1 and many among these very poor of the flock bring their offerings1 scanty in themselves1 but surely much prized in the sight of ,him whose love has constrained them2 twice over has a precious offering been given to me for the ,punrooty ,mission--once from the adult classes1 and again from the younger ,sunday scholars4 ,the adult ,sunday-school numbers more than #afj members4 ,a class of working men is held below4 ,the tea hour is one of peculiar interest4 ,many young men who are engaged in business in the week1 and give this day of rest to the business of their ,king1 meet here after having spent the afternoon teaching in various schools4 ,during this meal letters are read from far-off lands1 often written by those who had formerly met here1 and who have gone from this training to dark places of the earth4 ,many subjects for prayer are thus brought forward and remembered before the ,lord2 then the building is again filled to overflowing4 ,an infant class of ninety in one room on the ground floor--when these disperse a ,gospel meeting is held in this room1--a class of factory girls in another1 while above crowds of children press4 ,but there is much outside work besides1 to occupy every helper4 ,lodging-houses in the thieves' quarters are visited1 and services held1 and many hundreds are thus reached2 and after nine ,p4,m41 when the labourers return from their varied spheres1 all join once more in praise and prayer1 and many walk a long mile and more to reach their own homes1 none using any vehicle or train oh the ,lord's day4 ,it is impossible to follow every detail in this continually increasing work1 and only brief mention can be made of the goodness of the ,lord in having once more preserved the lives of dear ones in ,canada1 when1 in #ahge1 the ,home at ,belleville was again destroyed by fire1 and again ,canadian kindness and hospitality were manifested to the utmost4 ,each summer's sun had shone upon band after band of young emigrants guided safely across the ocean1 through the goodness and mercy of ,him1 ,who carries the lambs in ,his bosom1 and ,who holdeth the waters in the hollow of ,his hand4 ,in the labour of watching over these little ones on the voyage1 as in every other1 the ,lord raised up helpers like-minded with those who bore the burden of the work4 ,in ,may1 #ahgf1 the twenty-second party sailed under the care of ,mr4 ,merry and ,miss ,macpherson1 and the following extracts are from her diary3-- ,friday1 ,may #e4--;,calm seas1 children bright and happy1 cloudless skies1 weather charming and exhilarating1 though cold4 ,morning spent over our ,bibles4 ,time seemed to fly rapidly while we talked of 'the things concerning the ,king4' ,in the afternoon the bracing air and bright skies invited vigorous exercise1 and our ,birmingham friend and ,i walked between two and three miles4 ,faith was our theme of converse4 ,may the result be that we both shall trust our ,god more than heretofore1 for ourselves and our work1 and realise increased measure4 7,phil4 iv4 #ai7 ',my ,god shall supply all your need4' ,our children being on deck1 we joined them in their games1 and then assembled our large family in their separate steerages2 and standing in the doorway between1 ,i was enabled to address them and the helpers--#adj in all4 ,their evening hymn attracted the sailors1 and this gave a double gathering on mid-decks4 ,our portion was ,luke x4 #ch-db1 ',the one thing needful4' ,jesus the need of each one1 ere leaving us4 ,a saddened look fell over every little face1 as we referred to parting1 while many beamed with joy1 as we talked of the meeting by and bye4 ,we closed by singing ',around the throne of ,god in heaven4' ,during this hour ,mr4 ,merry held a solemn meeting among the sailors in the forecastle4 ,may the ,lord ,jesus scatter ,his saints to the four quarters of the globe1 that ,his glory may be increased4 ,if those who cannot go would only meet weekly1 in twos and threes1 and pray for the foreign fields of perishing millions1 surely we should see greater results4 ,this day ended in one of the most lovely of moonlight nights1 and as we walked on deck we were ever and anon led to praise ,god and admire the beauties of ,his hand4 ,venus was resplendent2 very large and full of soft lustrous beauty1 while an aurora shed some lovely tinges of colour across the sky4 ,our little group turned once more towards the chart room1 and sang a hymn of praise to ',him who hath loved us4' ',if so much loveliness is sent ,to grace our earthly home1 ,how beautiful1 how beautiful ,must be the world to come6' ,saturday1 ,may #f4--;,at early dawn we were awakened from a long brain-refreshing sleep by one of the officers gently tapping at our door1 and in a whisper saying1 ',a glorious sunrise4' ,we were soon with him on the bridge1 filled with admiration as we gazed upon the scene before us4 ,the sun appeared rising from the ocean1 its golden rays shedding a dazzling brilliance on all around4 ,while we watched1 the scene changed1 and a misty veil beclouded the whole horizon1 hiding from our view that which had been so lovely4 ,after going down to an early cup of tea we sang our morning hymn of praise1 and had a season of prayer2 a very hallowed opportunity it was1 one which brought us again to feel our deep need of grace1 to live one more day to ,his praise and glory4 ,about noon we bad another of those never-ending changes which are to be met with on this great ocean2 the sun came out bright and warm1 the sky became brilliantly blue1 and the sea was one sheet of ice fields as far as the eye could reach4 ,our noble ,scotch ironclad rode on her way majestically1 leaving a pathway in the frozen fields to be seen for miles behind1 and as she struck her boom upon the massive sheets of ice1 they seemed to vibrate and cause a movement in huge sheets on before and on either side4 ,some magnificent pieces1 when touched by the ironclad's power1 shiver into thousands of fragments1 others pass our vessel's side1 hard as iron1 to be wafted on to the ,gulf ,stream1 there to come under a warmer influence4 ,this ,arctic scene causes our captain and his officers to look rather serious1 and they mount at times to the fore-topgallant mast4 ,did we but know the dangers which beset us through yielding to the allurements of the world1 how often would we also mount aloft1 and get upon1 our watch-tower and look out6 ,you will naturally ask1 ,how far did the ice reach8 ,we were fourteen hours cutting through it1 passing sixty vessels and two steamers 7many of them fixtures71 signalling those we came near4 ,it was touching to see a barque make efforts to get into our opened-up pathway1 but she could not make the short distance to reach the cleared waters4 ,those who watched throughout that long day as we triumphantly1 though slowly1 broke our ice-girt way1 saw seals between the fields of ice1 porpoises and whales spouting and bounding in their glorious freedom1 sea-gulls and small red birds flying about4 ,our little fellows were constructing allegories after the fashion of their last course of lessons on ,banyan's ',pilgrim's ,progress4' ,the ice field1 they said1 was like ,satan1 and the ship was like ,christian2 and thus they went on1 as they sat looking over the bulwarks at the ice which so hindered our progress4 ,there is not a child who has not had his constitution braced by this most favourable voyage4 ,to-day we passed a steamer in the ice1 which had started a week ahead of us from ,glasgow4 ,how we realised at this time the comfort and rest of having a captain and officers who were men of prayer4 ,the gun was now fired to tell the dwellers at ,metis to telegraph the glad news to you that we were safe in sight of land1 though there are still ,amaleks to be overcome1--narrow straits lined with mountains full of minerals1 which are a magnetic attraction to our ironclads1 and more ships have been lost here than anywhere else2 fogs which come and go1 ever keeping the sailor as he nears the shore in anxious trepidation2 and shallows that require skill in sounding4 ,sunday1 ,may #g4--;,a cloudy day1 after a week of unspeakable loving-kindness and tender mercy4 ,we could by faith hear ,his own voice within1 saying ',my peace ,i give unto you4' ,our children all day were most obedient1 and kind and loving to each other4 ,we spent the morning together1 the last of the kind until we meet on that morning that hath no clouds4 ,ere commencing our lesson1 we asked a sailor to lift the hatchway wide open4 ,this gave the suggestion for the subject1 ',the ,man with the ,palsy1' which was easily understood by supposing the sailors with cords to let one more little boy down into our midst4 ,the pilot met us at ,father ,point about #d ,p4,m41 bringing a telegram of welcome from one of our dear ,canadian friends1 also a verse from ,philemon4 ,thus we feel assured loving hearts are prayerfully awaiting us on the shores we are nearing1 a sweet symbol of the better land and the loved ones on before4 ,monday1 ,may #h4--,mr4 ,merry was astir before five o'clock1 and awaking the young helpers4 ,soon they were in the steerage among the children2 commenced packing of blankets1 c41 as we were expecting to make the port soon after breakfast ,in this1 however1 we were disappointed1 as in ,travers's ,strait the ,mineral ,mountains attracted the compass1 and a dense fog hiding all headlands retarded our progress1 making it necessary to lower one of the boats to take the soundings1 and go before the great ',sardinian1' showing her how to shape her course in the narrow way4 ,a sweet reminder this to us that our ,lord was so condescending as to use the possessions of a little lad when ,he needed the two small fishes4 ,and we take encouragement that many of our little ones are going on before1 preparing the way in many a district by their sweet hymns telling of the 'wondrous story1' for the devoted evangelists who are being raised up in ,canada to follow with deeper revealings of the blessed ,bible1 winning precious souls 'till ,he come4' ',i am coming6 ,are you working8 ,short your serving time will be2 ,are your talents idle lying8 ,are you using them for me8' ,such is the effect of fog at sea1 that we are told it may be #f ,p4,m4 ere we arrive1 and judging from all appearances1 great caution is required in the ,gulf at this time of year4 ,at #aa ,a4,m4 we had a sweet season of thanksgiving for the many mercies received4 ,at twelve o'clock the fog lifted1 and the engine went on with its accustomed vigour4 ,at #e ,p4,m4 we neared the shore1 and there stood a group of more than a dozen young ladies1 waving a welcome4 ,soon they were on deck1 and saluted us and our children1 telling us they had borne us up in prayer before the ,lord4 ,after uniting with them in praise for the unspeakable mercies by the way1 we bade farewell to passengers1 officers1 and crew1 and sliding down the long gangway from the ,i bulwarks1 felt our feet once more on terra firma4 ,shaking our captain's hand with a grateful heart for all his kindness to us and ours1 in a few minutes steam was up1 and the ',sardinian' on her way to ,montreal4 ,we then went to see the little ones having tea in an adjoining hall1 while ,mr4 ,merry was very busy among the agents and luggage4 ,it being announced that the ,quebec boat was ready to cross the river1 we had to part with our young friends1 who told us they should all take a deeper interest than ever in us now they had seen the bright faces ,of our children4 ,front love to ,jesus1 they had met during the past winter to make clothing1 and presented me with a large case to take on4 ,after sending our telegrams to each ,home1 we found the first-class cars ready for our children1 so we put every one at full length1 and soon all were soundly asleep1 and we went on hour after hour4 ,tuesday1 ,may #i4--,we arrived at ,montreal at ten o'clock1 where a most comfortable breakfast was awaiting us1 with nice washing accommodation4 ,here we had the pleasure of meeting the ,secretary of the ,emigration ,department of ,ottawa1 who kindly gave us some sound counsel on many points bearing upon our work of emigration4 ,at eleven o'clock we heard the summons1 ',all aboard6' and were soon again on our way4 ,we dined at ,prescott1 and then still westward we travelled until midnight4 ,all was mercy4 ,for ,sidney1 our little delicate child1 we feared the cold night-air would be too much1 so the cry went upwards for guidance with regard to this precious orphan1 whose story was so touching4 ,a ,christian widow had sheltered his mother from the streets when the child was but two weeks old1 and had kept him for five years1 but now1 her failing eyesight rendering her unable to support him1 with a breaking heart she gave him up to us4 ,all my desire now our journey was ending was to keep from making one special attachment1 yet his delicacy drew us all more than ever to him4 ,owing to a telegram not having been delivered1 about midnight one of the trying incidents of this part of our journey unexpectedly occurred4 ,on arriving at ,belleville1 after awaking our sleeping family1 we found neither friend nor conveyance awaiting us4 ,mr4 ,merry walked the mile to the ,home1 and soon our waggon was ready to take back a few of the most exhausted ones1 whilst our car was shunted to a siding for the night4 ,wednesday1 ,may #aj4--;,ere seven o'clock1 by help of a large omnibus1 we were conveyed to the new ,belleville ,home1 where we met with a warm welcome4 ,it was a day of reunion with loved fellow-workers1 talking of the way the ,lord had led us1 and the trials and joys of the past year4 ,twelve months ago1 ,i left this ,home a mass of ruins and burnt embers2 now a new and more efficient one for the purpose is erected on the same spot ,my beloved friend ,miss ,bilbrough has indeed had many a burden to bear1 but her testimony to the ,lord's faithfulness is greater than ever4 ,her heart is more and more devoted to the children1 and to carrying forward the work in all its never-ceasing details4 ,after a few hours' sleep1 it was so very interesting to walk over our new and conveniently arranged ,home4 ,truly our hearts were filled with praise as we knelt together to thank the ,lord4 ,towards the afternoon ,i was introduced to a young man who was working as gardener4 ,we had brought him out from ,england in #ahgj1 and he has ever since given great satisfaction to his employers1 has paid back his passage-money1 joined the ,church1 and not long since was married to his late master's daughter4 ,in the evening we walked into town1 and met with ',daniel's ,band1' which is composed of seventeen ,christian young men1 who are uniting in prayer and work for the souls of their fellow-townsmen2 and through their instrumentality many conversions have taken place1 and the churches have been stirred up to greater activity4 ,mr4 ,merry gave a clear ,gospel address1 and another meeting being asked for1 a ,bible-reading was arranged for the following evening4 ,thus we had the privilege of witnessing for our blessed ,master to about #bjj1 and cheering the hearts of ',daniel's ,band4' ,thursday1 ,may #aa4--,occupied the day writing ,english letters and receiving friends4 ,also went to see an aged saint1 who had from our first visit to these shores been a helper by her prayers4 ,friday1 ,may #ab4--,left ,belleville for ,galt soon after #f ,a4,m41 taking with us thirty-eight children1 and travelling by rail along the shores of ,lake ,ontario4 ,the morning hours passed quickly en route1 and as we neared ,toronto1 towns and villages became more frequent and more attractive4 ,at ,berlin an unexpected kindness was shown us4 ,orders had been given to send us on by special train1 so that no delay was experienced in travelling the remaining fourteen miles of our journey4 ,those who have travelled #cjjj miles with a number of children can understand how this was appreciated by us1 when every nerve was strained1 and nature was yearning for a long sleep free from the shaking of the railway4 ,at #e ,p4,m41 on the seventeenth day after leaving ,london1 we reached the end of our journey1 and found our farmer-nephew1 with his team1 awaiting our arrival4 ,soon we were on the hill1 looking at the little ,home beyond4 ,as we approached the gates the shout of welcome from more than a score of young voices greeted us1 and on the verandah we were received by our loved niece1 and the dear friends who have been assisting her in the absence of her parents4 ,the strain of travel now being over1 we were able to enjoy a few hours' rest1 our hearts full of gratitude for the many mercies which had encompassed us all our journey through4 ',how good is the ,god we adore1 ,our faithful1 unchangeable ,friend ,whose love is as great as ,his power1 ,and knows neither measure nor end4' ,during the winter1 individual visitation of the children had been most effectually accomplished by the four ,inspectors appointed by the ,canadian ,government1 the result of which proved to be most favourable to the plan of placing the ,solitary in families4 ,after two days rest at ,galt1 ,miss ,macpherson started on the same loved work1 and met with the usual cheering results4 ,on her return home ,miss ,macpherson thus writes3-- ,july #bj4 ,in the providence of our covenant-keeping ,god1 and ,father of the fatherless1 we have been again permitted in peace to return from another visit to the adopted homes of our little ones4 ,to ,his praise1 who is the ,answerer of prayer1 we record that #ajj1jjj miles have been travelled in connection with these special charges in the past six years1 and no storm or accident has been permitted to alarm1 no death requiring the remains to be committed to the great deep4 ,during the past year the ,dominion ,government chose four of their oldest officials to visit all our children1 7as their ,blue-book records71 'deeming that from their experience they would be best enabled to judge of the condition1 position1 and prospects of the children in their situations4' ,the ,government are satisfied 7as parents of the ,state71 that our children 'are very carefully placed1' bringing out the fact that1 ninety-eight out of every #ajj are doing well4 ,miss ,macpherson adds3-- ,a letter will often show the progress of an industrious young man1 and being asked for details1 ,i give the following from a handful of similar encouraging testimonials3-- ,,magnetawan1 ,,district ,,parry ,,sound1 ,,ontario4 ,,dear ,,miss ,,macpherson1--,this is from ,william ,miller--one that came cut under your care three years ago last ,june4 ,i worked in the town of ,galt as a substitute three months1 for a man while he went home to his friends in ,scotland4 ,after that ,i went to live in ,pelham1 in the county of ,welland1 a situation that ,miss ,reavell directed me to1 and there stayed three years1 and saved a little money2 and now ,i have moved to ,parry ,sound1 to the address which you will find at the end of this note4 ,dear friend1 ,i desire to hear of your welfare in the work that ,god has put in your hands to do1--in bringing out the destitute ones from ,england into a land of plenty1 and where they can be well cared for4 ,i have seen many of them around the country where ,i have been1 almost all looking well1 and enjoying themselves much4 ,i now live in the township of ,croft4 ,i have #ahf acres of land1 on the banks of ,doe ,lake4 ,i think if ,i had stayed in ,england ,i should not have had as many feet4 ,i like ,england very well1 but it is a hard place for the poor4 ,i took #ajj acres of this land as free grant1 and the rest ,i bought4 ,it is two miles and a half from the village4 ,there are two stores1 post-office1 and sawmill2 ,i think a flour-mill will be built this summer4 ,magnetawan ,river runs through the village4 ,there are two waterfalls for mill purposes in the village4 ,a day school will commence in the summer1 and there is also a church and ,sunday-school1 to which ,i go4 ,in the winter it is not held1 because the roads are so bad1 but when the country gets open more the roads will be better4 ,i humbly thank ,god for guiding and keeping me in good health1 and under the banner of ,christ1 and ,i trust walking in ,his ways1 and hope to remain so unto death1 and then live with ,him above1 there to part no more4 ,my brother is living here also2 he has #bjj acres of land4 ,remember me to all the workers at the ,home1 praying that we may all1 as ,christians1 work for the ,lord of glory1 and at last meet together to praise ,him4 ',wait on the ,lord4' ,i remain1 yours truly in ,christ1 ,w4 ,,miller4 ,those who have been helped1 help their kindred in after years4 ,the following is an instance3-- ,,douglas1 ,june #bi1 #ahgf4 ,,dear ,miss ,,macpherson1--,i have been here four years in ,august1 ,i will be four years with my master in ,october4 ,i like this country well2 the crops are growing well1 and there is prospect of a good harvest4 ,dear ma'am1 ,i have a little brother nearly ten years old1 and he is living with my mother2 he wants to come to this country1 and mother is willing he should1 and ,i think ,i have enough to pay his passage out2 and if it pleased you1 would you take him into your ,home1 and send him out with your boys4 ,please would you send him to the ,belleville ,home1 as we would then be able to get him1 because the man that my brother is with says he would not object to taking him4 ,please would you let me know how much it would take to pay for sending him to ,belleville1 and where would ,i send the money to4 ,i am able to plough now1 and milk cows1 chop wood1 reap grain1 and mow hay4 ,i am raising fifty young apple-trees of the ,spitenberg kind4 ,i am going to be a farmer myself some day2 it is very nice and healthy work4 ,i get a good many rides on horseback4 ,i have a lamb of my own2 my master gave it me when it was a small1 little lamb1 but now it has grown into a good-sized sheep4 ,the ,premier of the ,dominion was at this village1 and ,i heard him speak4 ,we will soon begin to cut our hay2 we have a mowing-machine1 so that it does not take long to cut our hay4 ,there is a ,sunday-school three miles away from us1 quite near where my brother lives2 it has sixty scholars1 and ,i go to it every ,sunday1 but the preaching is only once a fortnight4 ,in our ,sunday-school we sing about the same hymns we used to sing when in the ,refuge1 and there is three of us ',home' boys go to that ,sunday-school4 ,we have seven head of horn-cattle1 five horses1 ten sheep1 and six lambs1 thirty-six hens1 forty-four hen chickens1 two geese1 and nine goslings1 two pigs1 and one calf1 so ,i will say good-bye for the present4--,i remain1 yours sincerely1 ,,john ,,heney ,,mitchell4 ,p4,s4--,give my love to all the boys1 and accept the same from me1 ,j4 ,m4 ,the following incidents are told by ,miss ,macpherson3-- ,miss ,bilbrough often goes off with half-a-dozen to see them placed in their new home4 ,whilst on one of these journeys1 the little ones were attracting the notice of fellow-travellers1 as some forty to fifty are generally in a compartment4 ,from amongst these ,miss ,bilbrough is accosted by a young gentleman1 who lifts his hat to her1 and sits down by her side4 ,this was one of our first party1 now a young solicitor1 just about to pass his last examination4 ,he was on the important business of going to some place in the backwoods to value a farm for the firm by whom he was employed4 ,another young man1 one of our second band in #ahgj1 is now visiting his friends in ,england for a month1 ere beginning his career as a lawyer in ,canada2 and more than this1 he is1 we rejoice to say1 a consistent ,christian of several years' standing4 ,now1 when we want a lawyer's counsel1 our young friend is glad to give it us1 and already has done us good service4 ,sweet thank-offerings6 ,my past birthday in ,june was spent in taking two little fellows to their homes4 ,after travelling nearly one hundred miles1 as we neared our destination very tired1 we wondered to ourselves whether it would be in a log hut1 farmhouse1 or mansion we should find a welcome with our little charges4 ,it proved to be the last4 ,the ,lord had put it into the heart of a young married lady to rear an orphan boy1 and thus fulfil a long-cherished idea4 ,she had also induced another ,christian lady to do the same4 ,it was a sweet reward to ,his wearied servant1 to know that two orphans would be so well cared for4 ,,chapter ,,vii #ahgg-ahgi4 ,they helped every one his neighbour--,miss ,child1 a fellow-labourer --,the work in ,ratcliff ,highway--,strangers' ,rest for ,sailors--,welcome ,home--,bridge of ,hope--,miss ,macpherson's twenty-first voyage to ,canada--,explosion on board the ,sardinian--,child life in the ,galt ,home--,the ,galt ,home now devoted to children from ,london1 ,knowlton to those from ,liverpool1 and ,marchmont to ,scottish ,emigrants4 ,they helped every one his neighbour1 and every one said to his brother1 ,be of good courage 7margin1 be strong74 ,miss ,macpherson writes in ,february this year1 the eighth anniversary3-- ,as a band1 we need to 'be strong' for any emergency4 ,at this season we are surrounded by hundreds of men out of employment1 and in want of food1 who say now to us--',we have listened to your ,gospel2 we are in want2 show us thy faith by thy works4' ,this we are endeavouring to do by providing for them suppers of soup and bread twice a week4 ,the other evening a crowd had gathered outside the door at the specified hour1 when only #aej could be admitted4 ,did we but know the gnawings of real hunger we should not wonder that the unsuccessful applicants attempted to burst in2 and one poor man falling in the crush1 broke his arm4 ,we need your prayers while dealing with this class for another month4 ,strong hearts quail at the sight of these hopeless looking men4 ,our evening-school three times a week1 taught by ladies1 we find to be the most successful plan of dealing with them4 ,the being called by their own names1 man by man1 wakes up an interest1 and causes the public-house life to go into the shade4 ,the friends of the match box-makers 7our oldest love in this vineyard7 will rejoice to hear that we gathered #cjj of them straight from their boxes to a ,new ,year's tea1 when a kind friend helped to make the evening a pleasant one by exhibiting dissolving views4 ,after this the gifts of clothing1 c41 with which we had been supplied by many contributors1 were distributed among them4 ,last week we had a very happy evening with our ,christian band1 many of whom were the matchbox-makers of former days1 now grown1 into young women1 and fellow-workers for ,christ in their own homes1 and in the courts and alleys where they dwell4 ,deeply interesting were their testimonies of answers to prayer1 the power of the ,word1 and delivering grace in time of trial in the factories where they labour4 ,dear helpers by prayer1 you now behold what great things the ,lord hath wrought for us in giving us this band of young women to go forth on the ,sunday afternoons in couples with their tracts1 and reach many whom perhaps we might not find4 ,some of these are also teachers in our ,sunday-school1 sympathising with us in our ,east-end trials1 teaching to others what they have learned of ,jesus through their own experience of ,his great love4 ,the 'elder girls' of the ,east-end are a continual heavy burden on our heart2 much thought and care are being bestowed in devising and perfecting plans for winning their young lives to the ,saviour1 and fitting them for honourable service for ,god and man4 ,this great preventive work among those young bread-winners can only be successfully accomplished by those who1 through studying their habits1 temptations1 and surroundings1 by constant loving contact with them1 and by special training1 are able to win their confidence and affection4 ,in this year a new and most important work was begun1 one which has eminently received the blessing of ,him who is the confidence of all the ends of the earth1 and of those who are afar off upon the sea4 ,miss ,child1 one like-minded with ,miss ,macpherson inter zeal for souls1 and her longing to save them from the curse of drink2 had been residing in the ,home of ,industry1 and visiting public-houses in ,ratcliff ,highway4 ,to those who have never seen the open parade of sin in that part1 7long notorious for every evil71 it is hard to describe the scene1 where even in broad daylight the unhappy captives of ,satan seem to glory in their shame4 ,miss ,child's heart yearned over the sailors who crowd the public-houses1 escaped from the perils of the sea only to fall into worse dangers4 ,she longed for some means of helping them4 ,miss ,macpherson appealed to him whose burning words in the ,city of ,london ,theatre in #ahfa had so stirred her own heart ,mr4 ,reginald ,radcliffe had lately opened a ,strangers' ,rest in ,liverpool1 and only longed to see the same established in every port in the world4 ,in answer to the call1 he came up to ,london and addressed ,christian workers assembled at the ,home of ,industry1 stirring them up to undertake a new form of attack on the strongholds of the enemy4 ,mr4 ,james ,e4 ,matheson took the deepest interest in this work1 and a house was secured in ,ratcliff ,highway1 the appearance of which was made to contrast very strongly with all around4 ,gospel texts in many languages appeared in all the windows1 and invitations to sailors to enter and write their letters1 materials provided free of cost4 ,this work needed many helpers4 ,preachers were required for the different nationalities4 ,such were found1 and willing listeners1 so that soon a larger house was necessary4 ,notwithstanding the many calls on her time and strength1 ,miss ,macpherson was frequently to be found here1 delighting in seeking to save among a class hitherto difficult to reach4 ,many other sisters in the ,lord were1 called on to help--some to play the harmoniums provided in each room1 and lead the singing in varied languages--others in writing letters for those who could not use a pen themselves1 and whose hearts were softened by kindness shown in this way--others in filling1 bags with books and tracts4 ,the blessing which has followed these cannot be reckoned2 none can tell what these silent messengers1 so often despised on shore1 have been to sailors when read far away from home and friends4 ,many of these bags have been made by ,christian invalids1 and are followed by their prayers that the contents may ever be blessed4 ,as yet1 however1 nothing had been done for the women in ,katcliff ,highway1 and ,miss ,macpherson1 when visiting that neighbourhood where ,satan reigns so openly1 longed to save some of her poor lost sisters4 ,on one occasion a young woman said most piteously to her3 ,why don't you speak to us as you do to the sailors1 and we would be converted and be happy too8 ,this led to the first decided effort being made1 and the following year a small mission room for their use alone was opened4 ,tea-meetings and ,gospel addresses-were given here4 ,miss ,macpherson's long-tried helper1 ,miss ,may1 added this work to her many other burdens for the ,lord1 and other kind friends joined her in visiting and seeking out the lost4 ,although1 in ,miss ,may's words1 humanly speaking all things were against us1--for in this neighbourhood the wages of iniquity are high1 yet encouragement was met with1 and it was felt that the mission room was not sufficient1 but some shelter must be taken wherein to receive' poor applicants until they could be removed to a safer locality4 ,a tiny three-roomed house was secured and opened with1 much prayer1 and has fulfilled the promise of the name given to it1 ,the ,bridge of ,hope4 ,the ,lord blessed ,miss ,macpherson in the choice of a helper1 ,miss ,underdown1 the brave pioneer who volunteered to remain here alone1 ready to welcome the poor wanderer at any hour of the day or night4 ,she is now working among sailors at ,cape ,town2 but the ,lord has proved in this instance1 as in many others1 that when ,his summons to a distant land is obeyed1 the work at home will not be suffered to languish4 ,another devoted sister in the ,lord1 ,miss ,steer1 has given up home ties and home comforts1 counting it all joy to rescue those most deeply sunk in guilt and misery4 ,the work has doubled and trebled in importance1 more than a hundred having been drawn out of this whirlpool of sin and infamy1 and brought under the sound of the ,gospel within the walls of the larger ,refuge1 since opened for them4 ,more than once we have had to praise ,god for the help given by ,christian sailors2 their watchful eyes have noticed in the ,highway some who were evidently strangers to the haunts of vice1 and have brought them here for safety1 and even borne part of the expense of their journey homewards4 ,the house originally taken for the ,strangers' ,rest having been found inadequate for the accommodation of the crowds who frequented it1 a larger house was taken1 but it was felt that after the many hallowed associations of the first house opened1 where ,miss ,macpherson and ,miss ,child had often rejoiced with the angels of ,god over repenting sinners1 it was impossible to relinquish it for ordinary uses1--it might be in that neighbourhood for some direct work of ,satan4 ,to ,miss ,macpherson's great joy her faithful1 co-worker1 ,miss ,child1 determined on opening it as a ,temperance ,coffee ,house1 or ,welcome ,home for the sailors1 and thenceforth made this place her abode1 and the work of ,god has never ceased4 ,in the spring of this year ,miss ,macpherson had contemplated starting with a party for ,canada1 but as the time drew near she was so much worn out by the continued strain of holding the fort at ,spitalfields for the last two years1 that some of her friends almost feared she would be unable to take the charge4 ,she would not suffer her bodily weakness to hinder her1 and on ,may the #hth started on her twenty-first voyage in the ,sardinian1 accompanied by her brother-in-law1 ,mr4 ,merry1 with a party of fifty children1 and two young men who had gone out with her in #ahgj1 and had returned to see their friends1 and were on their way back with her to the land of their adoption4 ,so many thousand miles had been traversed by land and sea1 and hitherto thanksgivings had gone up for preservation from even alarm of danger4 ,now a deeper thanksgiving was to be called forth1 for the ,lord's preserving care in a scene which brought all face to face with eternity4 ,on the ,monday before she left ,miss ,macpherson remarked to some friends1 ,the ,word is full of ,deliverance1 both individual deliverance and otherwise1 little dreaming how soon she would be called to realise this truth4 ,the following letter1 which appeared in the ,times1 tells of the strength given in time of need3-- ,may #ad1 #ahgh4 ,captain ,grills1 of the ,liverpool ,mercantile ,marine ,service ,association1 going to ,derry upon a pleasure trip1 was upon the bridge of the ',sardinian' when the accident occurred1 and speaks in high terms of the discipline of officers and crew under the trying circumstances4 ,he says3--',i was on the bridge with ,captain ,dutton1 looking for the approach of the tender1 when in a moment an explosion occurred down in the fore-hold1 where a quantity of coal was stored1 and blew into the air thousands of fragments of wood4 ,immediately afterwards people came shrieking up the companion ways1 many1 of them cut1 bruised1 and blackened4 ,the scene was indescribable4 ,a great deal of confusion was caused by the separation of children from parents and husbands from wives4 ,one poor woman begged me to go and find her baby1 which was torn from her arms4 ,the ,captain1 on hearing the explosion and seeing the smoke1 sprang from the bridge1 ordered the hose to be instantly applied1 and by dint of extraordinary exertions on the part of himself1 the officers1 and crew1 succeeded in saving several people who were in the midst of the debris4 ,the hold was flooded with water from the hose1 but the smoke continued to pour out in dense volumes1 and ultimately they had to abandon all hope of saving the ship except by opening the sluices and letting the water in4 ,before doing this the vessel was taken into five fathoms of water1 so that when she settled down her decks would be above water1 and she might the more easily be pumped out and raised4 ,while these orders were being executed1 the whole of the saloon passengers1 assisted by many of the crew1 were engaged in transferring the emigrants to the mail tender which had just come alongside4 ,about #cjj or #djj soon crowded her decks1 and she landed them at ,moville pier1 after which she returned for orders4 ,subsequently the second tender took off most of the saloon passengers1 many wounded1 and a large quantity of baggage4 ,the boats were lowered in order to save the baggage4 ,the mail tender returned and took the rest of the people1 and ,i went with them1 and we reached ,derry about nine o'clock that night4 ,i cannot refrain from referring to the heroic conduct of one lady1 ,footnote3 ,miss ,catherine ,ellis of ,tryon ,house a saloon passenger1 who1 while partially dressed1 rescued a baby that was fearfully burnt1 at considerable risk to herself2 the mother had proceeded to ,derry1 thinking she had lost her child for ever4 ,the promptitude and energy displayed by ,captain ,button was in every way admirable1 and his orders were executed with great decision4 ,miss ,macpherson and her little band of ,canadian emigrants showed no small amount of true fortitude and heroism4 ,most of the children behaved nobly under the trying circumstances1 and exhibited much of the fruit of their careful training4 ,they kept repeating to one another many of the sayings they had heard from ,miss ,macpherson about being patient1 and brave1 and good2 ,i visited the infirmary before leaving on ,saturday1 and spoke to each of the nine patients1 who are all suffering seriously1 but ,i am hopeful of the recovery of some4' ,miss ,macpherson's own account follows3-- ,sunday morning4 ,since we parted from you and those beloved ,christian friends at ,st4 ,pancras last ,wednesday1 we seem to have lived years1 and learnt more of the reality of the delivering power of our loving ,father than in all our lives before4 ,wondrous to relate1 and as marvellous as the deliverance of the three children from the fiery furnace1 is the fact that all our precious little ones are in safety1 and now gone to a place of worship4 ,behold the loving-kindness of our ,god6 ,had the explosion taken place a little while later1 our vessel would have been on her way instead of standing still waiting off ,moville for the mails4 ,most of the children were on deck1 basking in the lovely sunshine of that afternoon4 ,we were all busy finishing our letters1 and ,i intended to write one more1 and then go and spend an hour in the children's steerage1 when presently there was a terrible sound1 as of a cannon1 followed by a deathly stillness for two minutes2 ,i rushed on deck and beheld a man jet black with soot1 his halt burnt off1 issuing from a gangway near2 then one of my own boys came1 exclaiming1 ',oh1 ,miss6 ,i prayed to ,jesus1 and ,he saved me4' ,then the deck became a fearful scene of confusion1 poor foreigners weeping1 and oh6 the mutilated men and women1 ghastly with fright1 some of their faces entirely skinned4 ,my first care was for the little ones4 ,they clustered round me1 as the two young men1 7former boys of #ahgj1 who had been home to see their friends71 gathered them out of the crowd4 ,mr4 ,merry gave me the list1 and they dried their tears1 and answered to their names when called4 ,we soon found all accounted for1 and were hushed with praise ,picture us all standing near the wheelhouse1 awaiting orders1 or to see1 it might be flames1 or another explosion of a still more serious character4 ,oh6 could every ,sunday school teacher in the land realise my feelings at that moment1 they would never rest until every child in their class was' washed in the ,blood of the ,lamb4 ,i saw nothing but imperfection in all my work1 and want of burning reality for souls4 ,the scene of the disaster was very near to the children's sleeping berths2 a very few yards off two women sat upon a box together1 one was blown up into the air1 the other driven she knew not whither2 but late that night ,i came across her seeking a bed in ,moville1 and she told me that in those first terrible moments every sin she had ever committed came before1 her1 and the one most awful was her having rejected the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,oh1 what our ,god can do in tire twinkling of an eye6 by unbalancing a little breath of ,his own created air1 then the stoutest-hearted sinners quail4 ,another witness wrote3-- ,sunday4 ,it is terrible to have been in the midst of such a calamity6 and the sight of the poor1 blackened1 and scorched faces of the sufferers ,i shall never forget4 ,there was such a nice1 family on board2 the father1 mother1 and four children4 ,the mother was blown up2 her body was found yesterday1 scarcely recognisable1 but the husband had to go and identify it4 ,poor man6 he was here1 and in such an agony of distress4 ,the last order ,i heard the ,captain give1 was thundered out1 ',send all the women and children up from below1' and ,miss ,macpherson came herself1 and dragged me up4 ,captain ,button says there have been the most wonderful providences4 ,it was wonderful how calm every one seemed at the time of that terrible crash4 ,there was no panic1 but the peculiar wailing of the poor ,sardinians rings in my ears still1 and the groans of those sufferers4 ,silence must be cast over the scenes of that sad day4 ,if ,i thought of anything at the time of the accident1 it was of ,miss ,macpherson's ,bible1 and ,i know her thought was for me and the children4 ,it was most sweet at the time to see the way people thought of others more than of themselves2 there were many little acts of kindness done then which will never be forgotten4 ,miss ,macpherson said to me as we were starting on ,thursday1 ',i think this is going to be a most unusual voyage4 ,i have never had such sweet dismissals before4' ,i did so feel as ,i stood round those poor sufferers4 ,why was ,i spared8 ,all in the same ship1 all exposed to the same peril1 and yet we are untouched1 and what are we better than they8 ,we can only bow low before our loving ,father with ',what can ,i render unto the ,lord for all ,his benefits towards me8'44 ,i managed to get to the infirmary1 where ,i paid a very interesting visit4444 ,the third officer is so terribly hurt1 quite unrecognisable4 ,on her return from ,derry1 whither she had hastened to give help to the sufferers1 ,mrs4 ,merry gave a thrilling account of how the waters had not been suffered to pass over them1 nor the flame permitted to kindle upon them2 and told how nobly that brave seaman and man of ,god1 ,captain ,dutton1 had acted2 how he had instantly summoned all hands to his help in seeing to the safety of the children1 so that in less than three minutes by the watch1 after the shock1 the whole of the forty little tones were around ,miss ,macpherson1 having no more hurt upon them 7with one exception7 than a little singed hair and a few blisters4 ,not only were their lives spared--they were not even called upon to take joyfully the spoiling if their goods1 for not one box or parcel either of clothing or gospel1 tracts and books was lost or injured4 ,the ,peruvian was sent from ,liverpool to take1 the place of the ,sardinian1 and the rest of the voyage was accomplished in safety4 ,when nearing ,cape ,race ,miss ,macpherson writes3-- ,many a touching scene have we witnessed4 ,a company of between twenty and thirty ,swiss ,christians1 with their evangelist1 guided by a lady1 to form a little colony in ,canada1 when passing through ,liverpool1 had spent all their evenings at the ',sailors ,rest1' so we1 being ,i one in the eternal bond1 sang together the same hymns1 though in different languages1 the first evening we sailed out4 ,to see them drying their ,bibles and hymn-books1 all the covers gone1 oh6 it made me weep4 ,how very precious those mutilated books were to them now6 ,one dear ,german ,christian showed me his ,bible1 and ,i was told the two front blotted pages were written by a dying mother's hand4 ,another young ,german1 when he found his ,bible was safe1 forgot all else1 and danced about with the most touching joy1 but then he knew not where to put his treasure for safety and to get it pressed4 ,although ,i understood not his language1 and no one was at hand to interpret1 ,i put out my hand to help him2 he took one long look into my face1 and with a smile gave me his precious book4 ,five days after we met again1 and he held out his hands1 exclaiming ',bibel6' ,you heard how very promptly the ,deny ,christians acted for the poor emigrants4 ,every minister intimated the need in his church1 and the response was made before nine o'clock on the ,monday morning4 ,cartloads of clothing were sent in and distributed among the emigrants1 so that as far as covering for the present goes1 all have been liberally helped to go on their way4 ,sunday4--,a day of lovely sunshine1 all on deck enjoying the warmth4 ,the foreigners quietly reading their mutilated books2 but--oh1 how sad to see6--with the ,english emigrants it is beer--beer--beer--taking with them to the new land habits that will tell ill for them wherever they go4 ,the children and ,i spent the morning singing together1 and thanking our ,god for all ,his wondrous love4 ,often during the-past week ,i felt like breaking down1 and letting the pent-up tears flow2 but while ,bob 7eleven years old7 prayed1 ,i could hold out no longer1 and the strong sailors leaning over the mid hatchway joined me too1 as the dear lad asked ,god1 for ,jesus' sake1 to care for the blind mother he had left in the workhouse1 and that his runaway brother might be brought to ,jesus2 that his brother with the bad leg might be found of the ,lord2 that his sister in service might please her master and mistress2 and that he himself might follow ,jesus1 and be a good boy1 and obedient to those placed over him4 ,the following is dated from ,galt3-- ,because ,thou hast been my help1 therefore in the shadow of ,thy wings will ,i rejoice4 7,ps4 lxiii4 #g74 ,,my ,,dear ,,fellow-,,helpers1--,on arriving at this sweet spot our journeyings ended for the present4 ,you can well imagine the complete enjoyment of repose as with my family ,i wander round the ,cottage ,home when school hours are over4 ,during a week in which ,i had been separated from them1 they had made the acquaintance of horses1 cows1 ducks1 hens1 sheep1 c4--all so new to our poor ,london children4 ,they never tire of inviting me to come and see our this and that1 or some new-found pleasure4 ,how quickly this country life develops character1 touching chords which are left unawakened in many a nature6 ,it is such a contrast to the artificial tastes and habits of city life1 which arouse passions not easily kept in subjection4 ,mrs4 ,merry will be glad to know that ,i am delighted with all in and around the ,home4 ,the new wing1 with its lavatory and simple arrangements for the health and comfort of the children1 would1 we believe1 be highly approved of by the relatives of our departed friends1 ,miss ,wilson and ,mr4 ,marshall1 who so kindly left us the means to make this addition4 ,one of our former' boys works on the farm2 his life was consecrated nearly two years ago for ,china4 ,he is a manly1 consistent young ,christian1 and tells me it was an address given here by ,george ,w4 ,clarke 7the first of our missionary sons from ,spitalfields71 before he went out to ,china1 that gave him the first burning longings to become a missionary4 ,it is my duty to see that a suitable education be given him to strengthen these desires2 therefore when field-work is over1 we have hours for study1 ,mr4 ,merry teaching in the morning1 and ,i in the evening4 ,the last mail from ,china brings a letter from ,g4 ,w4 ,clarke1 in which he writes3--,the ,lord has blessed me with good health1 whilst many of our brethren engaged in the hard work of pioneering are in some way feeling the strain upon their strength4 ,i am very thankful for the roughing ,i had in ,canada1 and for whatever trials ,i have had in ,china1 which have enabled me in any way to endure hardness as a good soldier of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we need much prayer for this branch of the work1 that it may be the natural outcome of family life1 and grow gradually as our heavenly ,father leads4 ,several of the elder boys are at the ,home now from different causes2 their work on the farm pays for their board1 and they again come under blessed ,gospel influence1 while we watch and pray for their conversion4 ,the dear sisters who work out the details value an interest in your prayers1 as they so realise 'from day to day the need of patience4' ,all your desires that ,i should rest are being fulfilled4 ,if you could but see me sitting on a bank with three or four little heads leaning on my lap1 the others buzzing round1 bringing flowers and weaving wreaths for our hats6 ,then a hand opens to show 'such a dear' young frog6 ,another brings an endless variety of caterpillars1 c4 ,then there come shrieks of delight from a group of boys who have almost caught a squirrel ,a rowing boat glides down the river1 and the children strike up an impromptu strain--',row1 brothers1 row6' ,a little fellow has a burden on his mind1 ending with1 ',could ,i not stop here always8' ,alas6 he had to be told 'impossible1' for there were many more poor boys far away in ,london1 crying to be loved1 and he would soon find a 'pa and ma' to love him4 ,how this thirst for sympathy grows in these tiny hearts6 ,may more dear mission-workers have anointed eyes1 to seek out the orphans in the dens of our great city4 ,may more jewelled fingers yield their offerings1 ere the opportunity be past1 for rescuing immortal souls that may become witnesses of ,jesus ,christ1 and shine for ever and ever in ,his crown4 ,too many seek to square the cases up to their rules1 but the opposite ,i believe is more according to ,god's mind4 ,oh1 if every town in ,old ,england would arise and build its own ,orphan ,home6 ,surely the ,church of ,christ in every denomination can unite in love over the children4 ,witness the burst of love in a few hours after the ministers of every sect in ,deny told the need of the emigrants1 and the children cast naked upon their shores6 ,they gave until the receivers said1 ',it is enough6' ,in this quiet resting-place1 ,i have time to listen to the ,master's own voice1 and hear ,him say1 ',go forward6' ,this is the twenty-first voyage--the majority6 ,i would celebrate it by desiring still greater things for ,god's glory1 devising1 yet leaving the direction to the ,lord4 ,already it has proved a time of trial and rich blessing4 ,my heart is with you all in1 your joyous privileges of making known a ,saviour's love4 ,my spirit flits to the needy children4 ,a thousand board schools will never supply the loving1 tender care we women can give to the fatherless and motherless1 or sow the seed and lead the precious little souls to ,jesus4 ,therefore follow me in these enlarged desires the ,lord hath given1 and oh6 keep your eyes and ears open to the cry of the children4 ,hot summer days will lessen some of the ,refuge work1 but ,i follow you to ,bird ,fair1 ,ratcliff ,highway1 and many a court around4 ,don't forget that terrible corner by the lamp-post in the next street4 ,then for your own souls ,i send this word--',they thirsted not when ,he led them through the deserts4 ,he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them4' ,as to your work1 ,do it4 ,should ,he be pleased to remove any of us1 to stir our nest1 or lay sickness upon us1 shall we not hear ,him say1 ',is it not lawful for ,me to do what ,i will with mine own8' ,beloved friends1 ',hold that fast which thou hast1 that no man take thy crown4'--,yours affectionately1 ,,annie ,,macpherson4 ,the work had now so increased1 that it was thought well to divide the three ,canadian ,homes4 ,hiss ,macpherson found the ,gait ,home sufficient for the needs of the children transferred from the ,home of ,industry4 ,miss ,bilbrough retained possession of the ,marchmont ,home1 now devoted exclusively to children from ,scotland2 and the ,knowlton ,home1 in the province of ,quebec1 was placed under the management of ,mrs4 ,birt for the reception of little emigrants from ,liverpool4 ,it was at the workers' meeting in ,august that ,miss ,macpherson was welcomed home2 and ,miss ,ellis of ,tryon ,house said she had been in ,canada with ,miss ,macpherson1 and the thought most on her mind in recollection of the scene on the ,sardinian was given back4 ,as delivered from death1 they had returned1 each to their loved spheres of work1 and felt increasingly how consecrated such lives should be1 and for what great blessing they might look out4 ,as one quite unconnected with the work1 ,miss ,ellis said she must remark how much she had been struck with the arrangements of the ,gait ,home--the children were thoroughly well fed and well cared for 7not like little princes though1 nor above their station71 and not an unnecessary shilling was expended4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #ahgi-ahhj4 ,experiences among ,indians--,picnic in the ,bush--,distribution of ,testaments--,till ,he come--,a ,home and a hearty ,welcome4 ,once more in ,canada1 ,miss ,macpherson records experience of an unusual kind3-- ,in one of the large villages we visited1 an all-day prayer-meeting was held from #i ,a4,m4 to #i ,p4,m41 which proved a season of rich blessing4 ,we found openings for mission work all around1 farmers and their families willing to gather and sit any length of time with ,bible and hymn-book in hand4 ,we feel an open door is made for us here by the entrance of these little children1 who have1 proved excellent pioneer evangelists4 ,after this interesting tour1 ,i was about to return to the ,galt ,home1 when a messenger arrived with a pressing invitation to visit the ,indians on the ,chippawa ,reserve1 and tell them the story of our children4 ,this come through their pastor1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,jacques1 and although weary in body1 a lady friend and ,i resolved to go forward to ,port ,elgin1 situated on ,lake ,huron1 whence a dear ,canadian sister drove us along the ten miles of wild and poorly cultivated country leading to the ,indian reserve4 ,fire had in past years ravaged the district for miles1 leaving thousands of charred trunks of high trees4 ,we enjoyed the scenery of the beautiful ,sangeen1 with its grand old forests in their finest clothing1 and at times we caught sight of ,lake ,huron1 lying calm as a mirror1 with the last rays of the setting sun reflected upon its bosom4 ,on arriving at the little manse on ,chippawa ,hill we were serenaded by the ,indians1 who had already gathered by hundreds from far and near4 ,we made a hasty repast1 and felt grateful for the opportunity afforded us so unexpectedly of speaking to them3 ,our service was opened by singing in ,indian a well-known hymn of praise4 ,then one of the evangelists spoke upon a portion of ,scripture for twenty minutes1 after the other had prayed1 when an interpreter took half-an-hour to translate it into their own language1 after which my companion sang ,the ,ninety and ,nine1 and ,i spoke4 ,the interpreter repeated the story1 and though our audience scarcely ever moved1 the pastor's wife said they were feeling deeply4 ,many a dear squaw and ,i clasped hands that night1 and we gazed into each other's eyes1 knowing full well1 although unexpressed1 that we were one in the same deep love for the weak and helpless4 ,while the choir sang another hymn1 under the direction of the pastor's daughter1 who is also the daily teacher of the young1 we showed some of our photographs1 and never were more grateful for that art4 ,my lady friend sang another solo1 and then began an indescribable scene4 ,chief ,john was first introduced to us1 as we stood on a raised platform with a rail in front4 ,the dear old man seemed much moved1 and burst into an oration full of gratitude for our coming to visit his people4 ,we acknowledged this1 when the whole congregation of three to four hundred1 young and old1 passed and shook hands with us4 ,every now and then we were presented with gifts1 made by the hands of the giver4 ,chief ,henry's wife gave a beautiful bark basket ornamented with porcupine's quills4 ,then another head man gave us a bag made of beaten bark1 saying this was made before they knew the white man4 ,we thought that now all was over1 but no4 ,all were again seated1 quietly and in order1 the grace of ease and perfect harmony pervading the whole scene4 ,the ,indians had a wish to do us honour1 and to show their love in their own way1 we were each to receive from them an ,indian name4 ,we found this new name had required thought1 and when saying ',buzhu8' or ',how do you do8' they after this called us by the name they had given4 ,the pastor1 7,mr4 ,jacques71 and his wife and family1 were truly parental in their actions1 and are beloved by these simple-hearted ,indians4 ,it was a touching scene6 ,there are ninety in ,christian fellowship1 and among them some old veterans of ninety years1 with scarcely a grey hair1 and more sprightly than the young men in their tribes to-day4 ,as regularly as the sun rises1 they are at the church door1 though they live five miles off1 through swamp and wood4 ,one thing charmed me1--the firm law made for them in connection with drink4 ,would that ,england would treat our white drunkards in the same way6 ,a man1 when found the worse for liquor1 is fined from fifty to two hundred dollars1 or put in prison for one month2 also the man who sells it to him4 ,two more weeks are added if he will not tell who supplied him with the drink4 ,on leaving the next morning1 ,i was addressed by my new name1 ',ke-zha-wah-de-ze-qua' 7,benevolence72 my friend also was greeted as ',wah sage zhe go-qua' 7,shining-sky lady74 ,the following account of a picnic in the ,canadian ,bush1 at which an ,indian chief was present1 will not be out of place here3-- ,a picnic is a much more frequent entertainment in this country than in ,england1 for the lovely bright days of a ,canadian summer are so much more suitable than our damp and variable weather4 ,miss ,macpherson was anxious to meet as many as possible of the kind friends in and around the ,children's ,home at ,galt1 who are interested in the ,lord's work among the little ones4 ,a picnic was suggested as most pleasant1 and the ,bush as more spacious than our cottage-rooms4 ,so a general invitation was given through the ministers and the local papers4 ,last ,thursday was all that could be desired4 ,cool breezes tempered the hot sunbeams1 and a brilliant blue sky was reflected in the still1 flowing river4 ,such a lovely spot1 too1 is the ',home' ,bush6 ,a partially cleared space near the river was chosen for the tables and seats2 nearby a log-fire was kindled1 on which huge kettles of water were boiled4 ,one thing only marred our hopes for the day4 ,miss ,macpherson herself was almost prostrate through a sharp attack of rheumatism1 and oar hearts sank as we feared she would be unable to be among us4 ,however1 in the 'prayer of faith' we laid her deep need before the ,lord1 and ,he graciously gave her the faith to trust ,him1 and the courage to attempt1 even in great pain1 to rise from bed1 and walk down to the ,bush4 ,the needed strength was marvellously given1 and she was able to remain with us until sunset4 ,truly the ,lord doeth wondrous things6 ,at four o'clock our guests began to arrive4 ,one visitor was the centre of attraction--a chief of the ,six ,nation ,indians1 from the reserve near ,brantford1 who arrived earlier in the day with ,mr4 ,b4 ,needham1 the missionary4 ,chief ,jonathan1 now a ,christian1 was dressed in the native costume1 now worn only on high days and holidays4 ,most picturesque it was to see him seated on the green slope near the river1 leaning against a tall maple tree4 ,his coat and trousers of yellow buckskin were fringed at the edges4 ,an embroidered scarlet sash was loosely tied around his waist4 ,then his head-gear was most striking4 ,long thin black hair hung over his shoulders1--not his own1 but from the scalp of some poor ,indian slain in warfare6 ,this was surmounted by a turban cap of scarlet1 and white beads1 a row of feathers all round it1 and in front three or four very long bright feathers standing erect4 ,he was able to talk with us in ,english1 and told us how his grandfathers owned all the land along the ',grand ,river4' ,it is very pitiful to think how the poor ,indians have been pushed further and further into little corners of their once proud territory1 to make way for the white man1 who1 alas6 brought to them the terrible 'fire-water' which has gone so far to prove their ruin and increase their desolation4 ,thank ,god that now they have earnest men of ,god1 whom ,his own love and zeal for souls has so filled as to enable them to give up all for ,his glory1 and go and live among these dark1 despised ones1 and take to them the glad tidings of a free salvation4 ,during our tea-hour great interest was taken by all our friends in the group of little ones enjoying their cake and tea1 and ,miss ,macpherson told how good the ,lord had been to the mission1 in opening up homes for nearly all the sixty rescued children we brought out three weeks ago4 ,after tea1 our forty younger ones seated themselves in a ring upon the green grass1 under the shade of the maple and hickory trees4 ,they sang sweet hymns of ,jesus1 and repeated many precious texts for ,mr4 ,needham to take as their messages of love to the ,indian children in his ,sunday-school4 ,little ,bobbie gave as his text1 ',god requireth that which is past4' ,joey then stood up and repeated1 ',suffer little children to come unto ,me4' ,johnnie and ,georgie gave1 ',the eyes of the ,lord are in every place1' and ',when my father and mother forsake me1 then the ,lord will take me up4' ,a few questions followed from ,miss ,macpherson1--',how can any one get into heaven8' ',they must love ,god1' was the first answer4 ',they must have their hearts changed1' said another4 ,then ,bobbie's clear voice was heard1 again1 ',by being washed in the blood of ,jesus6' ,beautiful answer6 wondrous truth6 ,the ,indian chief stood gazing in calm wonder at this circle of happy ,english children4 ,presently ,mr4 ,needham rose and said3 ',the ,chief tells me he is very anxious to say a few words to the ,queen 7i4e41 ,miss ,macpherson71 to the friends1 and to the children4 ,he understands ,english1 but his thoughts flow more freely in his native tongue1 and he has asked me to be his interpreter4 ,he says that many years ago his fathers kindled the fire and smoked 'the pipe of peace' at such a gathering1 and he thanks ,god for such a sight as this4 ,he has never been so touched as this afternoon by the children's texts and answers4 ,one hymn especially has struck him-- ',there's a home for little children1 ,above the bright1 blue sky4' ',his fathers looked for the home of the spirits1 but knew nothing of the ,christian's heaven4 ,there are still1 in his nation1 #gjj pagans who sacrifice the white dog to the spirits1 and are ever travelling towards the land of the setting sun4 ,he hopes the pagan children will be taught about ,jesus4 ,he is so touched by the care taken of these little ones and by the work of the ,christian lady who saves them4 ,the ,chief says he is very thankful ,i brought him here to-day4 ,the circle on the grass reminds him of how the ,indian children sit to sacrifice the white dog4 ,he is going back to tell the children of his people all these blessed things4' ,during ,mr4 ,needham's interpretation the ,chief stood by him1 his usually impassive face quite lit up with animated interest4 ,after a while he played to us on his cornet1 his favourite tune being ',god save the ,queen4' ,mr4 ,needham told us a few deeply interesting details of his work among the ,indians1 and how the ,lord is giving ,his blessing in conversions1 and also in the temperance work just begun among them4 ,he told us of an ,indian mother who would walk eight miles to hear the ,gospel1 with one baby slung over her back1 in its curious mummy-like cradle1 and another slung on her arm6 ,the poor ,indians are beginning really to value the care and labour bestowed on them by the missionary whom ,god has so evidently prepared for and led into this work4 ,and surely such a mission as this has a deep and solemn claim on the help and sympathy of those who have now possession of the land of the ,red ,indian1 and enjoy the blessings he has lost4 ,let the white man1 who brought him the 'fire-water1'--dire instrument of death6--seek now1 though1 alas6 so late1 to carry to him with all speed the blessed 'water of life1' that he may drink and live for ever4 ,as the shadows on the grass grew longer1 and the west began to glow with the sunset crimson1 the little ones1 tired yet happy1 were taken home to bed1 and our kind friends bade as all farewell4 ,when we look back on our happy picnic in the ,bush1 and raise our earnest prayers for the dear children ,god has rescued and shall yet rescue1 let us not forget to plead for the mission to the ,six ,nation ,indians1 and to ask that the light of the glorious ,gospel may speedily bring hope and gladness to many a poor dark heart4 ,miss ,macpherson's next letter tells of many varied interests3-- ,,dear ,,fellow-,,workers1--,our proposed three days of ,christian fellowship and conference at the ,galt ,home are now over4 ,numbers were not large1 the accommodation here being limited1 bat several ministers1 evangelists1 and devoted brothers and sisters1 who have true sympathy in the ,master's work for the deaf children1 waited on the ,lord with us1 and it has proved a time of great spiritual blessing1 preparing us to go forth in the days that remain1 strong to labour for our blessed ,lord1 just to do ,his will4 ,leaving matters at ,galt going on in their even way1 only varied by the occasional return of children1 who1 from temper1 ill-health1 or some other cause1 have not been able to remain in the situations first found for them1 7which shows the value of our ,homes on this side the ,atlantic71 we are again on the wing4 ,the ,sunday after the conference was spent at ,sheffield1 a village containing a thousand inhabitants4 ,on arriving we found the sheds around the church full of conveyances1 betokening a good congregation4 ,the people1 looking bright in their white summer costumes1 joined with wonderful heartiness in singing1 ',all hail the power of ,jesus' name4' ,mr4 ,merry gave a powerful address on ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #a-aj4 ,during the afternoon we learned that a time of revival had sprung from a few godly women meeting at each other's houses to pray for a blessing on the village4 ,they felt the need of a definite object for their prayers1 and selected a young man who was a great drunkard1 and the disturber of every meeting4 ,soon they were rejoiced to learn that he was truly converted to the ,lord without any human agency4 ,now his face is the brightest of the congregation1 and none is more active to win souls than he4 ,on leaving ,sheffield we were grateful to know we had secured many hearts to pray for us and our little ones4 ,we took a large case of ,testaments to the next place we visited2 and an evangelist who had been labouring for some weeks there1 sold for us2 on ,henry ,moorhouse's plan1 in the market-place1 #fjj ,testaments1 and gave away #gbjj ,gospel leaflets4 ,since then we have stayed with the friends at ,st4 ,catharine's1 exchanging words of cheer with ,presbyterian1 ,episcopal1 ,methodist1 and other brethren4 ,now we are staying with members of the ,society of ,friends at ,fonthill4 ,how sweet is this fellowship of saints1 'endeavouring to keep the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace6' ,here we learn with joy how our brother-in-law was used to the conversion of many in the villages around during the past winter4 ,we have been comparing notes with four of the dear sisters here1 contrasting our work at ,ratcliff ,highway1 with its three mission-houses1 our elder girls1 widows1 and lodging-houses1 with theirs among navvies on ,welland ,canal1 drunkards1 and farmers and their wives living away in solitary nooks4 ,the work is one presenting a full1 free1 and present salvation by a once crucified and now risen ,lord4 ,the dear wife of the ,lord's honoured servant1 ,jonathan ,grubb1 is giving great joy and help to the busy workers on this hill-top1 by sending large parcels of tracts purchased from the various societies in ,england1 assorted into packets during her winter hours4 ,from the friends here they go to many a lone corner of the great continent4 ,the postal charges are so small1 that surely many a sister might share with us in sending a fresh packet now and again to those who have little reading of any kind2 also the many gifts from the ,tract ,society have been most valuable in these country places4 ,our children settled in the neighbourhood of ,font-hill are growing up into manhood1 some of them becoming earnest ,christians4 ,our stay is necessarily brief2 distances are great1 and strength small2 but we ever realise1 ',he leadeth us4' ,dear fellow-workers1 let us watch and pray1 and labour on1 'till ,he come4' ,till ,he come64 ,it is sweet with these words to close this imperfect record of the labours of the ,lord's beloved handmaid2 especially when we look back to the time twenty years' before1 when the blessed hope was first made the source of new strength and power to her soul4 ,may not the words of the letter quoted above be adopted with little alteration by every ,christian labourer8 ,our stay can be but brief1--perhaps not one working hour is yet left to us1 and how emphatically do the words now come to us1 ,redeeming the time because the days are evil2 so evil1 that were it not for the sure word of prophecy1 we should lie down in despair4 ,if we looked to present agency to change the scenes of sin and sorrow around us1 all hope would vanish4 ,but we have a hope that maketh not ashamed1 and that blessed hope is an anchor of the soul ,the work is great1 great it has always been1 but how much greater now that doors hitherto closed are open in every part of the world2 from every country the cry is1 ,come over and help us4 ,many a solitary pioneer has fallen1 oh6 that others might come forth to fill up the ranks4 ,strength is small2 ,without me ye can do nothing2 ,is there not an appointed warfare 7margin7 to man upon earth8 ,he1 who has appointed the warfare will not send any at their own charges4 ,the blessed hope strengthens the weak hands and confirms the feeble knees4 ,he will give the grace1 the wisdom1 the strength1 all that is needed1 day by day4 ,till ,he come4 ,three little words--no more--but who can tell the comfort1 the strength1 the sweetness this hope brings to those who are watching for the coming of their ,king8 99 99 99 99 99 ,the following deeply affecting lines are from the same pen as those before quoted4 ,miss ,geldard1 the gifted writer1 was for a time a much valued fellow-labourer both in ,england and ,canada3-- ,a ,,home ,,and ,a ,,hearty ,,welcome4 ,all day has the air been busy1 ,as the daylight hours went by1 ,with the laugh of the children's gladness1 ,or their pitiful1 hopeless cry4 ,but now all is hushed in silence1 ,they are lying in slumber deep3 ,while ,i ask1 in this solemn midnight1 ,where do the children sleep8 ,we know there are children sleeping ,in many a happy home1 ,where sickness rarely enters1 ,where want may never come4 ,their hands in prayer were folded ,ere they laid them down to rest1 ,and on rosy lip and soft white brow ,were a mother's kisses pressed4 ,they sleep and dream of angels2 ,ah6 well may their dreams be fair6-- ,their home is now so like a heaven1 ,they seem already there4 ,but where are the children sleeping ,in these wretched streets around1 ,where sin1 and want1 and sorrow ,their choicest haunt have found8 ,will you climb this broken staircase1 ,and glance through this shattered door2 ,oh1 can there be children sleeping ,on that filthy and crowded floor8 ,yes6 old and young together1 ,a restless1 moaning heap2 ,o ,god6 while they thus are sleeping1 ,how dare ,thy children sleep8 ,does the night air make you shiver1 ,as the stream sweeps coldly by8 7,cold as the hearts of the heedless71 ,here1 too1 do the children lie4 ,an archway their only shelter2 ,the pavement their nightly bed2 ,thou1 too1 when on earth1 dear ,saviour1 ,hadst nowhere to lay ,thy head4 ,so we know ,thou art here1 dear ,master1 ,thy form we can almost see2 ,do we tear ,thy sad voice saying1 ,ye did it not to ,me8 ,yes1 chill is the wind-swept archway1 ,the pavement is cold and hard ,better the workhouse coffin1 ,softer the graveyard sward4 ,thank ,god6 yet we say it weeping1 ,thank ,god for many a grave6 ,there sleep the little children ,whom ,christians would not save6 ,yet smiles through our tears are dawning ,when we think of the hope that lies ,in our children's ,land of ,promise1 ',neath the clear ,canadian skies4 ,though the frost he thick on the windows1 ,though the roof with snow is white1 ,we know our ,canadian children ,are safe and warm to-night4 ,there thick are the homespun blankets1 ,and the buffalo robes are warm2 ,then why should these children shiver ,out here in the winter storm8 ,why wait till the prison claims them8 ,why wait till of hope bereft ,for that fair young girl the river ,be the only refuge left8 ,come6 help us1 answer the message ,now pealing across the seas-- ,a home and a hearty welcome ,for hundreds such as these6 ,it comes from broad ,ontario1 ,and from ,nova ,scotia's shore2 ,they have loved and sheltered our gathered waifs1 ,they have room for thousands more4 ,s4 ,r4 ,,geldard4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,questions and ,answers--,sorrowful ,cases--,testimonies from those who have visited ,canada--,stewardship4 ,the fallowing plain answers to practical questions1 are written by those well acquainted with the work3-- ,i4 ,are these children really street ,arabs8 ,if not1 where do you find so many8 ,in the early days of the work1 before the establishment of ,school ,boards and kindred institutions1 a large proportion of the children were actually taken from the streets4 ,now1 the rescue work begins farther back1 and seeks to get hold of the little ones before they hare had a taste of street life and become contaminated4 ,a policeman brings one sometimes1 having found it in a low lodging-house1 forsaken by its worthless1 drunken parents4 ,christian ladies are ever on the look-out for the little ones in their work among the poor1 and many a child has been taken straight from the dying bed of its only remaining parent to ,miss ,macpherson4 ,rescued from a workhouse life might be written on many a bright little brow1 and saved from drink on many more4 ,poor1 delicate widows1 striving vainly to keep a large1 young family1 have often proved their true1 unselfish love by giving up one or two to ,miss ,macpherson to be taken to ,canada4 ,such are encouraged always to write to and keep in loving memory the dear toiling mother at home4 ,widowed fathers in ill-health1 and short of work1 feeling their utter helplessness to do for their motherless flock1 have come to ,miss ,macpherson entreating her to take care of some of them4 #b4 ,how come the ,canadian farmers to be willing to take these children8 ,from a business point of view this is quite easily explained4 ,labour is so scarce out there1 and hired help so dear1 while food is so plentiful1 that the ,canadian farmer finds it quite worth his while to take a little boy from the old country1 whom he can train and teach as his own1 and who very soon will repay him in quick ability for farm labour4 #c4 ,are you sure the children are really better off there8 ,every boy in ,canada has before him a definite hope for the future4 ,if he be steady1 industrious1 and of average intelligence1 he may reasonably look to being independent some day1 to owning land of his own1 and attaining an honourable position in ,canada4 ,people do not amass fortunes there as a rule1 but they may all live in comfort and plenty1 and what they have is their own4 ,surely this is a brighter prospect than the ceaseless round of toil at desk or counter1 in which so many in ,england1--even the more fortunate1--spend their youth helping to make rich men richer4 #d4 ,among the hundreds are there not some failures1 some exceptions8 ,what becomes of them8 ,yes1 there are disappointments and failures in this work as well as in every other4 ,we do not take little angels to ,canada1 but very human little boys and girls with every variety of temper and character1 and sometimes hereditary disadvantages which it is hard to battle with4 ,but patient forbearance and gentle treatment and time do so much for them4 ,and often a kind farmer has asked to be allowed to keep1 and try again the wilful little fellow who has tried to run away or proved tiresome to manage4 ,ninety-eight per cent1 of our children do well1 and for the two per cent1 we do the best we can4 ,if any circumstance arises making it desirable for a farmer to give up a boy1 he is at once returned to the ,home1 where he is received and kept until another more suitable place is found for him4 ,should any be still blinded to the blessings of emigration for the young1 surely their eyes will be opened on reading the following facts as related by ,miss ,macpherson3-- ,william and ,mary were brother and sister living in a terrible warren near ,drury ,lane4 ,the boy's employment was to gather rags and bones4 ,their parents had been buried by the workhouse4 ,their condition was too deplorable to be described4 ,a year's training was not lost upon this sister and brother4 ,they came to ,canada in #ahgc4 ,now1 could yon see them at nineteen and twenty-two--able to read and write1 well-clothed with their own honest earnings1 having saved1 in #ahgg1 one hundred dollars2 and this year1 #ahgi1 ,william is having #ajj as wages1 and ,mary #fj4 ,they come from time to time to visit the ,home4 ,william is thinking of having a farm of his own4 ,a4 ,b4--,who was he8 ,the son of a drunken woman1 who1 when very tipsy still comes in from ,ratcliff ,highway to abuse us at ,spitalfields4 ,alfred has been many years in a lawyer's family1 and has saved enough money to be apprenticed as an engineer4 ,he was a wise boy to be guided by the kind counsel of those he served4 ,we are not satisfied with earthly adoptions only2 we continue to pray that each one may be adopted into the family of those who are washed in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,well do we remember the winter1 when a wild man from ,seven ,dials discovered that we had the little ,annie1 of whom he used to make such traffic in the gin palaces2 though we had no right to her4 ,the lamb was but six years old4 ,thank ,god1 an ocean separates her from his drunken villanies4 ,now she is with kind-hearted1 homely people1 the companion and playmate of their daughter4 ,s4 ,w41 seven years old2 so puny--only a few pounds weight--owing to her being starved and beaten by a drunken stepfather4 ,now1 a year in a happy home1 going to school regularly1 is companion to an only child1 and lacks no earthly comfort4 ,the poor mother was ill-used in the dens where she lived by her neighbours1 for having1 they said1 sold her child4 ,we received a photograph of the little one from her happy ,canadian home2 this closed every mouth1 for it could not be gainsaid4 ,whilst stopping at one of the railway stations1 we were accosted by a young man1 who told us he was one of our old boys of ten years ago1 but was now settled in that town4 ,he had 'rolled' about a good deal1 he said1 but at last had settled down1 and never was so happy in his life before4 ,he had sent for his brother to come and live with him4 ,since then ,john and his wife have spent a day at the ,gait ,home1 and they think in another year1 if they continue to prosper1 that they also would like to be entrusted with a little one4 ,thus openings are ever occurring for those yet to follow4 ,since the above was written other young emigrants1 now married and settled in homes of their own1 have offered to adopt orphans and children1 homeless as they once were themselves4 ,the following are independent testimonies of those who have travelled or are residing in ,canada3-- ,the late ,sir ,charles ,reed1 ,chairman of the ,london ,school ,board1 stated that in his visit to ,canada last year he had given special attention to ,miss ,macpherson's work1 and as his inquiries and investigations were made unofficially1 the information he obtained might be looked upon as quite impartial4 ,he was gratified by hearing from the ,governor-,general1 ,lord ,dufferin1 at ,quebec1 that he was well informed as to the work1 and bore testimony to its worth4 ,he 7,sir ,charles7 was prepared to say that the children were warmly welcomed and kindly treated4 ,he also1 without making his purpose known1 visited some of the homes where the children were located1 and what he saw only confirmed what he had been told1 as to the ,canadians' appreciation of the children4 ,they were well occupied1 well fed1 and as happy as they could be4 ,he had entered into conversation with the children as to familiar scenes in the ,east of ,london1 and learned how pleased they were with their new homes4 ,at ,toronto he met ,miss ,bilbrough1 a lady in charge of one of the ,homes1 and a person enthusiastically devoted to this merciful work1 who thus became a true ,sister of ,mercy4 ,god has endowed woman largely for this ,christian ministry4 ,in half an hour she thoroughly interested him in the work1 and put him in possession of such facts as convinced him that the work was one which in ,england demanded ,christian sympathy and support4 ,it was work which goes on quietly1 and is little talked of2 but it ought to be1 as he trusted it would be1 widely known4 ,he was glad to say that through the ,school ,board it was becoming known to intelligent ,christian men both in and out of ,parliament4 ,it is good to work in faith1 as those in charge of this work do2 but it is also good to have evidence as an encouragement to faith1 and as a corroboration of the work4 ,such evidence he1 as in a sense a special commissioner1 had qualified himself to give1 and it gave him much pleasure to render it4 ,,woodville ,,place1 ,,dundee1 #acth ,august #ahgc4 ,,my ,,dear ,,miss ,,macpherson1--,various ministerial and pastoral occupations1 since my return home1 have prevented me from carrying out my intention of putting into shape my impressions and thoughts about ,canada and your work4 ,if the ,lord will1 ,i shall do so at no great distance of time4 ,meanwhile1 allow me to express in a few words my mature judgment in regard to the leading features of your work4 ,it seems to me to furnish the key to the solution of one of the most difficult problems in ,home ,mission work4 ,the character of the training to which the children are subjected previous to their removal to ,canada appears to be all that could be desired4 ,i was delighted with their knowledge of ,scripture1 their general intelligence1 their respectful bearing to their superiors1 their promptness of obedience1 and other evidences of religious conviction working itself out in their general conduct4 ,the extraordinary care exhibited in the selection of homes and in the placing of them out in ,canada strikes me as one of the most important and valuable elements of the work4 ,most of all was ,i charmed with the noble ,christian character of your fellow-workers1 and was thoroughly convinced that a very remarkable measure of the blessing of ,god rests upon the entire movement4 ,i anticipate the most precious results for time1 and in view of eternity the issues of the movement will exceed all calculation4 ,i could say much more1 but for the present must forbear4 ,for the sake of the poor1 dear1 lost little ones in our large towns2 for the sake of ,canada1 of whose wants ,i am not ignorant2 for the sake of humanity1 and1 above all1 for the ,lord's sake1 ,i heartily wish you were enabled to carry every summer thousands instead of hundreds of little children across the ,atlantic to be settled in those beautiful ,canadian regions1 where by ,god's blessing they may grow up 'trees of righteousness1 the planting of the ,lord1 that ,he might be glorified4' ,go on1 my dear friend2 the ,lord is manifestly with you1 and ,he will bless you still-aye1 and more than ever4 ,,john ,,macpherson4 ,november #eth1 #ahgd4 ,having just returned from a six weeks' visit to ,canada1 ,i wish to add my testimony to the many already given of the very valuable work of ,miss ,macpherson in the three ,homes which she has established in ,canada for young ,british destitute children1 each ,home under the direction of devoted and much esteemed ,christian ladies4 ,lady ,cavan and ,i found much pleasure in visiting all these ,homes1 situated in different parts of the ,dominion of ,canada1 in each of which children are received from two to twelve years of age1 looked after with motherly affection4 ,the greater number sent out this year had been provided for4 ,there is a great demand for young children in this country1 where domestic and farming servants are so few1 and numbers of these children are adopted into families1 the greatest care being taken to place them with kind and good people4 ,they are either trained for the place which they will occupy1 or1 for the most part1 are loved and treated as children of the house4 ,it needs but to see for oneself the happy1 bright faces of the children1 to be satisfied of the value and importance of this transplanting institution for the rescuing of children from their degraded position1 for which they are in nowise responsible4 ,may many be brought under the ,christian1 happy influence of ,miss ,macpherson1 through the liberality of those interested in our poor4 ,,cavan4 ,what a work of blessing is being carried on by the different ,homes here6 ,my soul has been greatly refreshed this ,christmas in seeing some of the dear boys return to ',blair ,athol1' to spend a few days with our sister ,miss ,macpherson4 ,the change in appearance1 from ,london's hapless poverty and degradation1 to this glorious clime1--bright1 rosy faces1 full of laughter and fun1 and yet deeply interested in the dear1 loving ,saviour1 whose ,spirit thus practically tells ,his own sweet story of love to their young hearts4 ,one dear fellow specially delighted me4 ,i was present as he was ushered in with his little brother1 his eyes full of tears of gratitude and joy as he said to ,miss ,macpherson1 ',please1 ,miss1 here's a present for you1' drawing a large1 fat1 beautiful goose from under his arm1 carefully packed4 ,excuse my adjectives1 but ,i cannot help it1 for ,i fairly loved the boys2 and when ,i looked back but four years1 and contrasted their hapless life 7workhouse children7 in one of our ,english provincial towns1 my spirit was full of gladness1 and ,i thanked ,god for these broad lands1 and the untiring energy of the band of workers and friends who so intelligently and successfully save them from poverty1 crime1 and wretchedness1 and by change of position1 sympathy1 common sense1 and ,christian love1 fit them for useful1 prosperous lives here1 and1 by grace1 for eternal glory yonder4 ,,henry ,,varley ,the following is from a ,canadian friend and benefactor3-- ,dear ,miss ,macpherson1--,my attention has been called to a communication referring unfavourably to your work in bringing out the little waifs and strays from ,england1 and placing them in farmers' homes in the country of this ,canada of ours4 ,i have thought that perhaps a letter from me1 giving my experience1 might not be out of place4 ,fully eleven years ago ,i first heard of your intention to bring out some young emigrants to ,canada1 and as ,i heard that they were of the degraded1 vicious1 and criminal class1 ,i did not look with favour upon the effort4 ,being in ,england shortly after the first lot came out1 without making my object known1 ,i went down to the ,east ,end of ,london repeatedly1 and personally inquired into the working of the scheme1 saw the gathering in from the widows' families1 the orphans1 the destitute1 and those worse than orphans4 ,i saw the cleaning1 the fresh clothing1 the training in work and discipline1 and1 above all1 the schooling in religious teaching from ,god's ,book1 and singing sweet ,gospel hymns4 ,i was satisfied that this part of the work was being well done in ,england1 and great care exercised in selecting only suitable cases and giving lengthened training2 so that the girls and boys from the youngest to those of thirteen and fourteen years of age1 when drafted to ,canada in fifties and hundreds1 looked likely youngsters for workers in this land of plenty4 ,after my return to ,canada1 having got thoroughly interested in the work1 seeing at least that it was doing a good work for ,london in relieving the over-population there1 ,i decided1 if in my judgment the work was as well cared for in ,canada1 and as much care exercised in placing them out in homes as in gathering in and training1 then it would prove a good work for ,canada also4 ,now1 7after over ten years71 ,i can say1 from large personal experience1 that the placing of several thousands of these young1 sturdy1 willing workers in the homes of our ,canadian fanners1 through this agency1 has been a blessing to ,canada1 not only as workers1 but also in many cases carrying good religious influences with them4 ,the greatest care is exercised in selecting suitable homes1 and in no case is a child placed out unless the applicant brings good certificates of character from the minister or justice of the peace4 ,in these homes of the farmers the youngsters are well-fed1 well-clothed1 and well-treated1 in most cases made one of the family4 ,i have constantly inquired1 in various localities1 as to how these young people are getting on1 from prominent men1 such as judges1 members of ,parliament1 mayors and councillors of towns1 ministers and fanners1 and am satisfied as a whole they turn out as well as the average of young people from any class of society4 ,some prove unsuitable--these are returned to the ,distributing ,homes and given a fresh start2 some few turn out badly or sickly--these are returned to ,england3 but compared with the large number that turn out well the average is very small4 ,i know the ,distributing ,homes at ,knowlton1 at ,belleville1 and at ,galt2 they are fine1 comfortable1 substantial buildings1 and at ,galt there is a farm of #ajj acres of land4 ,i know the workers and the oversight they take in training until placed out1 the care taken in placing out1 how they visit and correspond with them1 and ,i have seen and possess hundreds of letters from these youngsters1 written voluntarily by them from their new homes1 many of which have been published in ,canadian as well as ,english papers from time to time4 ,i have seen and possess hundreds of photographs of these waifs and strays as taken into the gathering ,homes in ,london1 then brought out to ,canada1 then1 after being here two1 five1 and even ten years1 the progress being marvellous4 ,now1 in conclusion1 having within the past month visited the ,galt ,home and ,farm1 with more than fifty healthy1 hearty1 vigorous youngsters being trained and fitted for work among ,canadian farmers1 it is my firm conviction that this work is being well done on both sides of the ,atlantic4 ,it is being carried on upon right principles and from pure motives1 and ,god has owned and blessed it wonderfully4 ,there is not only room for1 but a hearty welcome also for hundreds more of such emigrants4 ,the work has proved a blessing to ,canada as well as a blessing to ,england1 and those engaged in it should receive hearty encouragement on both sides of the ,atlantic4 --,yours faithfully1 ,t4 ,j4 ,,claxton4 ,,montreal1 ,july #ast1 #ahha4 ,miss ,macpherson writes after ,lord ,dufferin's visit to the ,galt ,home3-- ,his lordship said1 ',we meet your children everywhere1 and they are so happy2 we have crossed the ocean with them1 and even last night where we were slaying we were waited upon by one of your boys as a page1--he did it well too4' ,,stewardship4 ,may ,miss ,macpherson's solemn words on stir up many to follow her self-denying efforts1 and may the same blessing attend them4 ,since #ahfh1 we have been receiving the love offerings of the ,lord's almoners1 and under the direction of two auditors and a public accountant1 a yearly balance sheet has been issued4 ,to the praise of the ,lord who knoweth the needs of the destitute ones we have sought to help1 we have not been permitted to contract a debt1 or been left in want of bread or clothing at any time4 ,our faith has been frequently proved1 at times for days1 and at others for years4 ,yet our ',god is love1' and we are in ,his own wondrous school1 and bow to every trial4 ,from #djjj to #fjjj pounds annually have been the requirements of the mission4 ,as it came1 so was the money spent1 leaving us often with a very small balance1 but always on the right side4 ,when the funds have been low we have often been led to wonder and adore the love that placed our burdens upon the hearts of others1 causing them to consider ,him who loved them1 and who had enjoined us to go forth and sympathise with the ',christies' grinding their old organs1 and the ',jessicas1' with broken hearts1 crying for bread in the alleys of our great city4 ,our sainted sister1 ,miss ,havergal1 once earnestly entreated us to write on about the needs of little children4 ,mrs4 ,herbert ,taylor1 now in glory1 said1 ',oh continue unto the end pleading the ,christ-like cause4' ,yes6 we are stewards1 and not of money only4 ,do these departed workers regret one effort made for ,jesus8 ,it is only now we can watch with ,him for the little children1--the opportunities for self-denial will soon be past4 ,no more long voyages1 or sleepless nights1--soon the ,lord ,himself will come1 our bungling and failures all blotted out by the blood on the ,mercy-seat4 ,let us employ every remaining hour for our ,lord as ,he leads us forth2 let the eye rest upon the grace that was in ,jesus when ,he took the little children in ,his arms 7,mark x4 #ac-af74 ,how full of tenderness as we see ,him placing the child by ,himself 7,luke ix4 #dg1 #dh74 ,would we follow ,him1 then shall we be faithful stewards of every gift with which ,he has entrusted us4 ,when we have had nothing left but ,himself1-so near to faith's vision1--then how inexpressibly full has shone out one or other of the #cc1jjj precious1 never-failing promises4 ,precious ,comforter6 drawing ever near to ,his oft 'perplexed1 reasoning1 troubled' ones2 waiting to comfort them2 showing them ,his hands and ,his feet1 and lifting those hands to bless them 7,luke xxiv74 ',a little while' for patient vigil keeping1 ,to face the stem1 to wrestle with the strong2 ',a little while1' to sow the seed with weeping1 ,then bind the sheaves and sing the harvest song4 ,and ,he who is ,himself the ,gift and ,giver-- ,the future glory and the present smile1 ,with the bright promise of the glad 'for ever1' ,will light the shadows of the 'little while6' ,,yet ,a ,,little ,,while1 ,,and ,,he ,,that ,,shall ,,come ,,will ,,come1 ,,and ,,will ,,not ,,tarry4 ,,the ,,end4