and

kind greeting from the Vicar of S his wife and a present of 51. seemed to reward us for our labours.

'We were much interested in seeing "Little Joey" mentioned some time back in Our Work. He has grown into a fine, intelligent child, after a year spent in the good air of Guildford. When Miss L—, his kind patroness, first took him in, he was like a child of six months old.

'At G a member of the C.E.A. gave us a lodging and true hospitality, allowing us to drop in when we could for a little rest and refreshment, and letting us stop out late. We felt that much of our success was due to our hostess, for we started off each morning feeling quite active and refreshed after our good night's rest.

'There was no one at our next restingplace who could take us in; but here, again, people were very kind, and interested in all the works of the society. Those who had already sent help to one of the secretaries gladly gave now towards this addition to our Orphan Home, and their many expressions of hearty sympathy cheered us.

'One lady suggested the idea of calling a particular ward of the new Convalescent Home after some county or town, and collecting specially for it in that locality. This would be, no doubt, an excellent plan, but would require, of course, that some resident with influence and energy should take it up and obtain the funds required.

'An invalid chair, which had belonged to the child of the donor, was given us for our sick children.

'The difficulty of finding the way among the hilly roads of Godalming is well known to those acquainted with the place. The Charterhouse boys, however, came to our aid, and with much politeness seemed to delight in acting cicerone to the two tired strangers.

'We found that several servants were collecting; and 10s. was given us which had been collected by a Sunday class.

'Altogether we had a happy time, and came back thinking how many good kind people there are in the world, and reflecting

thankfully on the unlooked-for encouragement we had received from many unexpected sources.'

The letters which we received on the subject are also full of sympathy.

A little girl writes: 'I send you 155. Some of my friends and I thought we should like to do something for the Orphanage, so we got up a bazaar on a very small scale in my school-room. I am only ten years old, and my work and that of my little friends is not worth much.'

Another friend writes: 'I enclose 5. for the enlargement of the Orphanage. How delightful it will be when you are able to receive another hundred children!'

For all this our friends must believe that we are not, indeed, ungrateful. Yet, when we have builders' bills coming in at the rate of 100% per week, it is, perhaps, pardonable if we cannot always at once crush out the faithless question-'How high will those walls be suffered to rise?' or, 'Whence will come the wherewithal to put on the roof and fit up the interior?'

We will now only repeat the advice we ventured to give our zealous friends at the beginning of this paper, that they should bring our great necessity, and the goodness of the cause we plead, before anyone likely to care for the work and help it, and to beg them to give bountifully and freely of their substance for the success of those who are homeless and penniless.

Then before many weeks are over we shall no longer need to look round and ask-'Who will help us?'

Contributions will be thankfully received by Miss A. M. THOMAS (or Miss HELEN WETHERELL), 29 Kilburn Park Road, London, N.W.

'LORD! forty wrestlers come to fight for Thee,

Give forty wrestlers crowns of victory.'
The echoes died away, and all was still;
Uprose they from their knees, they walked
alone,

Or two and three together, whispering low In holy converse-for no laughter loud Disturbed the stillness awful and profound. The night grew deeper, and the wind rushed down

The slopes of Caucasus with fury wild. 'They surely cannot bear this trial, too,' I thought for I was quaking with the cold. Then once again, and mingling with the blast, That cry arose from forty freezing lips, 'LORD! forty wrestlers come to fight for Thee,

Give forty wrestlers crowns of victory.' 'Twas midnight-more than one brave steadfast man

Was sleeping that long sleep, the sleep of death,

When by my side I heard a feeble voice, Hollow and wretched, wild and vacant too— 'Take me away, and give me warmth. Oh ! quick,

Let me approach the fire, or I shall die.'
Poor wretch! I led him in, and the wild

yell

Of joy he gave when first he felt the warmth Stays in my memory still, a direful sound, Like some foul fiend filling his recreant soul. I left him there. I sought an inner room, Where, overcome by fitful sleep, I dreamed A wondrous dream. Methought I was outside

A golden gate, where stood in patient love A Heavenly Form. Could this be He who died

That cruel death three hundred years ago? His hands bore nail-prints and His feet the

same,

And round His head, now crowned with glory

rare,

The marks remained of agony and woe.
It was the LORD! I could but own Him

such,

For every form fell down at His approach.

Then He drew near and pointed with His hand

That glorious hand-towards a place where stood

Bright angel forms, each with a golden crown Held in his hand for some brave soul below And whilst I looked I heard from earth beneath

A cry, an echo faint, borne on the breeze-
'Lord! forty wrestlers came to fight for Thee,
Give forty wrestlers crowns of victory.'
He turned and looked on me, a look of love.
No words fell from His lips, yet I could tell
The meaning of that gaze-'The cry comes
up to me

For forty crowns of glory. Shall there be
One of the forty missing?' Then I woke.
I rose from off the couch where I had slept
Another man. I left the heated room,
And quickly passed into the bitter night.
I joined the 'Thundering Legion' on the ice,
And learnt while waiting there what bravery
is-

Not shoutings loud, not clash of war's alarm,
Not rushing on to death in maddening haste;
But power to put aside our best-our all,
To be bereaved and stripped of all our
joys-
The dearest and most precious-for His sake
Who bore the shame and agony for us.

I still am waiting here, and all the rest
Have gained their crowns of glory. See,
they lie

Calmly, with upturned faces to the sky:
Faces that smile upon me in the gloom-
Smiles of encouragement, and peace, and
love.

The morning dawns, and in the twilight grey Only one mouth now frames the glorious prayer

That many lips prayed earnestly before— 'LORD! forty wrestlers came to fight for Thee,

Give forty wrestlers crowns of victory.' RUTH WILSON.

Our Work Abroad.

'Desire of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.'—Psalm ii. 8.

AST year we narrated some interesting facts relating to the Rio Pongo Mission in Western Africa, and our readers cannot fail to have been interested in the marvellous work done by the missionaries there, by preaching the faith and bringing men into CHRIST'S fold,

The annual report for the year 1881, which has been just received, tells of steady progress. The missionaries are indeed striving to fulfil CHRIST's command to make disciples of all nations, and to preach the Gospel to every creature, though they do so in weariness and painfulness, in a trying climate, and with much, no doubt, at times to discourage.

We at home are bound to recognise thankfully the singleness of heart and free selfsurrender with which they labour, and the least we can do is to help them by our sympathy, prayers, or alms.

All the missionaries of the Pongos are Africans by descent, and were educated at Codrington's College, Barbadoes.

It is interesting to note the gradual advance made of late years in this portion of the globe.

Last century, English ships took slaves from the west coast of Africa to our colonies in the West Indies and America.

In 1834, the emancipated population of the West Indies had been educated and Christianised.

In 1855, the West Indians, having themselves freely received the Gospel, sent this Mission to West Africa, as an act of restitution for the wrongs formerly inflicted on the Africans.

We quote from the Rev. P. H. Douglin's last report :

The Roman Catholics out here are a strong

body. They are rich, and able to push the interests of their Church. They can take up every place that is offered to them, and receive every child to board and teach. We, on the other hand, have often to turn a deaf ear to the calls of the heathen-ay, and of the Christians also -when they beg us to go and help them to know and serve GOD. We have to refuse to take children because there is no fund for their support.

I have now seven boys and two girls; all of them, except two, are clothed, fed, and educated by me, and it is with great difficulty that I keep my head above water.

It is true I am not obliged to show this charity, but I cannot turn my face against a boy or girl who is anxious to learn, and to be trained up properly.

I should be very glad of help in this matter. 41. each year would keep them.

Is there anyone who will answer this appeal, and make himself responsible for one of the children out of the 'seven'?

Mr. Douglin goes on to say :

I live at Domingia, and pay stated visits to Farringia and Fallangia. These stations are at present in the charge of catechists.

Our Christmas services were very successful. At Fallangia the attendance was greater than had ever been known before; at Domingia there was a crowded congregation at each of the five services.

At the midnight service there was this pleasing occurrence-that the Sierra Leone people almost all came. I hope this is the beginning of better days.

The children sang some carols very nicely, and besides the usual decorations, I had adorned the walls with pictures-the Church Extension Association and some friends in Clifton having enabled me to do this very desirable thing. The Mahomedans crowd around the windows during service, and point out and explain these pictures to each other.

In conclusion, I beg to tender my sincere thanks to the kind friends who have strengthened my hands and cheered my heart by their letters, their prayers, and their help. I would specially mention the Ladies' Association at Clifton, and the Church Extension Society, also the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge for the payment of the outstanding grant of 50%. towards Domingia Church, for Arabic books, and for a

readiness to help me in my work whenever I call upon them.'

We have promised a further grant of church work in the course of the year, and should be pleased to be the medium of communication between Mr. Douglin and anyone offering help.

The Rev. T. Richey has received the grant we sent the beginning of the year, and writes in acknowledgment:

'I am happy to inform you of the safe arrival of the box you sent me, and feel most deeply obliged to you and the kind lady, Miss Trench, who so generously contributed to its contents. All the articles are most useful, and will suit admirably for my church at Summerside.

'I also thank you very much for the tracts and other publications so kindly sent, which I trust may minister to the edification of pastor and people.

'I notice among the books you sent a volume of Sermons on the Epistles and Gospels for Sundays and chief Holydays. I should very much like to obtain the entire series, as they are suggestive, and would be useful for weeknight lectures, &c.

'With many thanks, and my blessing on your godly work and charitable efforts, 'I am, &c.'

From a Mission station in New Brunswick we have the following:

I most thankfully acknowledge the due and safe receipt of your highly valued box, the contents of which will prove such a help to us. The box came to hand during the week preceding the Festival of S. Barnabas, and I used the altar frontal and linen for the first time on that day.

It will afford me very great pleasure to remember your Association at the Throne of Grace in future on this festival. I sincerely trust that God will abundantly bless your benevolent endeavours for the good of His Church, and fulfil all your desires.

I hope to send you a small donation at no distant time.

The Church in these parts certainly owes a debt of gratitude to your Association for many valuable gifts, and I trust the recipients will everywhere be suitably thankful and appreciative.

I have been thinking since I received your handsome altar cloths, that if our ladies here

were supplied with proper materials, very much might be done by themselves in working such furnishings as we need.

I would like to have a white and also a green frontal; and I think that now we have yours for a pattern, our ladies might do something to supply this need. I shall therefore be very thankful if you could inform me whether you could obtain for me at any reduction in the catalogue-prices of Church furnishers, materials, monograms, and trimmings for the cloths I require. If there are any suggestions you can supply in order to enable me to accomplish most satisfactorily the end in view I shall be very thankful.

With a deep sense of my obligations to your Association for highly valued favours,

I am, &c.

with toil, vexation, and disease. And now Dr. Roberts has lost his wife and child, and may prepare himself for many more troubles which are coming thick upon him.

The mail brought a letter announcing that the S.P.G. had been obliged to reduce their block grant by 1ool, so that the Bishop writes he almost despairs of the Church's work in these islands :

The people here, both black and white, are so poor that a threepenny-bit seems wealth to them; the offertories in our out-island churches consist of a few of these and a handful of copper money. You would be surprised to know what shifts we are put to in order to carry on Divine service. We try to sell a few shells, sticks, and sponges to the American visitors in the spring of the year, and we have lately started a begging society, to solicit alms for the Church from the guests at the hotel in Nassau. And, as a last resource, we are planting cocoanuts as a source of endowment for the Church. But as cocoa-nut trees are large and slow of growth, we cannot reckon on them for any present help.

Some of the out-island clergy have to endure great privations, not only because they cannot afford to buy suitable provisions, but because food is not to be had in some of the out-of-theway stations that we visit.

But it is not so much bodily needs as mental anxiety that breaks us down.

Constant care respecting the finances of the Church, our Catechumens and Communicants, whom we see so seldom-in some distant stations only once a year-the dread of their falling into sin, or in many cases relapsing into schism, is a constant haunting fear.

No doubt we ought to have greater trust in GOD. The prayer' Lord, increase our faith,' is more necessary for us than for the disciples who first uttered it. Miss Fletcher is still 'dragging,' as the negroes say. That is, she continues her work at S. Agnes and in the 'Home,' though in much bodily weakness. I don't think she has recovered from the dreadful attack of fever which prostrated her two years ago.

I hear that people are getting a little tired of our Mission. Well, we must expect that! In these days of excitement and impatience it is hard to keep up an interest in any work, however good. We must pray GOD of His goodness to replace the weary ones by others filled