1872-1874.
Letter from Rev. A. M. W. Christopher--Letter from Gulf of St.
Lawrence-Mrs. Birt's Sheltering Home, Liverpool--Letter to Mrs.
Merry--Letter from Canada--Miss Macpherson's return to England--
Letter of cheer for Dr. Barnardo--Removal to Hackney Home.
Though human praise is not sought, we cannot but feel peculiar
pleasure in giving the following testimony from a servant of the Lord
so much revered as the Rev, A. M. W. Christopher of Oxford:--
"Of all the works of Christian benevolence which the great love of
Christ constrains His servants to carry on, with which I have become
personally acquainted, not one, has impressed me more deeply, by its
great usefulness, than the work of God carried on by Miss Macpherson
and her fellow-labourers. She has in three years transplanted more
than twelve hundred boys and girls from almost hopeless circumstances
of misery and temptation in Great Britain, to healthy, happy,
industrious homes in Canada. And this has not been all; daily efforts
have been made in faith and love during the period of training, and
on the voyage, and in the Distributing Homes in Canada, to win these
young hearts for Christ by means of the Gospel. There can be no doubt
that God has blessed these labours of love to bring many to Himself
in the Lord Jesus.
"When I was in Canada last September, I made three special journeys
expressly to visit Miss Macpherson's three 'Distributing Homes' at
Galt, Belleville, and Knowlton, respectively in the west, centre, and
east of the Dominion.
"On September 10, 1872, I left Toronto at 5.30 A.M., and travelled
113 miles to the east along the Grand Trunk Railway to Belleville,
which is 220 miles west of Montreal. I took the Lady Superintendent,
Miss Bilbrough, by surprise. Her sister was with her, having lately
brought over a hundred boys. These two young but experienced
Christians are evidently full of faith and energy and delight in
their work and of lore to the children. About a thousand boys and
girls brought out, or sent out by Miss Macpherson, had passed through
the Home in three years. She has herself placed out 800 boys and
girls, 600 of whom are in homes around Belleville. She meets with the
kindest reception from the farmers with whom she has placed these
children. _She could place out a thousand more if they were at once
sent out_, the demand is so great. All the orphan children under
nine years of age are adopted by farmers who have no children, to be
treated exactly as if they were their own. Miss Bilbrough, and also
the Lady Superintendents at Galt and Knowlton, never place a child in
a home unless the farmer brings a testimonial from his minister.
"The burning of the Home very much touched the people of Canada, who
had learned to appreciate the efforts for good connected with it; and,
unasked for, dollars from kind Canadians poured in. Miss Bilbrough had
daily to write thanks to many. More than 3000 dollars (600 pounds)
were soon sent in, and instead of renting a house, they were able to
buy the first-rate one they now occupy, and which was given to Miss
Macpherson, with so much kind feeling, by the Canadians.
"I was equally interested in the work of Miss Reavell in the Home at
Galt, to the west of Toronto. This had only been established a few
months before I visited it. Here also I was greatly impressed by the
patient, painstaking Christian lore of those who had charge of the
children. The children looked healthy, and happy, and ready for work.
"The last Home I visited was at Knowlton, an eastern township of the
Quebec Province, south of the St. Lawrence. I heard that Miss Barber,
the Lady Superintendent, was nursing some of the children who had the
smallpox. I went to see her. 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 care. I spoke with the
uninfected children before I saw her. I was interested to see how
accustomed they had been whilst in this Home to be treated with love.
Soon three little ones climbed upon my knees, whilst I talked of
Jesus to them and the elder ones. Miss Barber is a lady of good
position, the half-sister of the excellent Judge of that district,
lately Minister of Agriculture in the Dominion Government. In early
life she had very bad health, but has been raised up frond great
weakness to work most diligently for Christ among the children who
pass through her Home. Her brother, the Judge, and his wife, who live
at Knowlton, zealously do all they can to help the good work.
"Many in England know better than I do the great work for God, carried
on in connection with Miss Macpherson's 'Home of Industry,' Commercial
Street, Spitalfields, and the similar Homes at Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Dublin, and Liverpool. Others may visit these, and have their hearts
stirred up to help forward the work by what they see in those Homes;
but Canada is a great way off, and, as an independent witness, I
desire to bear the strongest testimony to the Christian usefulness of
the work, and to the faithful, the wise and careful manner in which it
is carried on. A far greater number of children might be thus
transplanted with the best results, under God's blessing, if
sufficient means were supplied to Miss Macpherson. May I not hope that
the great love of Christ will constrain those who read this paper to
send help promptly, so that this work may be extended, and that many
more children may be rescued. Remember, dear reader, the love of your
Saviour for little children. _'Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you,
which, was also in Christ Jesus'_ (Phil ii. 4, 5). 10 pounds will fit
out, and pay the passage of a child. How can 10 pounds be better
spent? Try, dear reader, and raise 10 pounds among your friends, if
you cannot give it yourself. Or do what you can, however little that
may seem to you to be. The matter is urgent, the season is passing
away. Pray send help at once, and strive to interest your friends in
the work. How many more might be rescued! What a contrast there is
between the photographs of the miserable, hopeless children, taken
when they are received at the Homes in this country, and the
photographs of the same children after they have been a few months in
Canada; I have many such contrasts with me. They would move you to
help this work of love. But, the love of Christ must be the great
motive; yet we should not forget that the Holy Spirit taught St. Paul
to write, _'He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and
he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man
according as he purposeth in his heart so let him give: not grudgingly
or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver'_ (2 Cor. ix. 6, 7)."
In May of this year, Miss Macpherson took out another party of young
emigrants, and writes as follows:--
_"On board 'Circassian,' Gulf of St. Lawrence, May 5th, 1873._
"MY DEAR FELLOW-WORKERS,--Hitherto our blessed experience has been
that 'The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, and the
Lord shall cover him all day long;' 'The eternal God is thy refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.' Our song is one of
unmingled praise, and our little band is strengthened and invigorated
by the voyage,--no storm permitted to alarm us by day or night We are
now entering the mighty Gulf, and passing through fields of ice; but
'He who hath compassed the waters with bounds, and divided the sea
with His power,' maketh a right way for us and our little ones."
"Morning and evening, my dear fellow-workers have been enabled to
continue sowing precious seed in these young hearts, so soon to bid
us farewell. Our steerage has been the rendezvous, when weather
permitted, of those who love praise and prayer. In quietness and rest
we have sought to renew our strength by waiting upon the Lord;
holding up your hands by prayer, dear fellow-labourers, grasping the
precious fulness of the promises, for you as well as for ourselves,
that every opportunity given you upon Rag-market, in the courts and
sorrowful dens around our Home, in every small room prayer-meeting,
or-when you gather around the Word, may have been used, and
accompanied by the 'demonstration of the Spirit' and signs following."
"We have to-day realised answers to your prayers for us, whilst
cutting through miles of ice, going at the rate of two knots an hour,
but all has been peace and safety."
"We are now beyond the vast acres of frozen sea, and every hour
brings us into a warmer climate, and nearer to our desired haven.
Those interested in our little band, may rest assured it has been a
happy voyage with each one. Not _one_ case of disobedience has
caused us anxiety. Early to sleep and early on deck has given good
appetites, as all their brown and rosy cheeks do testify. At this
point of our journey we recall the experience of May 1870, entering a
way unpassed heretofore. Now can we praise with a full heart, and
testify that His own 'I wills,' in Isa. xlii. 16, have been realised
by us as a little band.
"We are now about to land with our 1520th child, our twelfth voyage,
without a storm, thousands of welcomes from warm hearts awaiting us.
Open doors in scores of towns around each of our three missionary
centres, ready to receive the evangelists who travel with us. We ask
continued prayers that they may be young Stephens, filled with faith
and power, and that we maybe guided in the right distribution of the
tracts and books we carry with us.
"And oh, dear pleaders, remember the many lonely, little hearts we
are finding homes for; it is very sorrowful work unbinding, as it
were, the little twinings their sweet, obedient ways have already
bound around us. Many were writing letters this morning ready to post
when landing, but very many had not a love-link to earth. One little
fellow said, 'I ain't got nobody to write to but you.' The one most
lonely as to earth's relationships will soon become a solitary one
set in a family; and again, if permitted, we shall return and gather
in another family from the sad, sad, million-peopled city.--Yours, in
the bonds of the Gospel,
"Annie Macpherson.
"P. S.--May 7. We have landed under the brightest sunshine, on a
warm, balmy June-like day, feeling deeply thankful for all our
heavenly Father's mercies. A deputation of Quebec Christian sisters
awaited our touching the shore. What a bond is ours in Christ Jesus!"
Allusion has been made to the Home opened by Mrs. Birt at Liverpool;
and the following letter will show the heart-rending nature of the
scenes occurring there as in London:--
"August 7.
"Dear Friends,--On the 12th of May last we opened the above Home,
and there were present on the occasion more ladies and gentlemen
whose hearty sympathy seemed with us, than the large room could
comfortably hold. One little destitute fellow was presented as the
first to enter for protection and kindly care. Since then
_ninety_ poor tiny creatures have been admitted, and these alike
share in the love, attention, and comfort found within the walls of
this happy Home.
"Through the great kindness of the friend who placed the premises at
our disposal, we have obtained an additional room, which enables us
to rescue some little girls, many of whom are orphans, who dragged
out a miserable existence by begging for food, and sleeping wherever
they could find shelter; others, worse off, were, through their
relationship, running every risk of being reared to a life of infamy
and ruin. Others are the children of widowed mothers, who say they
are willing to work, but finding none of a continuous character, have
rapidly sunk to a condition of wretchedness from which it seems
impossible they can rise.
"Seventy have rapidly progressed, and are so obedient and anxious to
please, that so far as training in this country is concerned, they
are in a fit state of preparedness for emigration to Canada; and from
the statements received from our sister, Miss Macpherson, of the
increased and increasing demand from Canadian families for useful
boys and girls, to assist them in their house and farm duties, we do
think that these should be taken without delay to the comfortable
homes waiting to receive them,--homes in which they will be trained
to habits of industry, usefulness, and saving.
"The boys' clothes are near completion, and the girls' outfits are
being made, and greatly helped on by the kind-hearted exertions of
Christian ladies in Liverpool and Birkenhead, who have brought to the
Sheltering Home their own sewing-machines, and plied them at full
speed on our behalf at the weekly sewing-meetings held on Wednesdays,
from eleven till five P.M. At these gatherings, much to the
gratification of the ladies, the little ones whose garments they were
sewing, have sung for their pleasure children's sweet hymns of praise
to Him by whose love they were being cared for.
"My heart, and the hearts of my few but loving helpers who live with
me in the Home, have been nearly broken this afternoon by witnessing
a sight so terrible, that we hope and pray we may never see the like
again. A most depraved, drunken, and wicked father, set on by two
women more wicked (because more cunning) than himself, dragged out of
our Home by main force two dear little girls he had himself, when
more sober, besought us many times to take in. They knelt, they
prayed, they begged as for dear life to be left in the Home; when,
refused by him again and again, they saw he was urged on by the women
to drag them out, they gave way to their poor little wills and
screamed, 'I won't go with you! I won't go with you! I know where you
will take us to! You never cared one bit for us, but now, that we are
clean and comfortable, and learning to read, you wish to take me
back. If you do, I will get something to take my life away, rather
than live with you!' And by the man's sheer force they were carried
screaming from the Home; and the last thing we heard, through their
shrieks, was the father uttering threats we cannot repeat. I ran to
my little room to hide myself and weep; but I heard them screaming
still, as the poor girls made one more desperate effort at
resistance. Though now it is three hours since, I hear their
screaming yet; and, dear friends, I think I shall hear it till I die.
As a little band, we are completely petrified, bruised, and sore,
quivering in every nerve, looking up earnestly to God to know His
Will, and praying that we may have all the other dear ones left to
train for Him; for the Roman Catholic spirit is bitterness itself
against thus teaching the little ones.
"'Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.'
"Dear friends, pray for our little ones. Money is useful, personal
help is useful; the thoughtful gifts we receive from time to time are
useful; but prayer--which 'moves the hand that moves the world'--is
more useful than all beside. Pray for our children; for those we
purpose taking to new homes in a distant land, that they may never
disgrace the Home they have been sheltered in; and for those who have
been torn away from us, that they may be preserved from temptation,
and from becoming a curse. Then shall we joyfully take them forth,
and in God's good time return, and again fill up this spacious Home,
and feel it the greatest privilege of our life to labour among the
poor neglected little ones of the streets of these large cities.
Share then in the blessing wrapped up in the King's word, 'Inasmuch
as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye
have done it unto Me.'"
How great is the contrast in turning from these heart-rending
details, to the following letters from across the Atlantic:--
"BELLEVILLE, _June 7th, 1873_.
"My dear Mrs. Merry,--I wish you had been with us to-day, 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 ones.
"Knowing the joy it would be to so many of them to see dear Miss
Macpherson, we sent out postal-card invitations to those living
within 25 miles. Some few were unable to accept; but between seventy
and eighty children, with their employers, came in one by one,
looking so brown and healthy. You would hardly recognise in the tall,
slim youth, now quite a help to his master, a carpenter by trade, the
little, tender-hearted George M--, eldest of three orphan brothers.
It hardly seems three years ago since their father stood up in a
gathering of Christians, and with failing breath declared what the
Lord had done for his soul. Then you remember how quietly he passed
away, leaving his three boys entirely in Miss Macpherson's care. All
doing so well in Canada--Fred and little Johnnie still in their first
homes.
"One great pleasure of the children was to roam over the Home under
the orchard blossoms, glancing over the books of photographs and
recognising some friend or mate with whom some far different days had
been spent. Among the attractions were the tables of toys, pictures,
books, &c., sent out by English friends; and here the little ones
spent some of their hoarded cents, thinking so much of anything
really English. About twelve o'clock we gathered in the flower garden
in front, while sandwiches, buns, and milk were passed round among
the children. Your sister sat with them chatting to them of old
times, and answering many questions as to former companions and still
loved though often silent English friends. 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 future?--a Bible lesson on
the lost sheep. My eyes often filled with tears when I looked at
their bright faces, and blessed God for the open door for them in
this country. There stood Jamie D--, who, with his little brother
Hughie, formed one of the saddest photographs of childish wretchedness
even Glasgow streets could produce; so bright, so well-dressed,
though still with a little of the old look of childish care.
William C--, the little fellow of four years old, whose mother died
in India, and the father on his return sank in a London hospital,
leaving little Willie friendless, was here with a lovely bunch of
hot-house flowers ready to present to Miss Macpherson, and to receive
from her one of the beautifully illustrated scrap-books made by
little English children. Willie has been nearly three years in his
happy home, surrounded by all the influences of education and
refinement.
"Now the friends were gathering thickly, and listened while an
earnest address was given to the boys by Miss Macpherson. When she
ceased, first one and then another gentleman stood up and gave their
earnest, hearty sympathy with and approval of the work, and of the
character of the boys. And here I must tell you, in passing, we
attribute much to the loving, tender training of your Hampton Home.
It is not that Canadian farmers would put up with _anything_, or
that a bad boy is so useful that his faults are overlooked; for here
every single boy is thoroughly known, and discussed over all the
country side. Mr. Grover, from the village of Colborne, quite cheered
our hearts with the good accounts of the twenty in his neighbourhood,
most of whom have joined his classes, and by their steady industrious
conduct are recommending themselves.
"He said, 'I do not speak without personal experience. W. O--- has
been two years in my employ, and a more truthful, upright, honest
boy, I would not wish to have; he has left now to learn further about
farming, and I immediately applied for another one from Marchmont,
and believe W. S--- will prove as successful and honest a servant.'
Then the Rev. William Bell stood up and bore testimony to your
favourite Tommy--one of the rescues from Mr. Holland's Shelter, in
1869. 'I have boarded now over a year in the good farmer's home,
where Tommy S---lives. He is as good, and truthful, and honest a boy
as I would wish to have about a house; and his master so appreciates
his services that he gives him fifty dollars for his first year.
These boys are in every way a blessing, and advantage to our
country.' Mr. V., who has been already alluded to, said, 'I sought
guidance and direction from the Lord before I came to the Home, now
nearly three years ago, and then I only intended to take one boy; I
have never regretted I took two. Except one or two days, they have
never missed school; indeed I do not believe any one could hire them
to stay away. I know that their labour morning and evening repays me
for any expense I am at, and they can be at school all the time.'
Miss Macpherson then told these two boys, F--- and T---, of her
last visit to their grandmother in the tidy attic in Bethnal Green,
and how pleased she was to receive the five dollars they had sent
her. Mr. Ward, a farmer from Sidney, had brought his little boy,
Tommy S---; and Johnnie, the brother, had come from a home across
the Bay of Quinte. So there was a touching meeting, and many
experiences for the two brothers to relate, during one month's
absence. Mr. Ward told how he intended to educate his boy, and
trusted he might yet fill some prominent position, for which by
natural gifts he seemed well qualified. Speaking of the religious
character of the work, he said, 'I asked him who had taught him so
much of Jesus? He told me he did not even know who He was till he was
taken into the Refuge; but now he knows about Him, and of His love
for little children.' I know you will like to hear particulars of H.
W---, whose sad history excited so much sympathy, and for whom the
noble-man's little son gave up his pet pony that he might have the
money to emigrate him. Well, you could not tell the round-faced,
happy boy, to be the same. He brought four dollars he had earned
towards his passage money; is in a good home, and doing well. Also of
George and Mary F---, who met, after ten months' separation, so
changed that they hardly recognised each other. How it would cheer
their kind rescuer's heart (Mr. George Holland) could he see them
now! but I knew nothing, not even such joy as this, could tempt him
away from his special work; so I sent the children, to their great
delight, to the town to get their likenesses taken to send him.
"Altogether the day was a most happy one. But no onlooker could
fully understand the deep, rich joy of looking into those happy
faces. Only those who had watched over and prayed with them from the
beginning could at all enter into this peculiar feeling; and many
earnest prayers ascended that these loving, tender hearts might be
won for the Saviour, and from among them many ambassadors for Jesus
might yet go forth. And for you too, dear friend, that you may be
strengthened and helped; ever remembering the promise, 'Cast thy
bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days'
(Eccles. xi. i).--Yours, in sweet work for the Lord,
"Ellen A. Bilbrough."
"My very dear Sister,--Could you but see me this morning, started on
my peregrinations in these snowy regions, you would be amazed. The
poor worn head perfectly well, after a whole week in the quiet,
restful Home at Knowlton, where children are being trained,
sewing-meetings and Bible-readings held, farmers conversed with, and
my privilege has been to hold up the hands of my two companions, who
went forth to address Sunday-schools or to preach the gospel.
"Fancy me starting yesterday morning, fixed up in my delightfully
warm fur cloak, and many other ingenious devices, to defy the cold,
wintry blast, a drive of eighteen miles. During the journey we
stopped twice. The first time we met with one of our once poor,
pale-faced rescues, Katie D---. What a change, now happy and useful,
compared to the time when we sheltered her from the dreaded return of
her drunken father from prison!
"As the night closed in, the cold caused us to hasten to our
journey's end as quickly as the strength of our Home horse would
admit of. But cheery was it to be told by our friend, as we passed
one farmhouse after another, 'We have a boy here and a girl there
doing well.' Sometimes it would be, 'We have had to move a boy; his
temper did not suit; but since he has been back to the Home, and
placed out again with a firmer master, he is doing much better.' A
very hearty Canadian welcome awaited us. Ushered into a warm room,
our wraps taken off, soon we were seated, enjoying a 'high' tea. It
snowed all night, and drifted in at every crevice of our bedroom
window.
"Snow fell all day, and to my idea it seemed improbable for many to
gather for a meeting. The village street was enlivened all day by the
constant passing of the sleighs, with merry jingle of bells. It was
indeed a new scene to witness the gathering of a meeting to hear of
the orphan and destitute children, whose cause we had come to plead,
and contradict a report which had gone forth in their district, that
it was a mass of jail-birds we had brought from England.
"As we arrived, a farmer kindly offered to broom the snow from our
feet--a process all seemed prepared to do for each other. Then, in a
good-sized hall, about fifty of all ages gathered around an immense
stove--ministers, doctors, and farmers, with their belongings. Chairs
in front of the stove were set for the minister and myself.
"After singing 'Rock of Ages,' etc., and prayer, it was so like a
family, that it became easy just to tell real story after story as to
how we find the children, where the means come from, and what is
required of those who receive them.
"The minister then present was one who, having heard of the work at
the commencement; had gone to the Home and received little Bessie,
aged ten. She now came up and gave me a hearty kiss, and then, so
childlike, showed me her new winter garments. Now who was Bessie? The
child of a surgeon who had rained his family by intemperance. The
mother, a teacher in a ladies' school in Germany, earning her own
bread, after a long and heavy struggle. Bessie is loved and is being
educated in everything to make her a useful woman.
"Next morning we started for visits to several children. Found the
first child gone to school. We saw her looking well as we passed the
school-house, and called her out. All we saw that day filled our
hearts with deepest thankfulness. The meeting in the evening was held
in the Congregational Church, well warmed and lighted, and a most
intelligent-looking gathering. Ere long I espied one of the orphan
lads, and called him to me, that he might speak for himself, knowing
that his own words would endorse the work more forcibly than anything
I could say. He was a bright, intellectual looking youth of fourteen,
who in a most manly way answered me a few questions. In this way we
are securing the prayers of God's dear children, and, we trust,
opening many a heart and home for those who may yet come forth from
the dens of sin and iniquity of our great cities.
"Our Canadian horse seemed to enjoy the snow as much as we did, even
though the depth had tripled since our leaving home. How much on this
journey we have learnt of the continued loving-kindness of our
covenant-keeping God, making our fears fly, and giving protection
from the stormy blasts, in forms so comparatively new to us. Every
person is so kind to us that we are so glad we have been led to yield
to this service as a child. Many a door, we trust, will soon be wide
open for earnest evangelists to come and be fresh voices, cheering
our brethren who are labouring on in these small towns away from the
front.
"Pray on for us, as a band, that we take not one step _before_
the Lord, but that we hold not back on account of our weakness or the
fear of man. Ask for us that we may each one live so close to the
Lord, that we may be fitted to deal personally with those we meet
with.
"We are frequently holding up your hands and praying that daily the
Lord will send the means with the children, and that you all be
sustained in health. Grace and peace be with you all--Yours, in sweet
fellowship, A. MP.
"Eastern Townships, Prov. of Quebec, November 18, 1873."
In March, 1874, Miss Macpherson returned from Canada filled with
praise for the encouragement met with. She had been enabled to plead
the cause of her children before many in positions of influence,
judges, merchants, lawyers, and doctors. A choice of two hundred
homes, amidst the love and affluence of that country, were now
awaiting her little rescued ones. Her own joy was increased by
receiving the letter of which she thus writes:--
"The enclosed letter will cheer our brother Dr. Barnardo, by showing
what a home God has provided for a dear little boy he was permitted
to rescue and train. Surely the departed mother, from whom our
brother received the child, would feel that the Lord is indeed the
Father of the fatherless.
'DEAR MISS,--I embrace this early opportunity of letting you know
how well pleased we all are with, and how much we like, little Henry
Tuppen. He is such a willing, obedient, and loving fellow, he has won
all our hearts, and we feel very much attached to him already. Many,
very many thanks to you and your fellow-labourers for the invaluable,
yes, priceless, lessons he has received under your kind care. Surely
this is much more than "the cup of cold water," and "you shall in no
wise lose your reward." Oh, may we discharge our duty as you have
towards this dear little orphan! My visit to you and your home that
morning was a great blessing to me; never shall I forget it. To hear
that dear little fellow sing "Bright Jewels," and look around over
the group of little ones, far from native home, and father and
mother, brother and sister, and think, "These are the jewels,
precious jewels," it seemed to bring heaven near. And truly the
Saviour was present. I never think of it but the tear starts, and a
silent prayer is offered that the Lord will give them all good
Christian homes, and that they may be all 'bright jewels,' and great
shall be your reward. Their heavenly Father sees it all.
'But I am forgetting my main object in writing to you, which is to
ask you if the little girl, the elder of the two whom we saw, is yet
provided with a home. If not, we have room for her, and should be
glad to have her. She would be such good company for my sister, who
is at home with mother. She would be treated in every way as a
daughter and a sister. Father is very sorry he did not bring her that
morning. It seems he thought of it then, but wished to talk it over
with the rest of the family.'"
Miss Macpherson adds:--
"Who is the little girl asked for to become a daughter and sister?
None other than the little Eliza who was found deserted seven years
ago, when only a few weeks old, and who has been most carefully
trained since then by our beloved sister-labourer, Miss Mittendorf,
whose toil among infant wanderers deserves the deepest gratitude of
the children of God."
The Homes at Hampton, endeared as they were by recollections of many
blessings, were this year vacated. The distance from Spitalfields had
always been a great strain on the strength of wearied workers, and
both time and fatigue were spared by removal to Hackney.
The opening of this Home is thus mentioned:--
_November 5_, 1874.
"On Saturday, the New Home situated in London-fields was opened with
prayer and thanksgiving. It consists of two large old-fashioned
houses thrown into one, and the situation is, for the neighbourhood,
remarkably open and airy. Many friends assembled, Mr. Dobbin
presided, and suggested, at the opening of the meeting, an analogy
between the Home of Industry, with its various stations, and the pool
of Bethesda 'having five porches.' Much prayer, and praise followed,
and worshipful hearts told themselves out in love and adoration. Such
hymns as 'Call them in,' 'Till He come,' and 'More to Follow,' aptly
expressed the aspirations and hopes of the earnest workers. Mr.
Merry, Mr. Maude, and others spoke, and then Mrs. Birt, only two days
since returned from Nova Scotia, gave accounts of the success of the
recent voyage, when eighty-three rescued children found happy homes
on the other side of the water, and most touching particulars of the
death of little Dickie, who went actually into the earthly harbour,
and entered the heavenly haven of rest at the same time. In the
bustle of arrival, 'he was not, for God took him.'"