workers connected with the breakfast given on Sunday morning was a returned convict who himself had been benefited by the Mission at Collier's Rents.

A second article in The Nonconformist and Independent thus recorded a subsequent gathering.

HOMELESS GUESTS AT BREAKFAST.

Profit

The experiment made three weeks ago by the London Congregational Union, with the object of gathering in the extremely poor, was repeated on Sunday morning. ing by the experience gained on the former occasion, an earlier start was made, and by three o'clock in the morning small bands of Christian workers were engaged in visiting the open-air sleeping places which form the "homes" of a large number of the poor of London. Thousands of the population of this great city are nightly to be found sleeping in the open air, with little or no prospect of breaking their fast when the morning dawns. As a general rule work is more plentiful towards the close of the week than at the beginning, and those who can get work are better able to procure the shelter of a lodging-house and to provide food. Those who are crowded out in the search for work have to fare as best they can, and are glad to avail themselves of the recesses of the bridges, or the seats on the Embankment. Taking the distance from London Bridge to Waterloo Bridge, several hundreds might have been seen in the early hours of Sunday morning last, thus enjoying

"Nature's sweet restorer-balmy sleep."

Of course, the policemen on the beat might have compelled these weary wanderers to move on," but the promptings of their better natures caused them to turn their eyes another way when drooping heads unmistakably

revealed the fact that many were guilty of the crime of sleeping on a bed canopied only by the dome of heaven. One little incident revealed a tender thoughtfulness on the part of a policeman on Sunday morning. He was vainly endeavouring to get a noisy, drunken fellow to move away from the entrance to a public building, but being unsuccessful in the use of ordinary methods, he tried another way. "Come and have a cup of coffee, then, and see if that'll do you any good," and, instead of "running in " the poor drunkard, he administered an antidote to the effects of the drink, in the form of a cup of coffee, purchased at his own cost at the nearest coffee-stall.

It was no small surprise to the sleepers to receive a cordial invitation to breakfast at five o'clock- -a breakfast, too, of a very substantial character, provided in the Collier's Rents Mission Hall. At that early hour about a hundred and sixty eager faces might have been seen assembled in the hall, each one expressive of unexpected pleasure in being present. And such a breakfast! Good English beef, good wheaten bread, good Dorset butter, and these together forming sandwiches very unlike the wafers sold at high-class restaurants and high-priced buffets; and, to make the consumption easier, plenty of good coffee was provided, to which the guests did ample justice. "Cui bono?" cries some misanthropic soul. Well, it is something to give even a temporary pleasure to a hundred and sixty fellow-creatures even though there may be little prospect of the pleasure being very soon repeated. But a good meal to a hungry man is no unfitting preparation for a willing attention to the words of the Master concerning that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. That all were fully satisfied with the abundance of the provision was unmistakable, and the marked attention to the earnest words that were spoken, and the sweet words that were sung, afforded good ground

It was

for hoping that seed had been sown which will bear fruit to the glory of God. The pearl of parables was briefly put before those assembled, and as the details of the picture were presented, it was painfully evident that the likeness. was recognised as a personal one by many who were present. What is the meaning of that tremulous voice and that agitated face? "I should like to have a word or two with you, sir." "Well, what is it? let me hear." The hand trembles, the whole nature seems absorbed with intense feeling, and a few words reveal an oft-told tale. "I have gone wrong—and—and—I want to get right." another story of the prodigal son, and the prodigal was afraid to go to his father, fearful that the father would be "rather hard." Ah! the shame and the sorrow that follow in the way of transgression. Let no harsh judgment rest upon the returning prodigal. He had repented before, had joined the Blue Ribbon Army, had kept his pledge in the midst of strong temptation, but with exceptional influences of an adverse character all around him, he at length yielded, and entered upon a downward course. "And when he had spent all, he began to be in want," and the hunger of that Sunday morning was just God's channel of blessing.

On one of the bridges a respectable girl was sitting. Her troubled look indicated her need of help of some kind. It was with considerable difficulty, owing to her extreme reticence, that the brief details could be elicited. But five o'clock in the morning is somewhat early for young girls to be about. Possibly a word or two may lead to an explanation of what seems somewhat strange. The information required is slowly elicited. Alone in London, seeking employment, and the money saved rapidly passing away, perhaps enough to last a week longer, and then-ah! this is the trouble. What is to be done when the little money saved is gone, and no honest employment can be obtained?

Gentle hearts must deal with this case, and gentle hearts are not far to seek. The needed help is soon forthcoming, the open door which seemed to reveal unspeakable danger is closed, and a door of hope is opened in its stead.

That young Scotchman is evidently unaccustomed to the society in which he is found. To better his position he has left his employment in Glasgow, and is seeking work in London. Scotch engineers are surely at a premium, but while the right kind of work is being sought, want has stolen a march, and the search is rendered more difficult. A little help rendered now may prove the means of preventing much sorrow of heart, and may pave the way for the best success. Inquiry must, however, be made, for it will not do to give aid, except in extreme cases, without ascertaining whether the cases are genuine. That anxious face is surely an honest one; willing to work, but unable to undertake work that has been promised, because hunger has obliged him to part with his tools. Well, a shoemaker does not require a large stock of tools, and a few shillings sufficed to give the man a fresh start, and to elicit benedictions accompanied with tears of grateful joy. It was a kind thoughtfulness which prompted the provision of a basket of beautiful cut flowers, and it would have changed the heart of any misanthrope to have seen the brightening of the faces at the intimation that these flowers were to be distributed to the guests before leaving. The language of flowers was well understood by everyone, and the pleasurable pride with. which the flowers were button-holed was very significant. As the hosts were returning to their homes, not a few of the guests were seen looking at their flowers with especial fondness, and the cheery look of recognition which was bestowed upon the givers was ample return for the morning's work.

Two articles in The Christian World headed, "When Thou Makest a Feast," were the means of more fully directing attention to the very large number of persons who were without shelter, and whose cases were met by the agencies of the London Congregational Union. The two articles are reproduced here, and will help to show the progress of this special department of mission work.

"WHEN THOU MAKEST A FEAST.”

Four o'clock in the morning! It is the dawn of God's own Sabbath as we find ourselves on the way to the bedside of some of the "great unknown" whom we have been asked to visit. Although we have been on similar errands before, there are features about our present visit which give not a little additional interest. We have already travelled several miles; the chill of an October morning reminds us that out-of-door lodgings are less bearable now than they were in the middle of summer, and we are half inclined to believe that we have started on a somewhat frui:less errand. Still, on pleasurable thoughts intent," we push forward in discharge of our mission. Just now that mission is identified with the operations of the London Congregational Union, which, by special agencies, is doing a glorious work in ameliorating the condition of "Outcast London." It was supposed by many friends that the out-door sleepers would be few and far between, when the cold winds, and grey mists, and thick fogs of autumn made their appearance, and we must confess to having shared that view ourselves. Our opinion, however, is soon shaken before the sad realities which come in our way. We stand for a moment at a bed-side on London Bridge. Huddled together in several niches are groups of weary pilgrims, who