during all that time, in the delivery of GoD's MESSAGE, we may say by thousands of messengers, to the heart of Low London, for no lodger has passed through their precincts or slept upon their premises, who has not heard, what, perhaps, she never heard before, some witness for God's Book and God's Day, which might lead her to look into the one and assist her to keep the other. A very large proportion of the inmates of Parker-street, we may add two-thirds, have come forth again provided with situations in middle-class families, others, as servants of all-work.

TRAINING HOMES. -SERVANTS OF ALL-WORK.

The question, How to obtain good servants? presses itself more and more upon us every day, and the right answer to itTrain them'-has made us think of late whether, if a little added capital were placed in our hands on the Dormitory account, we should not do well to make both these houses more of training institutions for young servants-of-all-work than they even are at present.

An excellent influence has always been exerted by both of our very valuable Matrons on all the girls who come within their reach, by the family prayer, by the work-class, by the Sunday teaching and leading to public worship, accompanied by the comfort of a Sunday dinner, which has always formed part of our plan; but we have often wished that a promising girl could afford to stay long enough to be really taught to scour, to cook, and to do plain needlework far better than she is at present able to do it. The girl for whom any lady is responsible to the amount of 7s. a week, for her board and lodging, is thus trained and employed, and the very orderly and clean appearance of our two houses at all hours bears witness to this training already.

Five pounds might board, lodge, and clothe a destitute girl for three months, and she could be taught to prepare her own outfit by the time a place was provided.

Respectable service would be far better for her than the poor food and bad association which will corrupt her in the little trade which at present, perhaps, her parents find brings earlier profit from her youthful exertions. And no one will doubt that the stock of active, willing, plain-dressing, old-fashioned servants

needs to be renewed, according to the remark of our friend G. M. E., in one of our recent numbers.

If, therefore, we receive special subscriptions for this department, at the rate of 57. for each girl, we shall attempt to carry out (D.V.) this design, and our Bible-women and Nurses can nominate only too many orphans and otherwise suitable girls to be trained, of from 14 to 16 years of age. One of the bedrooms could be specially devoted to this class, and for 57. the girl could be boarded, lodged for three months, and her clothes prepared for service; something towards which her wages will afterwards enable her to repay.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of Dudley-street Home for the Year ending October 16th, 1872.

REPORT OF THE MATRON OF DUDLEY-STREET.

"To-day it is seven years since I entered on my duties at Dudley-street Home. I sincerely trust my labour has not been in vain, but there have been many trials and many disappointments. Yet when I look back, how many blessings and encouragements I have had! likewise so many pleasant calls from respectable girls who have left the Dudley-street Home for service.

"A. W. has been in her place for two years, is getting 147. a year, and has put 67. in the savings bank.

'Emily M——, who was formerly in the Dudley-street Home, called to say good-bye. She is an orphan, and is now leaving to go as school-room maid in the family of a clergyman. She was for two years and a half in

her last situation as nursemaid, and her mistress gives her an excellent

character.

Fanny B

came on her way to attend her father's funeral. She feels very grateful for what has been done for her, and said how happy she was that she was friends with her father before he died. She has been eighteen months in her situation.

"M. M writes me that she finds the country so dull, and wants to return to London. I advise her to remain at present where she is. Another girl writes me:-'I like my place in many ways, but two things I do not like: one is I have no Sunday. I think it hard to work all the week and not to be able to get to a place of worship on Sunday; but I thank God for His many mercies to me.'

"Thus opportunity is offered for counsel in correspondence, and the old house in Dudley-street, in which our whole wide mission first took rise, is still a centre of quiet usefulness as a Lodging-house and Servants' Home."

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE OF PARKERSTREET HOME, FOR THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 16, 1872.

THE WORK CLUB AT PARKER-STREET.

By the Lady who Superintends it.

In May, 1870, it was first proposed that a class of young girls and other inmates of the "Dormitory" in Parker-street should be formed, having for its chief object the Scriptural instruction and spiritual benefit of the members; while at the same time care should be taken to improve, as far as possible, their temporal condition.

For this purpose a working class was arranged, meeting once a week in the large Mission-room, and I was requested to superintend the Meetings. I received a cheque for 107. to commence the purchase of what might be required to be made into suitable garments, which young servants might purchase at the cost of the materials only, when they left the "Dormitory" and obtained situations.

The class being thus formed, an average number of about fifteen attended our weekly meetings, not entirely, though chiefly, consisting of the young girls who were for a short season domiciled in the "Home," for there are several middleaged and elderly regular inmates who esteem it a privilege to be admitted, and who, while others are constantly changing and passing away, seem to form the more stable of the community.

As the work is prepared beforehand, there is nothing to prevent the whole of the time being devoted to the chief purposes of the Meeting-instruction in Scriptural truth, interspersed with singing and prayer; and I would fain hope the services have been blessed to some souls.

But I must turn to another aspect of affairs, and one which at the time created some difficulty the workers being numerous. The supply of made articles much exceeded the demand, and we found that at about the end of six months, although we had a large stock of garments on hand ready to be turned into money, we had only 17s. 2d. to purchase more material. It was then agreed to allow the work needed by the "Nurses' Mother House" to be done at Parker-street, and this, while it occupies willing hands, effectually prevents the accumulation of made articles at the Dormitory, as well as unnecessary expenditure in material to keep them employed.

The work done for the "Mother House" is no real benefit to the funds of the "Dormitory," as the money given for it goes directly into the pockets of the workers; but it has a great indirect influence for good, in showing the young girls that we are anxious to promote their temporal as well as spiritual welfare, and will do what we can to accomplish it; while it also inculcates habits of industry, and in many instances is useful in teaching them how to make and mend garments for themselves.

Cheap calico, print, linsey, winsey, and flannel in the piece, is therefore specially acceptable as Christmas gift to the Mother House.

FROM THE MATRON'S REPORT OF PARKER-STREET

DORMITORY.

A young good looking girl, Mary C-, came to the Home in the evening in great distress of mind. On being asked where she came from, and Matron telling her the rules of the Home, she said she had left her home, a small village in Cambridgeshire, with 4s. 9d. in her pocket, hoping she should get a place of service as soon as she arrived; she found her mistake, and having no money she could get no lodging; she did not know what to do or where to go, but wished herself home again, which was a very poor one, there being a large family, and her father a cripple. Providentially a gentleman passed by, and, noticing her anxious look, spoke to her, and she told him her trouble. He gave her sixpence and the address of Parker-street Home, to which she immediately came and was taken in. In a few days a gentleman called.

“Wanting a servant for his aged mother, Mary was introduced, Matron having found her industrious, and she believed well-disposed. The gentleman on hearing her story, and finding she had never been in service, said, 'who would give her a character.'

"The blacksmith,' said she, 'who has always lived in the village, and my mother, sir.'

"Oh,' the gentleman said, 'your mother will surely speak well of you.' The blacksmith was written to, and an answer returned proving her statement true. She was then provided with one cotton dress and three aprons and sent away to the place at Hammersmith, thanking the Matron for all her kindness, promising to pay for what she was indebted as soon as she could. The lady, who is very kind, has had a servant from the Home before, age nineteen.

"Ellen G- came to the Home to see Matron, looking very happy and dressed respectably. She was first brought to the Home by an officer from prison, where she had been confined twenty-one days. On Matron making the inquiry why she was sent there, she found she had been doing the mantle work, and it becoming slack was discharged, and not being able to find employment she was almost starved; she wandered to Greenwich, and meeting a policeman she told him her trouble, saying, at the same time, she would break someone's windows, for then she should be locked up and provided for. She carried her resolution into effect.

"After her being in the Home a short time, she was placed in the kitchen, were she gave good satisfaction, and Matron recommended her to a place, where she has remained two years and a-half. Matron believes that that dark hour was the turning-point of her life to God."