that the Children's Aid Society
has been the instrument of my elevation.

"To be taken from the gutters of New York city and placed in a college
is almost a miracle.

"I am not an exception either. Wm. F----, who was taken West during the
war, in a letter received from W---- College, dated Oct. 7, writes thus:
'I have heard that you were studying for the ministry, so am I. I have a
long time yet before I enter the field, but I am young and at the right
age to begin.' My prayer is that the Society may be amplified to greater
usefulness.
Yours very truly,
"JOHN G. B."

ONCE A NEW YORK PAUPER, NOW A WESTERN FARMER

C----, Mich., Oct. 26, 1871.

"MR. J. MACY:

_"Dear Sir_--I received your very kind and welcome letter a few days
since, and I assure you that I felt very much rejoiced to know that you
felt that same interest in hearing and knowing how your Western boys and
girls get along, as you have expressed in former times.

"In your letter you spoke of the time you accompanied our company of
boys to the West as not seeming so long to you as it really was. For my
own part, if I could not look to the very many pleasant scenes that it
has been my privilege to enjoy while I have been in the West, I do not
think it would seem so long to me since we all marched two and two for
the boat up the Hudson River on our route for Michigan. There were some
among us who shed a few tears as we were leaving the city, as we all
expected, for the last time. But as we sped on and saw new sights, we
very willingly forgot the city with all its dusty atmosphere and
temptations and wickedness, for the country all around us was clothed in
its richest foliage; the birds were singing their sweetest songs, and
all nature seemed praising our Heavenly Father in high notes of joy.

"In the midst of this enchantment we were introduced to the farmers in
the vicinity of A----, and then and there we many of us separated to go
home with those kind friends, and mould the character of our future
life.

"For my own part, I was more than fortunate, for I secured a home with
_good_ man and every comfort of life I enjoyed. I had the benefit of
good schools until I was nearly of age, and when I became of age a
substantial present of eighty acres of good farming land, worth fifty
dollars per ac