Our Fournal.

CTOBER 9.-The friendly and sympathetic band of workmen who are building the Broadstairs Home have again sent round a collecting-box for the Orphanage-thus raising the sum of 8s. 3d. We are much touched by this mark of their desire to co-operate with us in our works of mercy.

An Indian correspondent begs us to forward collecting-cards for the Children's Gift. She says 'I should like to try to interest some of the schools here in your Convalescent Home. Please send me, besides the cards, some leaflets for distribution. If you have not anything suitable, perhaps you could write a short description of the Institution, and I would have it printed out here.

A clergyman sends 27. 10s. contributed for the society at the Harvest Thanksgiving service; and another friend promises to send us a case of ship's biscuit every fortnight.

'I shall be glad,' writes a parent,' if you will let this 5 go towards the Holy Innocents' Ward, in memory of one of our dear children.

October 10.-Twenty-five pounds come from a lady for the 'Winter Relief Fund'a thank-offering for the return of a dearly loved son from a long voyage.

The following words were written on a piece of paper which inclosed 57.: 'I send you a small antidote to the good wishes of your teetotal friend! More will follow.' The name of the kind sender was withheld, so we can only avail ourselves of the medium of the Magazine to convey to him our warm thanks.

My little lame girl has filled up the card more quicky than I thought possible. She collected the whole sum, and 9d. over, in a few hours, to her very great delight.'

A friend, removing to a new house, desired that the Orphanage van should call; and sent it back to us filled with most useful things— old furniture, &c. Another lady, also leaving her house, sent us a box full of a miscellaneous collection, including an old altar

cloth, two cot-counterpanes, some children's clothing, and surgical instruments.

A dear little boy, having been mercifully spared to his mother, she sends 10s. to provide some 'little Harry' with a Sunday breakfast throughout the year.

A number of the clergy have written lately, offering to be Priests-Associate of the Society. The chief responsibility incurred by a Priest-Associate is to remember the work continually in his prayers. This is, of course, the very highest and surest way in which any one can help us, so we are truly grateful for the support and encouragement derived from this accession to our numbers.

Kind Words.-'I will gladly give you an annual offertory, though the amount is sure to be small. Yet what is given will go with prayers for, and blessings on, your work. I always read with deepest interest the monthly numbers of Our Work, and have long wished I had the ability to help. However, I now think you have struck upon an admirable plan.'

(Anon.) 'I inclose 5% towards the General Fund, and hope to send more very soon.'

'Please let me keep your card. I should like to be allowed to put a few bricks into your Convalescent Home, and I will try to collect the sum.'

'Our Work strikes me as one of the most delightful things of its kind. The bright spirit which runs through it makes me feel quite cheery, though it does also speak of so much trouble and so many difficulties.'

'I must write a few lines to tell you how pleased I am to become an Associate priest. Next Sunday will be the first time that your work will be remembered by me at the Holy Communion. I am also going to try to get the permission of another priest to plead your cause before his parishioners.'

'Our smallest choir boy has brought me inclosed is. 7d. for the Children's Hospital.

'I send back two of the cards quite full. The children wish me to tell you how much prettier they think their cards look, now they are full, than when they were clean and new.'

'I suppose the fact of my being chaplain to a religious house caused me to feel a live

lier interest in your doings than I should otherwise have done. I sincerely trust that GOD will soon find me a way of helping you. I am literally burning with the desire to send you something. I am very poor, but my good wishes and all my hearty prayers are yours.'

October 11.-Received: a barrel of fruit and vegetables, ten parcels of disused clothing and finery, some jewellery, a hamper of apples, and a sack of onions. We hear many busy fingers are employed in knitting counterpanes for our future orphans and convalescents. This is good news, for we could not have too many of these warm coverings.

A Parish Priest writes that he will persuade his people to allow the Christmas morning offerings to be devoted to the Convalescent Home. This is indeed kind, for the congregation is but small, and consists only of tenant-farmers and their labourers.

The work at this Coffee-house, as well as at the Church Extension Book-store adjoining, is going on steadily and well. A large order for books has lately been received from a Canadian clergyman, another from Calcutta, and a third from Gibraltar; so our little publications are scattered far and wide. A correspondent says: "I think those "Stories on the Sacred Rites of the Church" are the very nicest I ever read.' At the end of an order for Catechisms was written, 'God bless your noble work.' (We thank the writer for his good wishes.)

A lady, ordering a number of our little sketch entitled 'Orphans, indeed!' to be sent to her, informs us that she intends to send out a copy with each Christmas card. Might not this be a good suggestion for some of our well-wishers, who want to help us and don't know how?

Last month we had the pleasure of entertaining many choirs at our Workmen's Restaurant. One party numbered seventy. The Sisters, &c., stopped their work to listen to the effective manner in which grace was sung. A letter came afterwards from the Vicar, who had presided, inclosing a present of 10s., with the words, 'My best thanks for the capital dinner you gave us, and my hearty

good wishes that you may be abundantly prospered in your good work.'

Pleasant little incidents continue to brighten up the work in 'the Row,' which in itself is hard enough. An aged man came up the other day to one of the Sisters and said earnestly: This dining-room is, indeed, a boon to working-men.' Another customer remarked: Your soup has a great deal of nourishment in it.' One satisfactory proof that the viands are acceptable is that the 'takings' weekly, in the Paternoster Row Restaurant alone, are between 50%. and 60%. a week.

Many acceptable presents of fruit, flowers, &c., have been made through the summer and autumn, but perhaps none which gave us more gratification than a gift of cauliflowers from a market-seller. The Sister housekeeper was just putting the money for the said vegetables into his hand, when he observed, 'I always like to help Sisters,' and returned it to her.

October 14.-A friend, in sending 5s. for the Convalescent Home, says: 'Such homes as the one you are building are sadly needed, for it is grievous to think how much unnecessary pain poor children have to endure.'

Orders for the 'Christmas number' of Our Work are pouring in. Many of our friends are going to take a dozen copies, others four, six, eight, and so on. Earl Nelson, who, it will be remembered, so kindly laid our foundation - stone last summer, has most generously bespoken 100 Christmas numbers. We venture to beg that all those who are in the habit of perusing our little magazine with pleasure and interest (and we are kindly assured that this is the case with many) will invest in at least one copy of this our first Christmas number.

We are still novices in the science of publishing, and, if our friends could be behind the scenes a little, they would smile to see the amount of labour and anxiety which this little book has cost us. However, we have, as usual, received much kind and unexpected help-especially from that good business friend, before referred to as

having watched over and advised us in our first beginnings in printing, &c.—and we trust the result may be a volume which will be greeted in many a home as a welcome addition to our Christmas literature.

May we once more suggest that it might be widely used as a pretty and seasonable Christmas gift ?

October 18.-'E. L. N.' sends us eleven quarts of blackberries, to the great delight of our orphans. A lady says: "I have just had a very handsome birthday present, and, as this will save me some personal outlay, I send you 1. for the Broadstairs, and 17. for the Kilburn Building.'

Received a box of old ball-dresses, some toys, a quantity of rice, a hamper of boots, shoes, and boys' caps, some scarves knitted by a poor cripple. Also a brooch and ring, to be sold for the benefit of the society.

October 20.-A friend sends 30s. from herself and her husband towards the Holy Innocents' Ward. 'We think the idea a beautiful one,' she says; 'and are glad to have a share in the work each of us remembering lovingly a baby-brother, long since in Paradise.'

Five pounds came from a priest, who cannot promise an offertory; also 77. 10s. from the members of a Bible-class. They wish the sum to be devoted to the 'Mary Ward,' as many of them own that name. A visitor going through the Home this afternoon remarked on our great need of a suitable chapel. She said: 'Surely the time is not far distant when some benefactor will come forward and help in, at least, starting the work.'

'I beg to inclose 5s. for the Holy Innocents' Ward. It is a beautiful, touching idea, and will surely move the hearts of many whose little ones are with GOD.'

'I rejoice to see that the Mary Ward is started, and I inclose with the greatest pleasure my contribution of 57. I will do my best to stir up all the Maries of my acquaintance, and may GOD prosper the good cause!'

October 23.-A box containing a most. bountiful supply of clothing has arrived from Mrs. Hanning Lee's Work Society. It contains no less than 356 articles, and is there

fore the largest contribution of the sort we have yet received.

A friend, who not long ago applied for 12 30s. collecting cards, returned them to-day with a cheque for 187. Such success could only have been achieved by really hard work.

We have had a second order for 100 copies of our Christmas number, and another friend promises to take twelve copies, on condition that it is out in time for her to make use of as a Christmas present.

Received: one dozen blankets for the Broadstairs Home; twelve aprons; a large parcel from S. John Baptist's Guild; 9s. from a little 'Mary,' who says she must help to build her own ward, and has sent us all the money she has; a parcel of twenty-one red cloaks for our ragged schools; a rol. cheque for the sea-water bath-this is the ninth similar contribution towards the 500l. required; and 57. towards the Holy Innocents' Ward.

October 25.-The proprietor of some large refreshment-rooms has written for two collecting-boxes to place in his rooms. He kindly adds that, should any of the Sisters be working in the neighbourhood, they will be most cordially welcome to any refreshment he has to offer. It would be difficult to say how cheering and gratifying are such assurances of sympathy!

Seven large packages arrived from Ranskill, containing the offerings from a harvest festival. Such a famous supply of flowers, fruit, and vegetables !

£30 came for 'Winter Relief' from one who has for several years past sent us this welcome sum; also several postal orders for 10s. to pay for a poor child's Sunday breakfast throughout the year.

Received a large parcel of clothing, made chiefly by farmers' daughters; a knittingmachine; a parcel containing cassock, gown, surplice, and Oxford hood; another with fifty small shawls for the Shoreditch poor, and some scarves made by a cripple ; a quantity of old church furniture, altar frontals, and texts; some linen and crockery.

October 26.-A lady sends 1. which she

has earned by knitting up scraps of wool into a counterpane. A whole sovereign' is (as she justly remarks) 'a large sum to be gained by remnants !'

A cheque came for 187. Is., part of the harvest offertory at Esher. This is, indeed, a welcome and unexpected help.

A large parcel of men's garments arrived, and we were desired to send round our Orphanage van for a quantity of clothing that had belonged to a lady-lately dead.

A visitor who was being shown over the Home remarked upon the intelligent countenances of our children. She said she was quite sure from their expression that every faculty they possessed was being cultivated. As she was questioning a little girl upon her work and general manner of life, she was amused to hear the child say with much earnestness-' If you please, ma'am, this is not a low Orphanage !'

October 28.-A little girl sends 3s. 10d. in farthings, which she has collected for the Children's Gift; and 27. 4s. 4d. comes from some 'Poor Mothers at Clerkenwell.' 'I should be so much obliged,' says the sender, 'if you would write them a line, as they are naturally very eager to hear what the Sisters say to their exertions.' What the Editor of Our Work says-is, that the 'Poor Mothers' have set a wonderful example of industry and unselfishness, and he hopes that their kind thought for the orphan may bring a double blessing, both upon themselves and their children.

Another ten guineas came towards the swimming-bath. Also 157., which the donor desires us to lay out as we like; adding that, if she has any preference, it is that 57 may be given to the Docks Mission, and 10l. to the salt-bath at Broadstairs.

'A trifle towards postage' we very gladly received. Our friends would hardly credit how much money goes in this way.

Four shillings have come from Edward for his namesake Teddy.

We had to-day a kind offer from a visitor of a new engraving of Dore's picture of 'Christ entering Jerusalem.' It is too large

for her present house, and, if we can find anyone to give 67. or even 5. 10s. for it, we are welcome to have the sum for our Building Fund. It is perfectly new, not having yet been taken out of the case. We hope we may find a purchaser.¦

November 4.-50l. has come across the water from the kind friend at B- who has so often helped us. 'I am very glad,' he says, 'to find that you have been able to start the new work at the Orphanage, and am thankful that I can send you another small contribution. I think there is very little likelihood of walls, started by workers like you, being stopped before completion.'

At Rotherhithe.-We found a poor woman to-day very ill with rheumatic fever. She had been laid up for seven weeks, and everything had got behindhand. She had quite lost the use of her hands. Her husband is a stoker, and she was in great distress that she could not keep his clothes in order.

The day before, her little girl had been washing his shirt, and when drying it the sleeve had caught fire and been entirely burnt. I can't mend it, Sister, and the child has been trying, but she has made it worse, and he has so few, and wants so many.'

Her gratitude knew no bounds when the shirt came back to her ready for use.

We called last Sunday on the B.'s, a family of five children. The mother died a few months ago, and they have no one to look after them but their father, who is at work, early and late, as an engineer's labourer. The eldest is a girl of twelve, and the youngest a baby of two. They have just recovered from the measles, and look very pale and thin.

When we came in, the children were all watching 'father'-a weary, careworn-looking man-getting the Sunday dinner ready. It consisted of boiled cabbages and dry bread.

Mrs. R.'s baby was born to-day. Her husband died seven months ago, and all she has to live on is 6s. a week allowed her by the parish. Out of this she has to support six children and pay the rent! She lets the room upstairs to a family poorer than herself, and gets on as best she can, but tells us she

dreads the winter. The children are delicate, and now she has not the strength that she once had to work for them.

Sent for to see a poor woman, the wife of a barber. Her husband is getting up the business for his employer in this trade, and has to work hard to keep his place. About a fortnight ago he broke a blood-vessel, and although able to be at work again has by no means regained his strength. The wife was very ill with bronchitis, and her little girl of twelve had all the work to do, her father's shop to clean, his dinner to cook, a baby brother and sister to look after! She said, Sister, I don't know how to make a poultice, and mother is dying, I think.' The mother was very ill, but when we had put her to bed, applied the poultice, and given the crying children their tea, she revived a little, and, with many thanks and tears, begged we would look after the children should anything happen to her. Emily, our little friend, is her child by her first husband, and her stepfather is very hard upon her, expecting her to do work which is too much for her little thin hands and weak frame. Poor child! it would be indeed a dismal prospect for her should her mother be taken away!

At Tower Hill.-Nov. 11.-Our customers, the starving unemployed, pronounce their soup to be far superior to any elsewhere, even that sold at S. Katharine's Restaurant itself!

One of the men, on being served with a pennyworth of soup, returned it, saying, 'I think you have made a mistake, ma'am, I only asked for a pennyworth.' . . . 'Oh! is that a pennyworth? Well, there! I'll have a ha'porth, and pay a penny for it, for you do serve us well here, and no mistake!'

The men are particularly anxious that the health of the Sisters should not suffer, and, on a wet day, bring dry boards for them to stand on, themselves putting up the covering, and inquiring from time to time if the wind 'cuts too cold.' We have had to send double the quantity of food during the last few weeks, the demand having increased greatly.

On the Dock.-November 14.-The cold weather has greatly increased the number of

our customers at the Docks. Yesterday we disposed of six hundred and sixty-two penny and halfpenny dinners! As the winter advances this demand is certain to increase, and another boiler will be required in the kitchen for making extra soup. Will any kind benefactor give the 127. 125. that will put up another sixty-gallon double boiler in our kitchen at the Docks?

At Poplar.-On calling to take 'T.,' a little girl, to a Convalescent Home, the following composed the group who received us : a father dying of consumption, a paralysed grandfather, an idiot aunt who was with difficulty restrained from attacking us, and a mother waiting for admission to a hospital! The only one of the family in tolerable health was the grandmother, who was very old.

Our Truckmen at the Docks. One of these officers of ours who wheels in the food, and who was formerly a dock labourer, has for the last three days purchased soup and pudding for one of the unemployed, a miserable, half-starved looking man, whose pale face had especially struck the Sister. The man when he bought the dinner to-day observed, 'I can't bear to see a fellow-creature go hungry, for I have known well what it feels like. He did me a good turn when he had money, and now he's nearly starving.'

Another truckman has at his own request been regularly attending a Bible-class at Dock Street for two months. A few weeks ago he brought his little girl to church and had her baptised, and has persuaded his wife to attend classes in preparation for confirmation. To-day he asked if he might bring his friend with him next time, adding 'he belongs to the Church, but he has not been confirmed nor ever been taught anything. His wife died last week reproaching him for being such a bad husband, and he is determined now to turn over a new leaf if anyone will help him to do it.'

On the Dock.-'I can scarcely bear,' remarked one of our helpers, 'to cut up the pudding before the bell has been rung' (which is the signal for commencing business)—'one can see how hungry the men