supported
the family, but now her time was taken up with attending to the sick
children. I provided some nourishment, and the next time I called, the
mother was lying ill with typhoid fever. A poor woman was taking care of
them, risking her own life and that of her own children, and another
poor neighbor had taken home the third child to preserve it from
infection. They had but little covering, and I procured what was needed
from the Home of the Friendless, and a dear friend gave me a bundle of
clothing for them. They have since recovered, and having a friend who
owned a tenement-house, I spoke to her about them, and they are now
removed there, and are quite comfortable. Our kind ladies who assist us
at the sewing-school having sent us some turkeys for distribution at
Christmas I was able to furnish them with one; and better still, the
husband has obtained employment. They say they never will forget the
time when they had nothing, and now they have _everything so comfortable_.
They seem to feel it came from God."

Yes, He is the giver of every good and perfect gift, the Father of
lights with whom there is no variableness nor the least shadow of
turning. Without this perception and unless we return to God our
grateful acknowledgments, we cannot truly enjoy His blessings from
above. If God makes us the happy recipients of His favors it is our
bounden duty to return to him our heartfelt gratitude. This was the
feeling of the Psalmist when he said:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy
name.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with
loving-kindness and tender mercies;

"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is
renewed like the eagle's."

CHAPTER XIX.

HELP AND LOVING KINDNESS.

Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.

That Mrs. Matilda Knowles, our _beau ideal_ missionary, possessed a
thankful heart, we glean from her diary. She gives a deeply interesting
account of the recognition, on her part, of the gentle and generous
loving-kindnesses of those ladies who heartily co-operated with her in
lifting the burden of sin, sorrow, and sadness from poor suffering
humanity. She writes at