Our work at home & abroad

be known, one would think, in order to receive the support it deserves. We know that many have done perhaps all, and even more than all, that they can afford themselves, in contributing towards the funds. But might they not, by letter or by word, solicit the aid of some wealthy or benevolent acquaintance, under whose notice the scheme has not yet been brought?

Hearts must be cold indeed that can refuse to help sickness and suffering-especially when that suffering is the lot of little children. And at this season of the year, how many must there be, living in the neighbourhood of large towns, who witness the aggravation of those sufferings by the trials of cold and want, of insufficient clothing and draughty dwellings, which in winter press so heavily on the poor!

May God put it into the hearts of many to respond to this appeal! What fitter offering at this Christmas season, when He for Whom the world found no room came in lowliness and want, than to furnish room for those children of lowliness and want, through whom He still speaks to us?

It is in the power of all to do something -children, servants, schools, tradespeople, may all combine with masters and mistresses, employers and parents, to swell the sum. Let none be discouraged by the smallness of their offerings, for be it remembered that numbers will make up for the deficiency in amount, and a willing gift is accepted 'ac

cording to that a man hath,' and will bring its blessing on the giver.

In the Christmas letter which was issued by the Secretary a suggestion was made for levying contributions round the family board, and the same suggestion might surely be carried out in the servants' hall, or even the village school, on New Year's Day. We shall confidently look for a large return through these many givers, and meanwhile we shall not relax our own prayers and efforts, so that, with the blessing of GOD, the happy work of raising our Children's Hospital may be commenced, and go forward with all hopefulness, and without hindrance from lack of funds.

Winter Belief.

ERHAPS some of the readers of Our Work may be surprised at our putting forward an appeal of this kind, when, up to the present time, the weather has been exceptionally mild and free from frost and snow.

But oh, dear friends and fellow-workers, if you could only spend a few days with us and share our labours; if you could climb with us into the miserable attic, and come into personal contact with the want and poverty that find there a home; if you knew the number of those who are fireless and foodless, and who have parted with almost their last bit of furniture to keep the wolf from the door; if you could see the starved and pinched expression of the children who people the slums and alleys of Shoreditch, as they throng into our Mission Rooms to partake of the hot dinners, and the earnest way they set to work to demolish the food set before them, you would acknowledge that such an appeal is not uncalled-for.

Our poorer neighbours are often accused in rather a wholesale way of extravagance, want of forethought, &c. ; but are there not numberless cases of want and destitution

brought on by no fault of the sufferers themselves?

Look, for instance, at that man who works at cabinet-making. He is such a skilled workman that even in the worst times employment has been offered him, but for more than a year he has been crippled with rheumatism, and now his hands are so drawn together he cannot straighten them, and the doctor tells him he will never be able to open them again. He cannot afford to pay the doctor's visits any longer, yet, when a fresh attack comes on, he will lie there suffering for days, sooner than let the ladies know, because he will not trespass on their kindness.'

Is it through his fault or improvidence that the wife should not know how to provide for the large family?

Or look again at the numerous vendors of outdoor wares of all descriptions-the sellers of walking-sticks at one penny, the costermonger's man, who now and then hires a barrow and sells a few pennyworths of vegetables; the match-box maker, who is paid at the rate of 2d. a gross ; the fancy box-maker, who works for a similar starvation remuneration; and those who cover umbrellas at 1d. each, and find their own needles and thread into the bargain. Can such as these lay by for a rainy day, or be expected to tide over the winter without help?

Indeed, such has been the scarcity of work, resulting from the depression of trade during the last few years, that many a skilled workman is now forced to live from hand to mouth, and is thankful for any odd jobs he may be fortunate enough to pick up during the summer, since regular work is out of the question.

Perhaps it is owing to the mildness of the weather that the columns of Our Work have had as yet but few contributions to acknowledge for the 'Winter Relief Fund.'

Last year so generous a response was made to our appeal, that we were able to deal out a goodly supply of food and coal, besides a little weekly help in groceries to the sick and the aged.

We were also enabled to benefit the poor in the West as well as those at the East End

of London, by giving children's halfpennydinners; and the way in which these were attended showed how much they were appreciated. Sometimes our dinner-party amounted to nearly 400.

A great deal of needlework to be made up into garments by the wives and mothers at home was also given out, and many are the anxious inquiries as to whether this will not be the case again this winter. The answer must depend, not on us, but on those who supply us with the means of doing so.

Up to this time, on account of our empty exchequer, we have not felt justified in embarking in what necessarily entails considerable expense, for this Work Society cannot be in any sense self-supporting, as, in addition to buying the materials, payment for the work has to be provided.

Children's halfpenny dinners at Shoreditch three times a week are the only addition we have as yet ventured to make to our usual work; for the three large Sunday breakfasts given in that neighbourhood, and the invalid dinners, which go on all the year round, are already a very heavy drain on our resources.

The announcement that there would be children's dinners three times a week was warmly welcomed, and on these days the Mission House is besieged by an importunate crowd of hungry children. In three weeks upwards of 2,500 dinners have been partaken of each consisting of a good basin of pea-soup made with meat, a piece of bread, and a good slice of currant pudding; the cost of each dinner is about 3d. A grant from the Children's Dinner Society lessens the expense, but there is still a considerable surplus to be provided. We are sad beggars, we know it. It is always 'Give.' But then is it not also true that in asking you to let us be the channels of your liberality, we are but giving you the opportunity of ministering to Him who has

In our care His brethren left, Not willing we should be bereft Of waiting on our Lord.

That which you so generously gave last winter, has it not been already repaid with

tenfold interest in the showers of blessings you have received during the past year?

Can there be a better way of showing our gratitude for the mercies and blessings of the year that has just passed away, or a better act of thanksgiving for the new year, than by opening our hand wide to minister to the wants of the poor, the sick, and the little ones, who are our Lord's chosen representatives on earth ?

Contributions to be sent to the Secretary, Miss A. M. THOMAS,

27 Kilburn Park Road, London, N.W.

Our Journal.

By the SECRETARY.

¡OVEMBER 14.-A correspondent informs us that she has 'sent off a bale containing seven pairs of blankets, twentytwo petticoats of different sizes, and seven frocks-all for the orphans.' Another says:-'I have ordered my grocer to send you 10 lbs. of tea.' We feel very grateful for these useful gifts.

We were cheered, too, by a very kind and sympathising letter, enclosing a cheque for 50%. The writer says :-'I have been deeply interested by the account, in the November number of Our Work, of the opening of the Sailors' Restaurant at London Docks. I have watched its progress with much anxiety, and I cannot bear to think that its early beginnings should be hampered by a debt such as you describe to be hanging over you for furniture, &c. So I send you this cheque to be applied in the manner you most desire, and very sincerely do I add my prayers for the success of this much-needed missionary work.'

The following reached the Church Sundayschool Union from St. John's Parsonage, Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand :

'DEAR SIR,-I greatly appreciate the good work you are doing through the

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