ful. Please let me know, too, what constitutes a member of the Society, as I have been very much interested in Our Work, and should like to help in any small way I can. Is there a "Flower Mission" in connection with the work?'

To this last query we must reply that there is not, though we think there ought to besince we visit so many sick and infirm people whose houses are in the heart of London, and to whom a few fresh flowers would be a boon of great price. Pending the formation. of a regular Flower Mission, we may say how glad we always are to receive floral gifts for the general use of our Homes and our patients.

The following hearty words, from one who calls himself a schoolboy,' are very plea

sant:

'I have collected 25s. on my card. I should like to become a member myself, for I am so interested in your work, and I wish I could do more for you. But I am only a schoolboy, so I am afraid I can give no personal help at present beyond collecting money. I have given some penny cards to my little brothers and sisters, who are delighted to collect. We were all so charmed with the Orphanage when we went over it, and my mother hopes in time to adopt an orphan. I am sure we will do all we can for you, and are only sorry that it is so little.'

'Two Little Girls' hope that the orphans will accept two scrap-books made from their Christmas cards.

A bale arrived containing four pairs of white blankets, and we hear that the same kind donor has despatched a similar parcel to Broadstairs, together with nineteen pairs of stockings. Another parcel contained a quantity of Madagascar ribbons, which are to be sold for the benefit of the Orphanage. A good supply of petticoats, frocks, and pinafores were also received.

A servant says, 'I have written you a few lines to tell you I have been gathering a few pence for you. I am only a young servant, yet I have tried to get the card

filled, but could not. I should like to see the children, and I send you a Post Office order for 75.; so I hope you will accept this small sum as a little help from me for the houseless children.'

February 6.-A cheque for 257. came from Bermuda, with three orders for Our Work and The Banner of Faith; one friend sends thirteen guineas; another eight. Several 30s. collecting-cards were returned, all quite full, as well as six of those for 10s.; a priest writes that he is about to start an offertory at a monthly children's service, and intends to devote it either to the Breakfast Fund or the Convalescent Home. He says, too, I purpose giving each class a collecting box, so please send me half a dozen. I might also be able to distribute some collecting cards if you would kindly send me a dozen.'

A lady who visits a Workhouse sometimes, lends Our Work in the women's sick ward, and yesterday a poor, crippled, bedridden young woman told her how much she liked the Magazine, and gave her a penny to send to the Society. I am sure, says the lady, you will be glad to have this proof of sympathy; and no doubt prayers for its prosperity are joined with the offering of this cripple's mite.

'I have just succeeded in getting together a small working-party. I am afraid it will not consist of more than nine members, including my little girl, who, however, works faster than I do. I want to know the most useful things we can do, and if you will send us patterns of any articles, we will make them.'

Another lady writes: 'Will you kindly send me a few directions for making the clothes that will be worn by the children in the Convalescent Home. A sort of uniform is suggested, and I should like to do some thing towards clothing them. Will some patchwork quilts mounted on Turkey twill, and lined with red flannel, also be of use?'

'Please send me one of the packets of collecting cards spoken of in the February number of Our Work. Of all charities, this

one to succour weary little children seems to me the most touching, and I trust the rest of the sum needed may be procured in time to commence the building at once.'

A lady came in the other morning to show us some leaflets which she had had printed specially for house-builders. She mentioned, also, that she had every Sunday a class of youths whom she hoped to interest especially in our charitable undertaking. Some of them had promised to paint texts for the adornment of our schools and coffee-rooms.

About a fortnight ago we received a very acceptable and useful gift-two large cheeses; with the added pleasant information that duplicates had been sent to the Sisters labouring at the Docks. "This useful present,' they write, arrives very opportunely, as we finished our last bit of cheese yesterday.'

The fare provided at the City Restaurant seems to be more and more appreciated by the men of the neighbourhood. Upon an average we sell every day between 300 and 400 half-pint portions of soup, 200 portions of porridge, 220 portions of pudding, 70 beef-steak puddings, besides roast meat, vegetables, bread and butter, &c.

An order from Jamaica for the Book Store came to-day. It always gives us peculiar pleasure to send any publications to the colonies. Many persons seem not to have remembered our notice that the Lesson Notes are no longer sent as a free accompaniment to Our Work, and express surprise and disappointment at their non-appearance. They will be forwarded post-free for a year to anyone sending stamps, or postal order, for is. 6d.

February 7.-The member who now has charge of our Surplice Branch has sent us 30%, the profits of one year's work. She, and the kind friend who sells photographs for the Society, are indefatigable in their efforts to increase their number of helpers, and would be glad to hear of any ladies willing to assist them in their several depart

ments.

February 8.-Received a counterpane, made by a class of young girls, for one of

orphan's beds; an orphan's outfit; some Christmas cards; flowers for the sick poor; and 50% for the Convalescent Home, with the kind words that it was all the giver could spare at present, but he hoped next year, or possibly this autumn, to be in a position to send another 50%.—also to become an annual subscriber to the Home when completed and opened. A piano arrived-a very nice onesent by a gentleman who visited the Orphanage last summer; some nicely illuminated texts; a box of beautiful snowdrops for sick children, bought by a little girl with her own pocket-money; and 37, earned by the industry of a lady who is a good embroideress.

'Some kind friend in England sends us Our Work, and I am much interested in its contents. I enclose a trifle for the Children's Free Breakfast Fund. I would it were more; but there are so many calls on one's purse in this destitute diocese that it almost seems as if charity must begin and even end at home.'

February 10.-We have just received our first contribution of 17. towards the extension of the Kilburn Orphanage. Our joy at this, or anything else which seems like an earnest that this great work will one day be taken in hand, would, we feel sure, be shared by all the readers of Our Work were they—as we are-in daily receipt of heartrending appeals, from all classes, to open our doors to homeless, destitute, and miserable children, for whom there is absolutely no room. What makes the case more pitiable is that there are, to our certain knowledge, plenty of kindhearted people ready to subscribe enough, and more than enough, to pay for the annual expenses of these children, if a little corner could but be found for them.

All that is really wanted, then, is an extension of our red brick walls, a little more plaster, and a few more planks to fit up the interior; some more iron beds, and wooden chairs, &c.; and the thing would be done.

February 13.-Many people are writing to us for patterns of the frocks and pinafores we asked for in our last number. Working

parties are being instituted in many places; indeed, without such kind help we should find it difficult to clothe our 160 orphans, or our convalescent patients-not to speak of many of the very poor, both old and young, belonging to the districts in which we work.

Our members are scattered all over the world now, and Our Work follows them. A priest, writing from St. Kitts, West Indies, says:-'I wrote last mail to inform you of a new subscriber to your little Magazine, and to-day I must ask you to add another member to your Association. Please enrol her among your number. I am also glad to say that we have got several subscribers to the Banner of Faith.

'I have a large adult class every Sunday after my service, and from that class I have formed a Prayer Union. Many Sundays I am at a loss to give them some little tract to take home; and the other day the thought struck me that, if I could get the Devotions in Our Work printed in a leaflet form, they would certainly be excellent things to give to my people. If it is possible for your Society to print them in that shape, I would have out 300 every month if the price was within my power. I do wish you would give the suggestion a thought, as no doubt printing them in that way would be a blessing to many people, and would aid many a priest in diffusing good wholesome doctrine. shall be very grateful to hear that my proposal has met with your ready compliance.'

I

Received: 1os. towards Seaside Home from a 'Lover of children, who would gladly do more if she could;' 2s. 6d. as a thankoffering from a young surgeon who has lately passed his examination; 5. from A. B.— half the sum for the Children's Breakfast Fund and half for the new Convalescent Home; 1l, of which 5s. is for Honduras Mission and 155. for any branch of the Society most needing help, 10s. being from the Church Almsbox; 107. for the general fund.

February 14.-The following are fair samples of the applications which daily reach us to admit children to the Orphanage. May the day soon come when we are no

longer compelled to refuse such cases. The first little history is as follows :

'I write to ask if you will receive into your Orphanage a poor destitute child. Since her only kind relative, an old grandmother, died a year ago, she has been at the Union, and from all I can gather, I fear it is the usual sad story-hard work, very hard fare, and still harder hearts. All this is a bad preparation for a life of domestic service, as well as for a future life of happiness hereafter. I long to save this child. She is about eleven years of age. She has no father, and her mother-a woman of bad character -has disappeared for years, and is supposed to be dead too. Her father died many years ago; I don't think the child ever saw him. Our Union is a very hard one, and I have tried in vain to get the Guardians to allow her a small sum to be trained at a training school. She is a sharp child, and would do well in your kind hands and in your wellgoverned Orphanage, but never under present circumstances, I fear. Pray think kindly of my application.'

Our other correspondent says, 'Is it possible for you to take in two children? Their father, who was a gardener, died six years ago, leaving a wife and three little ones. She tried to support them all by dressmaking, but her health soon failed, and she died. The children are now dependent on the parish and what little help an aunt can give them; but this aunt is only a servant, and has, besides, an aged father to support. The children are seven and eleven years of age.'

Three more applications came the same day.

The following letter from a very juvenile friend of the Society pleased us very much :

'I have long been wanting to do something for your orphans, and it has been a great pleasure to me to collect for this card. I have at last filled it, and send the money to you. I hope that the hospital will soon be built, and all the little invalids able to go to it. I am a strong little girl myself, and so

are all my sisters, but my father takes us sometimes to the seaside, and we like it very much, and I am sure the little invalids will too.'

A clergyman's wife-who, we doubt not, has already her hands full of good works for others-writes: 'I am hoping to arrange for a small working-party during this Lent, to make a few articles of clothing for the little orphans. I should be so much obliged if you could send me a pattern of the circular cloaks or capes which you say would be useful at the Convalescent Home.' We are, indeed, pleased to find that our poor little convalescents have a chance of being better clothed this summer.'

People of very varied occupation now visit our Docks Restaurant-sailors of all nations, watermen, Custom-house men, stokers, stewards, carmen, postmen, sweeps, oilmen, factory hands, with, of course, a plentiful sprinkling of hungry, lean-looking dock-labourers. We have had a pleasant freedom from fog the last week, but the air in the Dock blew cold and keen this morning, and the men besought us to supply them with something 'right 'ot!' Poor fellows! Three-halfpennyworth of gin and water is all the aliment they can usually procure of a warming character, and when a man was offered a good basin of beef-soup for a penny, he remarked, after the first spoonful or so, 'Oh, I say, this is the sort of stuff-soul and body together. I shall grow fat on this.' Several others said, 'Oh, ma'am, we all do want something 'ot so bad; do please have your box quite full of puddings to-morrow.'

A gentleman came and begged leave to taste all our soups. He took some of each, one after another, praising them much, and expressing surprise at their cheapness.

Two wool-ships are expected in daily. This will make much work. One of the men in the Dock remarked joyfully to the Sister yesterday, 'There's a thousand pounds' worth of wool expected this week. You'll have to put a pipe on to the main tank at your soup place, for you'll never be able to satisfy us all.'

A munificent donation of 51. 5s. came towards the purchase of a soup-truck. The very postman seemed to enjoy bringing us a letter with money inside! On the 14th we received 25. from 'Geraldine M. G.' towards the expenses of the Mission.

February 18.-'The Committee of the Prison Charities met to-day,' writes one of our friends, and my father did his best to plead your cause. He could not persuade them to give anything towards the Building Fund, but they promised a donation of 20/ to the present Home, and when the new building is completed my father hopes to get it increased.'

Another lady writes: 'I am editor of an amateur magazine, and have written an appeal for the work of your Society, which I shall insert in my next number, if you have no objection, hoping it may be productive of great good. It is the one way in which I can help you.' Another letter: 'I thank you most heartily for the bound copy of Our Work. I am going to present it to the capital English library at the hotel at Grissons. I am also going to send another copy to the Belvedere, the most fashionable hotel here, as well as one to the Hôtel d'Angleterre, for the manager there is a very polite, obliging Schweitzer, and will, I am quite certain, gladly allow it to lie on the salon table.

'Please send me half-a-dozen copies of. The Banner, some leaflets giving information about the C.E.A., and at least a dozen 10S. cards, and three dozen ruled for 30s. I think I quite see my way to distributing successfully that number. I am shortly going to spend a week or two in the Engardine, at a hotel where there are about 200 English. There I hope to distribute a few cards, and to present another bound copy of Our Work to the hotel library.

'P.S.-I slip this in at the last moment at the Post-Office, Davas, to say that I intend bringing you next April (D.V.) a nice quantity of rare Alpine plants, such as gentian, anemones, &c.; also some rare Swiss fernroots for your Working-Men's Restaurants, Orphanage, &c.'

'Will you accept 57. for your Convalescent Home at Broadstairs, with my best wishes for its completion, and for a blessing on all your good works?'

Again I am glad my donation to your Home has given you pleasure. I have myself received so much benefit from being able to get away from London to healthresorts, that I certainly ought to help to obtain a somewhat similar boon for poor children growing up in our crowded London courts.'

'Please accept this postal order for 10s. towards the temporary Convalescent Home for children.'

'I have been much interested in reading the account of the Seaside Home in Our Work, and enclose a trifle towards the building fund or towards any of the expenses of the Home.'

'I write to say I wish to become a member of the C.E.A., and enclose a cheque for 51. 5s.-5% of which will be an annual subscription to the "Orphanage for destitute girls," and the 5s. will be my annual subscription as a member. I could assist the work in the following ways: (1) By collecting for the Convalescent Home. (2) Sending old clothes to the Orphanage. (3) By contributing fancy work, paintings, and illuminated work, to be sold for the benefit of the fund. (4) By sending periodicals for the working-men who attend the restaurants. (5) By making clothes for the children at the Convalescent Home.'

'I have much pleasure in sending you the small sum of 5s. for the little orphans, which I leave to you to spend in what way you think best for them. I am so fond of children, and am always so anxious that they should be well brought up-believing that in after life they will then help many to live aright that I particularly wish it to be spent upon the little people.'

'I see it is stated in one of your papers that, for an annual donation of 17. 15.,' a child can be sent to the Convalescent Home. I will gladly send this sum if you know of any child requiring this benefit of change.'

We know of plenty, and this is a very kind and efficient way of helping us.

February 20.-For the first time for many weeks the dinner-tables at Paternoster Row were bright with flowers, sent by a kind country friend, with the special request that they should be used at this Restaurant, it being a branch of the work in which she feels a peculiar interest. Very gay the tables look, with snowdrops, primroses nestling in their leaves, long green catkins, and fragrant fresh moss.

Another cheese (Cheddar) has just come. 'Please accept my best and sincere thanks for the valuable help you have rendered to the cause of the poor canal children by means of the article entitled "Bargees in the Paddington Basin," which appeared in the January and February numbers of your excellent publication-The Banner of Faith. Your words are calculated to do much good for our poor neglected children, and from my heart I wish you God-speed for your endeavour to lend a helping hand in rescuing our children from their present degraded state.'

A parcel containing knitted clothes, some small jackets, a cot and mattrass, were received. Many persons are sending for collecting cards for the Convalescent Home. One lady, travelling in Italy, has asked for six; two have been returned filled up by a lady's maid and her sister who is a schoolmistress; the latter collected the money among her village school-children. The lady remarks: 'I think it is very nice to interest people of this class in the work of the Church Extension Society, for though it is not much they can afford, still every little helps, and if everyone did what they could, it would be astonishing how soon the Convalescent Home would be built.'

February 22.-At the Docks a useful parcel arrived. It contained large printed hymns, mission tracts, texts, magazines, tales, prayers for sailors, &c. A novel sort of present was also brought us by one of our working friends-the man who makes the tins which hold our now famous puddings.