members of the Children's Association have done much of this happy work.

In the month of October we thought we would have a new kind of tea-party at the Nest. The members of the Association who lived about Kingstown were each asked to subscribe a shilling, and come to the Nest on the 13th. With the shillings, cake, bread and butter, and tea were provided. The diningroom was decorated, and the tables laid out. For every six cups and saucers there was a small tea-pot, sugar-bowl, and milk-jug. Our plan was for each collector to be a tea-maker, and sit down at the table. At four o'clock the Nest children were all assembled on the gallery of the Infants' School, and then our visitors arrived. While tea was preparing in the next room, there was an examination, and some singing. This did not last very long, for the great boilers did their work very quickly, and tea was ready. In a wonderfully short time the troop of Nestlings were settled around the tea-tables, and the little girls, all impatient to begin their work, sat down to the tea-pots. But hush! there is perfect silence; all eyes are closed, all hands folded together,

and now a full chorus of children's voices is

heard:

"Be present at our table, Lord,

Be here and everywhere adored,

These mercies bless, and grant that we
May feast in Paradise with Thee."

Three times a day they sing these words, and the voice of even the youngest joins,-it is very beautiful.

I don't think there ever was such a happy tea-party as this given to, and enjoyed by the children. After it was over, we had an exhibition of a magic lantern. Many of the poor children had never seen one before, and their joy was very great.

You see we have some days of great joy, we have also times of sorrow. Not long after this tea-party, measles broke out in the Nest, and before very long forty-three children lay ill.

As they sickened one after another, they were taken up-stairs and put to bed. We engaged nurses to take care of them, and a kind doctor attended them every day: we were very anxious about them, but they all got on well, except one little boy, who was removed to

hospital with another disease, of which he died. He was a dear child of nine years of age; he had only been six weeks in the Nest, but had crept into the heart of teachers and school-fellows. He died trusting in Jesus.

During this time of sickness we felt very thankful that so many dear children could be comforted in the Nest-where would they have been without it-none to care for them? One dear child was very ill. I asked her had she any friend we could write to?

"I hav'nt got none," she said; "only Mrs. S" (one of the Committee).

"And where did she get you?" I asked. "In the Ragged School."

Poor child, where would she have been now if there were no "Birds' Nest"?

Well, this time of trial passed, and Christmas time was arriving, and the Nestlings were all looking forward to it with joy. No, not quite all. One dear little girl was lying ill in the hospital; she never expected to go back again; and we knew she must die. But I think I must just go back a little and tell you her history.

CHAPTER XI.

"Ye must not, when beneath the cloud, forget
That He-whose love is sunshine-loves you yet."

a

MARY and Bobby were the children of kind mother, but a drunken father. They used to attend a Ragged School with two little sisters. They were very wretched, naked, hungry children. We pitied them very much, and sometimes gave them a bib or a petticoat, but it never appeared the second time-the wretched father sold it for drink! He did not care what his little children suffered, and so through the long winter they came hungry and barefooted to school.

The poor mother was very unhappy, and she tried to think what she could do to comfort her little ones.

She determined to go to service, and pay some woman to mind her children; but she found her wages would only pay for two; still

she thought it better to do that than all starve together.

She took the two little girls and put them to lodge with a clean, tidy woman, and told her husband he must mind Mary and Bobby. He said he would, and the mother went to a place in the country.

There was very soon a great improvement in the appearance of the two little girls, but poor Mary and Bobby grew more and more worn and miserable.

Their case was brought before the Committee of The Birds' Nest. They agreed to receive them, and a message was sent to the lady who had applied for them.

That very day, at three o'clock, Mary and Bobby went to their wretched home from school. The woman, with whom their father had placed them, met them at the door, and told them they should not come there any more, that their father had not been heard of for two days.

With aching hearts and tearful eyes they turned from the door; they thought they would go to the woman who minded their sisters-perhaps she would have compassion on them. But