HOME INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, NO. 2, 4, AND 5. With emotions of thankfulness, the Committee of School No. 2, present their report for the year closing December, 1863. We gratefully record the numberless blessings that have crowned each day of the year, and that all immediately connected with the school have been shielded from the " arrow that flieth by day, and from the pestilence that walketh in darkness." The number of children enrolled as pupils during the year is 570, average attendance 143. And although there is much to contend with in the irregular and fluctuating attendance of this class of children; yet we find encouragement in their steady and often rapid improvement in the various branches taught, as well as their growing knowledge of Bible truth. They have committed to memory and recited 5220 verses of Scripture. We often find instances of integrity of purpose, and a desire (childlike and simple though it often is) to rise above the impure associations of the place that many of them call "home." Quite a number of our pupils are the children of those who have exchanged their Northern homes for camp-life and the battle-field. Some of them have already been written fatherless. May He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, guide their trembling footsteps over life's thorny way, and give us grace to be faithful to the trust committed to our keeping. A little girl, the child of a deceased volunteer, tried to comfort her sick mother, who was harassed with fears of want for her little family, by saying, "Mother, don't worry about us, our teacher will take care of us; she will not let us want." In another case, the brother of one of our children was very sick. His sister came to tell her teacher of it, and she promised to visit the family, but was herself prevented by sickness from so doing. The child watched until dark, and when told by her mother that she thought Miss S. would not come, she replied, "I know she will come, for my teacher never tells a lie." To those friends who have assisted us in preparing work for the school, we tender our cordial thanks, praying that their experience may ever be that, it is "more blessed to give than to receive." The number of garments made by the children during the year is 200, quilts 19. Donations made to the school by personal friends of the principal, $24, all of which has been used as intended. The sewing cotton and needles used in the school have been supplied by one of the ladies of the Committee. In conclusion, your Committee would express to the ladies of the Board their satisfaction in their excellent teacher. Faithful in season and out of season, she has been absent but two days and a half from her post during the past twelve months. Even during the disgraceful and painful scenes of riot and bloodshed in July last, she was daily in school-with a fall attendance of scholars though frequently threatened with personal violence, and the school building itself often stoned. In reviewing the past we would say with grateful hearts, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us," and with an humble dependence on the arm of Omnipotence, commence again the school duties of the new year. SCHOOL NO. IV. THE Committee of Home School No. 4 state that during the past month this school has exhibited marked improvement in numbers and deportment. We are also happy to record a distribution of one hundred and fifty garments, which were very timely in the case of many of our destitute little ones. We note also the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Broughton, and their present of a large bundle of papers-enough for each one of the children. A donation, too, was received from Mrs. Ambler; also a visit from Mrs. Starr, with a promise of books for the school. The attention of the pupils to their Scripture lessons, the many texts and hymns committed, and the saving truths thus carried to their wretched, miscalled homes, we are well assured, will not all prove as water spilled upon the ground. Instances of permanent good achieved, frequently come to the knowledge of the Committee, affording strong encouragement to continue the good work. Present average 120. SCHOOL NO. V. WE have visited this school several times during the month, and find in it much to encourage effort. The illness of the principal, owing to over-exertion, has occasioned some interruption of the usual progress. The school is favored in that she has now become able to resume her duties. Concerning the weekly meeting held in the school-rooms, we have the following statement. The mothers' meeting is still kept up, about thirty attending. A very good feeling is manifest. Some of the children seem much interested. They go home from school, and hurry back, bringing their mothers with them, and ask permission to stay themselves. A word is always spoken to them by some one present. Three ladies from 29th St. R. D. Church come every week to aid in sustaining the meeting. Among those who attend are two mothers of intemperate habits. We are particularly interested in one of them. Could you see the poor woman as she comes in with an uncertain step, which seems to say, "I have no business here," her bloated face and miserable garments, indicating that she is no stranger to the winecup, you would pity her. Last Friday one of the ladies told the story of a mother's love: of a poor woman who lost her life in trying to save her child's, and then spoke touchingly of the love of Jesus, of his love to the chief of sinners. During the recital, poor Mrs. W. leaned forward as if drinking in every word, and occasionally brushing the tears from her eyes. After the meeting she asked if I would come and see Mrs. F., the other woman mentioned above, whose eldest son was stabbed last Monday night in a drunken affray. This opened the way for a serious conversation. I said, "Did you not tell me once that you had a good mother?" "Yes, ma'am." "Didn't you think of her while that lady was speaking?" At this her tears flowed freely. She said she would not have her mother see her now for anything. She is an Irish woman and a Protestant, brought up in the Episcopal Church. She said she had seen awful times in the court where she lived, had seen four there go into eternity unprepared. One, this winter, came home so intoxicated that he was unable to get up the stoop, but fell down by the steps and was found in the morning dead. She said, Oh, it is awful,-I would like to become a decent woman." Mrs. V. W. spoke with her some minutes very seriously, and when it was proposed that she should sign the pledge, she agreed to do so. I think some that I know would sign and keep the pledge if they were supplied with work. These people have children in the school: one of our best boys has intemperate parents. Please pray for us, that we may truly work for Jesus. The present average of this school is about 130. EXTRACTS FROM VISITOR'S REPORT. APPLICATION was made by a pastor in behalf of a mother and daughter, the latter having lost her husband, and the former, eighty-two years old, her son in the war. Visited and found them people who had seen better days. The daughter, a great sufferer, wanted anything the Society could give them. Told them clothing for adults we had not; gave them a quilt and a dollar each. We next bent our way to Miss H.'s school to inquire concerning a family who had five children-pupils there-very destitute of clothing. She said she had visited the family, found the father consumptive, and the mother having nine children. We visited her, found her apparently a sober, industrious person, anxious for the advancement of her children; said she could not bear to have them out of school a day. Gave them the much-needed clothing. Visited Mrs. P., and provided her with the baby-linen of which she was in want. A respectable German woman, near the river, had a terribly sore hand. Never had made application for aid though a widow. Her character in the house is excellent. We gave her a dollar, and her only child, a little girl, a Testament, and commended them to the safe-keeping of the good Shepherd, to which she feelingly responded. We marked some passages in her Testament, and left, thankful that it had been our privilege to unite with her in prayer. A widow in V. St., whom the Society has looked after for the past three years, applied for help in some form. Finding she had just recovered from a rheumatic fever, we urged the necessity of doing something in the way of removing her three boys to the country, so that they might avoid the snares of our city. She felt our suggestions to be truthful, but feared their being ill-treated. We placed SingSing, with all its miseries, before her, and besought her to make farmers of those boys if she would save them. Strove to show her how possible it was they might grow up to be good men and by-and-by make a home for her. She seemed cheered by our picture, and promised to make the trial. We gave her a dollar which we felt would be carefully used, and promised her a pair of rubbers from the Dorcas room. A colored woman, afflicted with spinal disease, one of the many who suffered from the violence of the mob, was in great need of clothing, which we furnished. She was very intelligent, gave us an account of her sister's losses and her own. My heart went out to her largely as she wept, and cried out from its depths, "Fear not, thy Maker is thy husband." Went to inquire into the case of a young deserted wife, left with a babe two months old. Her character is good. Reported the facts and returned to tell her to come to the Home with her child. Found ourselves in street, near East River, one foggy morning. The numbers being altered, we spent some time in finding the place we sought. At last a man who was chalking 445 on a door, informed us the person we were looking for lived on the top floor. Ascending, we found in a tidy room the widow of an English physician. She had been the mother of twelve children, all of whom had passed away. An only son, just after receiving his diploma, was killed by an explosion at Crystal Palace. She has three grandchildren left in her charge by her youngest daughter. Her brother, a doctor, has been very kind, but this terrible war has robbed him of his two sons-in-law, and he has taken home two daughters, each with three children. She is exceedingly handy with her needle, does a great deal of fancy work for stores, &c. Everything in the way of clothing being so difficult to obtain, Mrs. Dr. gave her a note to the Home Committee. We talked to her of the future of the children, the uncertainty of life, how little hope there was that the brother, burdened as he was, could do anything for them. She acknowledged what we said was too true, said she would give the subject thought. Gave her some children's clothing and a dollar, and promised to call again. A colored woman called to get something in which to lay out a dying child. We selected the articles from our baby-chest, and went to its home. We found the child very sick, but By request, called on a poor woman, found her living alone, working on bags and asked her what she wanted. "Oh, indeed, I'm poor for a quilt." She brought out her only one, well-patched, which she got from the Home three years ago. We gave her four cradle quilts to make into a covering for her bed. In H. St. found a decent-looking woman dependent on her own exertions to support a family of six children and an idle, would-be gentleman. She married him in England and fled to America, her parents being determined to have nothing to do with her. "Bitterly," said she, "have I paid for my disobedience." Her mother, she told us, was sister of the celebrated Bishop of D. Her children were beautiful; she was just sending them to school. Left home for the purpose of looking after a little girl who comes in our neighborhood for cold victuals, anxious if possible to get her mother to permit her to go to the Home Ind. School. On finding their wretched hovel, had but little hope for child or parents. The mother, a poor, miserable creature, is totally unfit for wife, mother or housekeeper. Strove to win her consent with the promise of a dress suitable to go to church. "You are very kind," she said, "but my priest would not allow it. He says, 'Be in no bondage to them. Keep your children in the faith, if you should die on a dunghill." "Yet you eat our food daily." Ah, yes, the poor childer.' Mrs S Barrows, Mrs O. Palmer and Miss S. Williams 30c each, Mrs C. Williams and Mrs A. Barrows 50c Columbus... Mrs Mary Wilson, Groton. Mrs W. Bragg 56c, Miss E. Gray and Mrs N. W. Friends, Parishville, freight, per E. T. Burnap. Mrs M. Quin and Mrs C. F. Dowd 50c each, North A few Friends, Coila, freight.. Mrs E. E. Hinkston $1, A Friend 20c, Le Roy. Miss Hannah Underhili, Chapequa... S, Society of Pres. Ch., Nassau, freight... S. W. Baxter, Fosterville... Mrs M. R., Victor.. Mrs Rev. Samuel White, Gilbertsville. Miss C. A. Dunscombe, Flushing. N. Y. City.-G. A. Sabine.... Mrs A. G. Phelps... Mrs Charies Valentine.. Mrs A. Mahn.. Mrs Eunice Sandford. A Friend. Mrs Pond.. Mrs W. A. Palmer. Cash.. S. W. Wagnen. N. J.-George Tatum and wife, Woodbury. W. C. Harp, Hoboken... Ohio.-J. W. P., Defiance. P. J. Codding, Remsen's Corners.. Result of a Mite gathering in Oberlin. J. W. Cassell, Hopedale.. C. F. D., Coshocton.. Julia Nelson, Hillsboro.. Mrs R. Delamater, Cleveland. 2.00 00 2.00 2.00 1.00 2.00 1. 00 1 00 50 1 20 50 1 50 50 50 2.00 50 2.00 100 25 4 5 00 1.00 100 1 00 50 2.00 2.00 1 00 500 2.00 100 50 5.00 30 00 10 00 5.00 2.00 1.00 5.00 1 00 1.00 3.75 2.00 4 00 10 00 Sidney B. Green, Lawrenceville.. 2.00 Pa.-Mrs E. Hollenbeak 2, Mrs Church 50c, Spring. Mrs O. T. Drown $1, Mrs Sarah Danforth, deceased Spartansbnrg, $1. 2.50 2.00 2.00 1 00 Ida W. Jones, Smithfield. 1 00 20 00 Mrs T. G. Goodman and Mrs Harry Carter, Chagrin Falls.. 1 00 Mrs M. Griggs, Brighton. 4.00 1.00 1 00 1 00 2.00 Friends, Southington, per L. Maltby. 2.00 N.Y.-Wayland and Charlie Bourne 15c each, Orie Bourne 10c, Richmondville..... Porter and Mary Hull, Durham.. Collected by Nellie Webster and Freddie K., Rouse's Point... Mary and George Talford 50c each, Ella Bunneil 25c Charlie B., Maggie and Carrie 10c each, other children 55c, collected by Ella P. Bunnell, for special case, Norway. Collected by Libbie Smith, Norway. Found in the purse of S. Terrell, dec'd.,Factoryville Nettie 25c, Fred 15c, and Frank Hughs 05c, Rodman Coll. by A. J. Maghew. Willie Alton and James W. Rice, from their young friends, La Grange........ Penn.-Willie and Effie Reynolds, Knoxville...... Louisa and Etta Donaldson, Clark... Ohio.-Sidney M. and Clarence U. B. Benton, Austinburg Freddie Bullard, Chagrin Falls. Willie Robinson 25c, his brother George 100, Beverly. Coll. by little girls to pay freight, Sheffield Lake...... 1 10 III.-Charlie Barnes. Canton.. Mary and Lillian Greenfield, Shabbona... Iowa.-Luther 30c, James 25c, Cyrus 10c and Demmy 05, the children's Thank offering for their brother's safety in the late battles of Tenn., Lime Springs... Kansas.-Abby, Mary, Willie and Charlie Byrd, Leavenworth INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. Cenn. Mrs Ezra Clark, Hartford, per 'Mrs E. M. Chester....... WIDOWS' FUND. N. H.-A Friend, Candia... Conn.-A Friend, N. Haven.... N. Y.-Sophia Converse, Kirkland. Mrs Denton, Marathon... 0.-Mrs Cunningham, Unionville... 70 1 10 500 '1 00 3.00 1 00 1.00 1 00 1.00 Minu.-A Friend, Waterford.... Vt.-Williston, box clothing, quilts, blanket, dried fruit, fancy articles, etc. from friends. Addison, package clothing from Mrs J. F. Field. Panton, package clothing and book from Mrs H. Jackson Mass.-Hinsdale, box clothing and fancy articles from friends. Conn.-Plainfield, bbl. clothing, quilt and provisions from Warehouse Point, box quilts, clothing, etc. from Mrs Geo. Griswold, 2 feather beds from Miss Lucy Avery, deceased, per Mr H. L. Mead, Howell's, package clothing and dried fruit from a few friends, per Lucinda Mapes. Cortlandville, package clothing from a few ladies, per Mrs North Guilford, bbl. clothing and dried fruit from a few ladies. Gilbertsville, bbl. of clothing and quilts from the Ladies' Sewing Society. Somerstown, patch-work for Industrial School from Sarah Reynolds. Bridgehampton, package quilts, clothing, pop-corn, pincushions, etc. from a few ladies, per Miss M. E. Rose. Mt. Kisco, trunk of patchwork, nuts, apples, etc. from Miss Mary E. Carpenter. Moira, box quilts and clothing from the Benev. Soc., quilt from ten little girls and cushions from Grandma Bowen, Hornellsville, box of clothing from Miss Cath. Christie. Fenner, box of clothing, dried fruit, butter, etc. from a few ladies, per Mrs Luther Mather. Windsor, bbl. quilts, clothing, dried fruit, etc. from Hannah M. Sage and others. Randolph Centre,package clothing from friends. Jewett, collar from Miss Emily F. Peck, tatting from Miss L. Peck. Dryden, box quilts and clothing from the ladies, per Mrs P. M. Pratt. West Sand Lake, fancy articles for Bazaar, from a few friends, per Mrs L. A. Fellows. Jefferson, bbl. quilts, clothing, dried fruit, etc. from a few friends, per Mrs H. Merchant. East Virgil, bbl. clothing, etc. from 'friends, per Sarah Angell. Cazenovia, needle-books, etc. from Mrs Springstead. Crittenden, box clothing and crib-quilts from a few friends, per Mrs C. F. Taber. Rose, box of clothing, quilts, etc. from a few friends, per Mrs Helen E. Vandercook. Union Springs, box of quilts and clothing and package of infants' clothing from the scholars of Friends' Academy, per Mary H. Thomas. Worcester, box of beans, dried fruit, etc., from Mrs Chamberlain. Marshall, box quilts and clothing from friends. N. Y. City-Basket of toys from Minnie L. Fraser, per Collar from Mrs M. C. Browne. Package of clothing from Mrs Reynolds. N. J.-Roadstown & Greenwich, box clothing from a few ladies of the Greenwich Pres. and Roadstown Bap. Ch's. Salem, 2 collars and pr. cuffs from Mrs Hannah Wheeler. Pa.-Girard and vicinity, box of clothing, quilt, dried apples, cheese, etc. from Mrs Blair and other friends. Athens, bbl. of clothing from the ladies and box articles for Bazaar from Miss L. M. Carnes, per Mrs D. F. Park. Carlisle, 2 shawls from a friend. Wis.-Beaver Dam, package of work for Ind. School from Mrs Lucy Finck. Mich.-Dundee, bbl. vegetables, dried fruit and butter from Mrs Jane Reynolds. Dansville, box of quilts, clothing, dried fruit, etc. from Mrs L. Brittan, Mrs Dubois, Mrs B. Avery, Mrs Clark and others. Lapeer, package of quilts and stockings from Mrs Lucy Jennison. E. Talmadge, Mrs C. Smith, Miss Elizabeth Shunk, Miss Ann and Esther Hicks &Mrs Marvin, per Joseph Morris. Ashtabula, bbl. clothing from friends, per Mrs E. M. Dickenson. Pierpont, box containing cheese, butter, dried apples, etc. from Mrs Sally Slater. Oberlin, fancy articles for Bazaar from Miss Anna M. Wyett and little Freddie, Anna and Mary Penfield. Iowa.-Davenport, package clothing from Mrs Davidson. Important Legacies have been lost to the Home through informality. It is therefore earnestly requested of those who' design to benefit the Institution by giving it a place in thei last Will and Testament, that they would use the following: FORM OF A BEQUEST. I give and bequeath to the American Female Guardian Society, incorporated by the Legislature of New York, in the year 1949, the sum of $ -, to be applied for the Benefit of the Home for the Friendless, or to other charitable uses of said Society. The Will should be attested by three witnesses, who should write against their names, their place of residence, and state that they signed the instrument at the request of the testator, and in the presence of the testator and each other, and that the testator declared to them that it was his or her last Will and Testament. Packages-not letters-should be marked: HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS 29 E. 29TH ST., Care NEW YORK. A. Chapman, (Healey's Express, ] Pier 16, N. R. A list of articles, with donors' names and post-office address, should be enclosed in the package, and another similar list sent by mail, stating when the package was forwarded. The only safe way of transmitting funds, is by draft, pay. able to Mrs. Sarah A. Stone, Treasurer. POSTMASTERS and others, desiring papers to be discontinued, will please send the name of the P. O. as well as of the subscriber. NOTICE. THE carrier of this paper, Mr. JOHN E. LINE, is authorized to receive subscriptions to the ADVOCATE AND GUARDIAN and also donations to the A. F. G. Soc. and Home for the Friendless. LOWER SEEDS, DELAWARE GRAPE VINES, logues gratis. Address 685-92 H. B. LUM, Sandusky Ohio. FERRIS FEMALE INSTITUTE, 135 MADISON AVENUE, COR. 32d STREET, REV. ISAAC FERRIS, D. D., LL. D., President, MRS. M. S. PARKS, MISSES C. BREWSTER & C. E. FERRIS, Principals. A few pupils admitted as boarders. POSTAGE ON THIS PAPER. By the new law, the postage on single copies of the A. & G. is now six cents a quarter-payable in advance-in al parts of the United States. A package of four copies, which weighs 4 ounces, sent to *one address, is subject to no more postage than a single copy-according to Instruction 36, which Postmasters will please see.' do From 5 to 8 copies, to one address, 12 cents a quarter. From 9 to 12 do do 18 do and so on, at the rate of 6 cents a quarter for every 4 ounces or fraction thereof. In order to receive the paper at the lowest rate of postage, it is necessary to take them, not singly, but at least four copies; and so of clubs, they should be made up-if possible -of 8, 12, 16, 20 and so on. As an inducement to those who now recelve it singly, to make up a small club of four or eight, the Ex. Com. propose to put the subscription price for four copies-to one address -at 75 cents a year, and for eight copies-in the same way -at 60 cents a year Twelve copies, and over, will be at the rate of 50c. a year. At offices where there are several single subscribers receiving it to their separate addresses, by their uniting together and having it in one package, to one address, it wi materially reduce the postage on each. TO DONORS.-Small Packages, sent to the City by private hand, may be left at either of the following places: North and Gillette, [Buck Gloves, Mittens, Army Gauntlets, Country Knit Wool Hose, Furs, &c.,] 18 Cortland St. Jas. O. Bennett, Commission Merchant, 30 Whitehall St. EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. From a far-off land.-Dear Madam,-Enclosed you will find a small sum, which I would like to have employed in some way for the dear children at the "Home." It is the contents of the purse of our darling Hattie, our first born, who left us on the 12th of January for a home in the "Happy Land," aged six years and three months. She was always most deeply interested in hearing ine read from the Advocate and Guardian all that a child of her age could understand; but her feelings and sympathy were most especially called forth by the accouuts of the poor neglected children who are gathered from the streets, and from the homes of wretchedness in your city, to your Home of comfort and loving care. Before she was three years old she became intensely interested in the story of a particular case related in one of your papers, of a poor little beggar girl named Mary, of whom some of your visitors had heard, and whom she discovered after a long search for her, and took to the Home. This told with all the particulars given in the narrative, or supplied by our own knowledge of similar cases of her former wretched condition, and the change wrought in her appearance, when received at the Home, and all the little home comforts found there, to which the poor child had been such a stranger, she was never weary of hearing, and often after sitting with earnest tearful attention, listening to its narration, she would beg, "Please tell it again, papa." We often spoke together of the Home, and all that was done there, and her heart was much drawn out in pity for the poor neglected children of these eastern cities, for whom there is no such help provided. She had planned doing some work for the Home children, but her busy fingers are lying folded quiet and cold now, while the active spirit which animated them, is, we have good reason to hope, employed in a higher sphere. I can think of no way in which our darling child would so rejoice to have her little treasure of money expended as this. A part of it was earned by her performance of certain household duties, and the rest was prized, as gifts, from loved friends. I would like to give a fuller expression to my own interest in your blessed work, and my gratitude for all the good your invaluable paper has done me, in my earlier years, and the help I gain from it now, but this bare mention of it must suffice. May each and all of you who are engaged in this great work, receive all needed grace and strength. Yours, in Christian love, SUSAN H. MORGAN. Antioch, Syria, April 29th, 1863. From a foster-mother: Our Home boy was anxious to join the army, and as the country seemed to need his services, we thought it not best to hinder him from going. We hear from him often. His fellow-soldiers speak of him as a good soldier and a generous-hearted, well-disposed boy. We trust our heavenly Father will have him in His keeping and preserve him in the hour of temptation and danger. "One who has known suffering."-As the greeting of one who has known suffering, please find enclosed ten dollars for the Home for the Friendless. Being in the rear on account of a wound received at the battle of Chickamauga, and receiving a box of good things from my friends in Illinois, I found therein several numbers of the Advocate and Guardian, published last fall, in which I saw set forth the then pressing necessities of the Home. So I purposed to send you the above sum as soon as I should be paid off. It comes late, but better late than not at all. May the Lord own, bless and prosper your efforts in behalf of the unfortunate, is the earnest prayer of A SOLDIER. New Year's present—a noble juvenile offering. It is with pleasure that I now remit the enclosed draft for 21.25 less exchange, as the result of our S. S. collection, which the ladies of the Home will please accept as a New Years' present from the Sabbath-school of the Cong. Church of Cambria Centre, N. Y. We have taken great pleasure in earning money for the Home, and wish it were a thousand dollars instead of what it is. FRANK SCOVILLE, Treasurer. Cambria, N. Y., Dec. 28th, 1863. We are pleased to hear of the still-continued prosperity of your institution; but yours is a noble enterprise and cannot but be blessed of God, who ever keeps in mind the welfare of the workers in His vineyard. MRS. M. W. Gift from soldier's children,—The two dollars enclosed were earned by my children Carrie, Herbert and Gilbert while their father was in the army. MRS. O. B. From "a weeping mother."--Enclosed please find three dollars. About a year ago a lovely baby-giri was lent to me, to-day the cold, deep snow of a Wisconsin winter covers a little new-made grave. I send the above amount to be given to some mother who is more rich in children than in means. May God make it the means of doing some good. The blessing of a weeping mother goes with it, who bids you God speed in your good work of caring for "His little ones." E. K. M. From an invalid. He who doeth all things well, has for the last seven years seen best to lay His afflicting hand upon me heavily, in the form of much physical suffering, rendering me almost a helpless invalid. But my path is strewn with many blessings, of which the siek poor are deprived. Oh, how seven-fold crushing must the suffering of sickness be, when one has to fight against the daily wants of poverty. Yes, I have many mercies. A pleasant home, a comfortable room, (to which I am confined) and parents able to provide not only for every want, but the luxuries my condition will admit. A few kind friends to cheer me with their presence, but above all else is the loving care of a tender mother. It seems to be scarcely right to give in charity that which costs us nothing. As that we earn ourselves is more peculiarly our own than when given by parents, I like to see the record in the Guardian of the offerings from the children obtained by denial, or exertion, when a few pennies is often of greater value in their eyes than dollars in later years. Do you not think the Home lies very near the hearts of a great many? I hope its influence and power for good may be continually increasing, for it does seem as if you were engaged in a great work. May God bless you richly. A Card.-Through the columns of your highly-prized paper, Mrs. J. M. Ferris begs leave to acknowledge her debt of gratitude to her late friend for the certificate of Life Membership to the American Female Guardian Society, just received. It is the gratification and fulfillment of a long-desired hope to some day become a life-member of an Institution so noble in its designs, and strictly devoted to high and holy purposes. Such an expression of friendship, is truly a blessing to the one on whom it is conferred, and the family that share its benefits. May the richest blessings rest upon the family of that dear late friend, and they experience the fulfilment of the promise that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." As one in interest with you and all your efforts, my prayer is that God may prosper you abundantly. Yours, Truly, Preston Hollow, Jan. 30th, 1864. J. M. F. Published, Semi-monthly, by the Executive Committee of the AMERICAN FEMALE GUARDIAN SOCIETY, at the House of Industry and Home for the Friendless, 29 E. 29th St. EDITED BY MRS. SARAH R. L. BENNETT. For the Advocate and Guardian, BEYOND THE CLOUDS. BY KATE CAMERON. BEYOND the clouds that veil from sight Thou wert too pure, too true for earth, Beyond the clouds thou art at rest; There Death and Change can enter not, The streams of earth could not allay But at the fountain now thou canst Beyond the clouds of doubt and sense No discord strikes the ear. And beauty there can never die; And can we mourn that thou hast gone Thank God! thou art beyond the clouds, Nothing greater can be said of faith, than that it is the only thing which can bid defiance to the accusations of conscience.-Rev. T. Adams. For the Advocate and Guardian. MOTHERS, PRAY FOR YOUR SONS. IN these great cities the temptations to evil are so dreadful! Satan is busier than ever with allurements to young men who are fresh from the restraining influences of home. At almost every turn are those terrible "Shades," so rightly named, since they are places of more than midnight gloom to every soul that is enticed by them. Passing one the other evening, I saw emerging from the door, a youth of gentlemanly and prepossessing appearance, yet so bewildered by intoxicating drinks that he reeled to and fro upon the sidewalk, and seemed uncertain which way to go. The night was bitter cold, and I felt that if he should fall, in any by-place, he must certainly be frozen to death. The very thought was agony to me, a stranger; and what if a sister, or mother, were awaiting anxiously at home the sound of the key in the night-latch, conscious of the habit that made him who should have been their joy and blessing, but a care and dread! I am no mother; I have never laid my hands in benediction upon a beloved son, and felt my heart-strings quiver with strong emotion, as the pure and innocent went out to wrestle with an ungodly world; but I am a woman, and God has given me enough of the maternal feeling to know something of the misery that must come to a mother when a dear child falls from his integrity. Oh, for the power to break up these places of sin and shame that drag so many wretched souls to perdition! Is there not wondrous efficacy in prayer? Do not we who are God's children believe it? -then why are we not upon our knees, beseeching Him who pities us, to keep our dear ones from the wiles of the tempter, and so to lead them by His grace that they shall finally attain to his everlasting blessedness? F. B. S. Whole No. 690. F PRAYING MOTHERS. (FROM "Five Years of Prayer and the Answers." By Rev. S. Ireneus Prime. Published by Harper & Brothers.) A CLERGYMAN from California related the following incident, in connection with his own experience and observation: As he had a large circle of friends and acquaintances at the East, and as it was known that he was traveling to a great extent over California, he received many letters from anxious friends, begging him to hunt up a brother or a son, and endeavor to bring them to Christ. Many an earnest letter of this kind he had received. Among the rest was one from a mother, so urgent, so full of entreaty, that it took a deep hold upon his heart. The letter told how she had agonized and prayed for a son in California until she had lost all traces of him, and begged of him that, on her behalf, he would endeavor to look up the lost boy, who she feared was in the broad road to ruin, and, as he loved souls, do all he could to save him. Then the speaker went on to say, "I hunted for that son a whole year. I made inquiries for him everywhere; I determined to find him, if possible. At last I found him in a gambling saloon, at the card-table, deeply engaged in play. In the midst of his game I approached him, and told him I wished to speak with him. We descended into the street together. I told him how long I had been on the hunt for him, and it was all about the salvation of his soul. He laughed me to scorn. He assured me I used my time and money to very poor advantage in looking for him, and as he would take good care of himself, he did not know but thanks for all my painstaking would be superfluous. He said much that indicated that he looked upon my efforts with haughty disdain and contempt. But I had a commission to fulfill. So I requested him to go with me to the temperance room and there sign the temperance pledge; and then I wished him to go to the prayer-meeting with me. He flatly refused to do either. Stepping up close beside him, I placed my hand upon his shoulder and said, |