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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
EXTRACTS 
 
 THE JOURNALS 
 
 ^iss §|f. g.S Remington, 
 
 MISSIONARY OF THE 
 
 WELCOME HALL MISSION 
 
 NEW HAVEN, CONN. 
 
 PRICK SO CENTS. 
 
 Copyright i8q2 by Miss M. E. Remington, New Haven, Com. 
 
Tit. Li*R *Y 
 
 JoNr,K8S8 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IN the Autumn of 1887, a mission school was started by Mr. H. J. 
 Prudden, then Superintendent of the Church of the Redeemer Sun- 
 day School, in a part of New Haven where there were a large number 
 of children not enrolled in either Roman Catholic, Jewish or Protestant 
 Sunday schools. He was cordially aided by the young people of the 
 church school, and when, in the following Spring, it became necessary 
 to move, he made the proposition that the church assume the expense of 
 a mission enterprise which should provide a place where various other 
 meetings beside the Sunday school could be held. The idea was to estab- 
 lish a center of elevating influence in that community, educational, 
 moral and religious. The Mission school had opened the way for work 
 among a different class of people from those reached by any existing 
 city missionary enterprise. While the elements with which it had dealt 
 were turbulent and apparently unpromising, there was, in Mr. Prudde#'s 
 mind, on the one hand an evident need, and on the other a body of Chris- 
 tian people who would themselves be strengthened if their efforts could 
 meet that need. 
 
 The church was liberal in its response to the suggestion, and in May, 
 1888, a room was opened in Oak street under the name " Welcome Hall.'' 
 A general plan for some kind of meeting every evening in the week was 
 gradually established, and this plan has, mainly, been followed ever since. 
 Some evenings have been for purely religious meetings, others for lec- 
 tures, entertainments, or instructive talks ; some have been especially 
 for girls, others for boys only, and at least three have been general. The 
 Hail has been supplied with games and papers, and the last hour each 
 evening they have been used by those who chose or were allowed to stay. 
 
 In June, 1888, Miss Mary E. Remington began her work as visitor 
 among the families represented in the Sunday School. This work has 
 reached out in so many helpful lines that to her untiring efforts the en- 
 terprise largely owes its success. There has been efficient help from 
 gentlemen in the Theological School, and continued support and faithful 
 service from the church, many of whose members have gladly assisted 
 in carrying out every plan that has been undertaken. Those who 
 
watched its development, became so assured of the value of this work 
 that a suitable building has now been erected to meet its growing needs. 
 This new " Welcome Hall," which was built and entirely paid for by 
 voluntary contributions, was opened December 30, 1891. It affords 
 accommodation for the various clubs that have been organized, a well- 
 lighted and commodious audience room, a reading room, library, laun- 
 dry, and bathroom, as well as a place of residence for Miss Remington. 
 
 At the time when the church committee in charge of the work asked 
 for subscriptions to this building, Miss Remington's permission was 
 secured for the printing of some extracts from her journals for distribu- 
 tion in the church. So much interest in these extracts was shown by 
 those outside as well as within the church that another and larger 
 edition has been prepared. The selections from the first two years are 
 naturally fuller, because they show the methods employed and later 
 ones show in addition to some of the results of the earlier work a repeti- 
 tion of the same methods with success. 
 
 It is hoped that the glimpses these journals give of what self-deny- 
 ing, consecrated service will accomplish in a difficult field of labor, will 
 prove an encouragement and stimulus to the wider circle of readers 
 which they will reach. 
 
 COMMITTEE OF THE WELCOME HALL MISSION. 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 MISS MARY E. REMINGTON 
 
 Missionary of the Welcome Hall Mission. 
 New Haven, Conn.. 
 
 1888. 
 
 Saturday, June 22. 
 
 I came to New Haven to-day about five o'clock. After 
 supper Mr. Prudden came for me to go to the mission. There 
 were about four hundred in the room, and when we tried to 
 sing anything they would all try to sing or hollo something 
 else. The first hymn Mr. Sheldon selected was, " What a 
 friend we have in Jesus," and some yelled " shoo fly," some 
 " Yankee doodle," and oh, such a confusion ! Mr. Sheldon 
 asked me if I would not try to quiet them by talking a little 
 to them, so I tried it, but it was very hard work, for some of 
 them were burning the inside out of the singing books they 
 had, others throwing up their hats and yelling, etc. It was 
 a perfect bedlam. As I stopped an instant to catch breath 
 (for I had been talking as fast and loud as I could), one large 
 boy about eighteen yelled out, " Let's give her three cheers," 
 and then how they did yell. Well, the hour passed at last, 
 and Mr. S. asked all the women and girls to stay a few min- 
 utes and get acquainted with me, so a good many stayed. I 
 took the names and the street and number of as many 
 as stayed. 
 
 Mr. Prudden went up to the house with me as I did not 
 know the way. He wanted to know if I thought we should 
 ever be able to do anything with such a crowd, and I told him 
 of course we should, for it was the Lord's work, and He would 
 certainly give us the wisdom and strength to do it. 
 
Sunday, June 23. 
 
 Went to the hall at 3 P. M. for Sunday School to-day. Mr. 
 Prudden came to me and said, " Do you see those boys over 
 by the window there ? Well, they act so that no teacher will 
 take them the second time. Now, I had intended to send 
 them out the first thing to-day, but from what you said last 
 night I know you do not approve of sending them out. 
 Now, will you take the class to-day ?" " Yes, I will take it," 
 said I. As I started over towards them, one boy yelled out, 
 " Golly, ain't she pooty, I'd like to kiss her." " Let's do it," 
 yelled another. I did not pretend to hear them at all, but one 
 boy yelled, " See her blush !" My only comfort was that the 
 rest were all making so much noise that I knew each teacher 
 had all she could attend to without watching me. I never had 
 quite so tough an hour as that was. I asked one boy his name 
 and he said he was Buffalo Bill's brother. Another never had 
 any name. I asked them about their fathers and mothers, 
 and one boy said he " never had neither ;" he was hatched 
 out of an ostrich's egg by a mud turtle. One offered me a 
 chew of tobacco, and was surprised enough when I took it 
 and put it in my pocket. It was a whole plug of tobacco that 
 he held out, and I thought I might keep him quiet if I had 
 his tobacco, and it did help, for he wanted it, and I told him 
 I should not give it to him unless he behaved, so I got the 
 best of him in that. Well, it is useless to try to describe that 
 hour, but at last I did succeed in getting them interested in 
 the story of Daniel. As the lesson was a temperance lesson, 
 I told them the story of Daniel as fast as I could talk so they 
 could not get a chance to get a word in edgeways. As I got 
 through, one boy said, " Do you believe that lie ?" Another 
 wanted to know if I ever saw Daniel or any of those other 
 chaps that put him into the lions' den; as I said no, he wanted 
 to know how I knew anything about it then. I asked him if 
 he went to school and he said " Yes ;" then I asked him if he 
 ever heard of Christopher Columbus, and he said '"Yes." "What 
 did he do ?" said I. " Found America," said he. " Did you 
 ever see him or any of the men who came with him ?" said I. 
 " No," said he. " Well, then, how do you know that he ever 
 
found America ?" " Why, history says so," said he. "Yes! 
 Well, that is just the way I know about Daniel," said I. He 
 could say no more, I had the best of him. After Sunday 
 School, Mr. Prudden came around and congratulated me on 
 my success with the boys. I didn't say anything, but I won- 
 dered what they had done if he thought they did well to-day. 
 
 Monday, June 24. 
 
 Pleasant. Got up at half-past five and studied a while, 
 then wrote a letter home. Had breakfast at seven and started 
 for Oak street. The minute I turned the corner, some chil- 
 dren saw me and rushed for me, yelling " Here she is, here 
 she is," and in about two minutes I had fifty boys and girls 
 around me of all ages, and all yelling. Well, I picked out 
 one little girl and told her I would go home with her and see 
 her mother, so taking her hand went on pretending not to 
 notice anything about the rest. As I opened the door, the 
 woman sprang towards me with a pitcher of hot water in her 
 hand, and said she would scald me if I did not get out of 
 her house, "and take them nasty brats with me." Her little 
 baby was across the floor playing and I said, " What a dear 
 little baby you have got. Come here, little darling, and I'll 
 give you some candy," and the baby started for me as soon 
 as it saw the candy and I forgot all about the pitcher of hot 
 water and stooped right down under it and picked up the 
 poor little dirty thing and gave it the candy, and loved it, and 
 in a very short time the pitcher of hot water was nowhere to 
 be seen, and she gave me an old box to sit on. The baby 
 hugged me and kissed me with its dirty little face, but I did 
 not think anything about the dirt then, I was so anxious to 
 win that mother. As I went out promising to bring the 
 baby some more candy the next day, she said, " Come again 
 some day," so I found I had gained entrance to one home. 
 At the next place the woman met me with a rolling pin and 
 said she would smash my head if I came over her sill. Just 
 that minute there was a scream, and I saw a kettle, or pail 
 rather, of hot water that the baby was pulling over on to her. 
 I rushed in and caught the pail just in season to save the 
 baby from being very badly burned. Just one finger was 
 
blistered. When the mother saw it she fainted away, and I 
 wet her head and brought her to and did up the baby's ringer, 
 and by that time we were pretty good friends. These were 
 two places I was sure of. * * * * ' * * * 
 
 Thursday, June 28. 
 
 It has rained very hard all day to-day so have not made as 
 many new calls. Have been just to the door of fifty of my 
 old places. At one of the new places that I did go, found the 
 family — consisting of a mother and seven children — eating 
 dinner of just meal and water, not even any salt in it. I 
 asked the mother why she did not cook it, and she looked 
 surprised and said, " Cook it ? how would you do it ? " I told 
 her if she would get me a kettle I would show her. She 
 looked more surprised than ever and said, " What do you 
 mean ? " Why, I told her I wanted something to cook it in, 
 and she said she had nothing. Well, I went to searching but, 
 could find nothing to cook the meal in. 1 took the old dirty 
 dish they were all putting their fingers in to get the meal and 
 water, and fixed up a little fire and showed her how to make 
 some hasty pudding, and salted it up good, and it was such 
 fun to see the children eat it. Then I went out to a little 
 store near and bought her a little spider and showed her how 
 she could fry it when it was cold. She was so thankful to 
 me for showing her how to do it, she hugged and kissed me 
 till it seemed as if I should drop, for it was very hot and she 
 was so dirty. Made only eight new calls to-day. Went to 
 meeting to-night as usual and it was pretty noisy again, for 
 one of the fellows brought in a mud-turtle and put it on the 
 floor, so that brought forth one of those terrible yells from the 
 crowd. Came home about ten. 
 
 Monday, July 2. 
 
 Pleasant. Went out about seven so as to go and see that little 
 girl early, as I promised. Found her very sick and lying on 
 a bare table, just covered with flies. She was so sick she 
 could not speak, but would look up and smile at me. I kept 
 the flies off of her for a little while and then asked her mother 
 
 8 
 
why she did not put her to bed ? " Bed," said she, " I aint 
 got such a thing." " What do you all sleep on?" said I. 
 " Come here and I'll show you," said she, and she opened the 
 door into a dirty little room where there was some dirty 
 broken straw on the floor and pointing to it said, " There is 
 where we sleep." Well, I have seen our pig pen look better 
 than that room did, and I know I should rather sleep in our 
 pig pen. But I said, "Well that would be softer than that table." 
 So I took an old stub of a broom that lay there and swept 
 the dirt up in one corner and took some old ragged cloths and 
 and put them on the dirt, then picked up the little sick child 
 and laid her down on it. " Guess she is going to die fast 
 enough, don't you ? " said the mother, and I tried to hush 
 her up for she was so rough and did not seem to care one 
 thing for the little child. After washing the child's hands 
 and face and telling them some things to do for her I left 
 promising to come up again in the morning to see her. The 
 father was drunk in the corner and the mother was not much 
 better. Went from there and made several more calls before 
 dinner. At one place found the mother about sick and several 
 children around crying for bread and she had none. Her 
 husband was in jail and she was trying to keep " starve to 
 death " off by washing. When I went in she had just knocked 
 one child down and was on the point of knocking another. I 
 told her if she would go into the bedroom and lie down with 
 the baby I would keep the children still and wring out her 
 clothes for her and hang them out. She had a large washing 
 done. At first she was not going to do it, but she was so 
 near sick that I soon succeeded in getting her off. I then 
 sent the little boy out to get a five cent loaf of bread and soon 
 had the children all happy. It was not a long job to get her 
 clothes rinsed and on the line, so then I left the children 
 after getting them to promise they would stay out of doors 
 and not wake her, promising to come again soon. 
 
 Tuesday, July 3. 
 
 Made eighteen calls to-day. Went first to see that little 
 sick girl, but she had died in the night and had been put back 
 
on the table as dirty as ever. Went to see Mr. Preston, 
 Superintendent of Organized Charities, about having the child 
 buried, and then went back and made her look as respectable 
 as possible. Had a long talk with the father and mother and 
 they have made up their minds to live respectable lives. They 
 wanted me to pray for them and I did, and really, I believe 
 they mean to do differently. 
 
 Friday, July 6. 
 
 Got to the hall and found the keyhole all puttied up solid- 
 I had my penknife, and by using a good deal of patience, suc- 
 ceeded in getting it out so I could go in. I forgot some- 
 thing and had to go back to the hall in a few minutes and 
 found it filled again, but it was not dry and I got it out easily. 
 Have cleared out that putty eleven times to-day, and think 
 whoever puts it in will give it up soon. Have been trying to 
 get some of the women out to mothers' meeting, and set this 
 afternoon from three to four, but nobody came. They will 
 come by and by; I feel sure of it. Three promised to-day, 
 but probably did not have the courage to let the others see 
 them come. We had a large, noisy crowd to night. There 
 was no serious trouble, but about fifteen of the young men 
 brought in toads and let them go on the floor. I picked up 
 eight of them and carried them out and some of the smaller 
 boys helped me about it. We were not sure who brought 
 them in. I heard one fellow say : " If we should bring in a 
 snake I believe she would pick it up and carry it out." Per- 
 haps it will be snakes next. 
 
 Sunday, July 22. 
 
 Pleasant. Went to church to-day, and went out early to 
 gather in all the children I could for Sunday School. Had 
 about 150 with me, when I came to the house of one whom I 
 have done quite a good deal for since I have been here, and 
 who, I thought, was trying to do a little better, I saw crape on 
 the door. Was quite a little surprised, for was in there almost 
 the last thing yesterday afternoon. So told the children to 
 keep very quiet and not come in with me but to wait there 
 
 10 
 
till I came. Went in and met the woman in the entry, and 
 asked her who was dead. She began to get off something 
 about the woman up stairs, so I at once started up stairs. 
 Then she saw she was going to get into trouble, so she began 
 to cry and say she had to get something to eat in some way, 
 etc. Well, to make a long story short, she had got in a lot of 
 beer, and was selling it out all day; and the police, thinking 
 the men and women who went were going out and in to see 
 the corpse, of course did not trouble them. I told her that 
 she must not sell another glass of that beer. She begged me 
 to let her sell just what she had on hand and she would never 
 do so again. But I told her the only thing that would keep 
 me quiet was to have her empty every keg which she had not 
 sold down the sink, and I stayed there till it was done. 
 
 Friday, August io. 
 
 I made eighteen calls this forenoon and had my mother's 
 meeting this afternoon. Did not have any dinner. Just 
 about noon I went into one place where the woman had 
 promised to come this afternoon, and found she had just be- 
 gun a large washing, and one of the children was nearly sick, 
 so she could not hurry much. I saw through the trick in a 
 minute. She did not intend to go. I said I was very sorry 
 for her and would help her, so I went into another house near 
 by, and borrowed a tub, and by half-past one her clothes 
 were all on the line; she had no excuse now, so she got ready 
 very slowly and went with me. I had cloth for a sheet and 
 showed her how to baste it and she made the sheet. At four 
 o'clock, we stopped and I read a few passages from the Bible 
 and prayed with her and then she went home, so now I have 
 one mother, I feel sure I can get another soon. 
 
 Monday, August 13. 
 
 I went up to call on some children who had given me their 
 names this morning. As soon as I struck the street one boy 
 saw me and ran the whole length of the street yelling, "Ram- 
 shackle, the King of the Jews, is coming." In about two min- 
 utes there were forty or fifty around me all yelling " Ram- 
 
 n 
 
shackle" or "Ramrod" or "Ramrack" and throwing little sticks 
 and stones and dirt in my face. I went for my candy and got 
 rid of about twenty of them, but the rest cared more for the 
 fun of following me and yelling at me than they did for the 
 candy. The first place I went into on that street there were 
 two women and a man having a fight, and one of the women 
 
 yelled out, " Get out of here you or you will get 
 
 your head smashed." The man had a black eye and one of 
 the women had a large gash in her hand where she had fallen 
 through the window. Her hand was bleeding badly, so I 
 stepped up to her, and taking it in mine, wrapped my hand- 
 kerchief around it to stop its bleeding. The other woman 
 looked astonished and said, " I should have thought you would 
 have gone for the police instead of coming in to help us." 
 After I had fixed her hand I worked over the man for a few 
 minutes and then left, promising to come again. The minute 
 the boys saw me they were ready, as they had had time to fill 
 their hats and pockets, but the man I had been helping, hear- 
 ing the shout, came to the door to see what was up, and, 
 taking in the situation at a glance, he sprang among those 
 boys and I did not know but he was going to knock every 
 one of them down. They took to their heels and I was left 
 in peace for a few minutes. 
 
 Going to the next place, a woman looked at me an instant 
 and then said : " Are you that Jesus woman ? If you are, 
 don't you dare come in here." " Why, what do you mean ?" 
 said I. " I am only a woman just as you are, only I have no 
 family and I love the children dearly, and want to do all in 
 my power for them. You have some dear little children; 
 where is Sarah ?" " Sarah !" shouted the mother, and Sarah 
 appeared. She had run to hide when she saw me for she was 
 afraid to have her mother know I knew her. I gave her some 
 candy and asked where her little brother was and left him 
 some candy, and I left promising to come again, when she 
 had said " come again." I never leave a place till I manage 
 in some way to make them ask me to come again. 
 
 12 
 
Tuesday, August 14 
 
 I got up about four o'clock this morning and wrote off a 
 lot of passages for the children to learn. The parents will 
 not let them have the Bible, but anything I write off they do 
 not object to their learning. It is a great deal of work, but I 
 do not mind that if I can help them any. I went out about 
 seven and went first to see the people who were fighting yes- 
 terday. The boys began yelling just as they did before, until 
 they saw I was going in there, and then they stopped, for they 
 had not forgotten yesterday's lesson. " Well ! we were just 
 talking about you," said the man. " What sent you here yes- 
 terday just as we were trying to kill each other ?" " The Lord 
 sent me," said I. " Come now, talk sense; didn't you hear us 
 fighting and come in to see if the police were needed ? Why 
 didn't you send for them ?" " I did not hear you fighting 
 until I got into the entry, for the crowd around me were mak- 
 ing such a noise. I knew you had a little boy, and whenever 
 I have anything to do with children, I like to know their 
 parents." " There, that is what made John run out so quick 
 yesterday when she came. Why, that boy didn't come home 
 till late last night," said he to me. " He was afraid you had 
 let him out. I told him I would break every bone in his body 
 if he ever went into that mission, and he had had too many 
 lessons, poor boy, to be found out. John," called the man 
 going to the door. " Come in here a minute. I wont hit ye." 
 John came; his father led him- up to me and said : " John, you 
 may go to the mission, or anywhere else that this woman 
 wants ye to, and don't ye ever let me hear of ye're bein' dis- 
 respectful to her either." John looked pleased and said 
 nothing. I asked the man why he did not get something to 
 do, and he said there was no work for a fellow. I spoke of 
 the wood yard and told him if he would only go to work there 
 and keep his eyes open for something else I believed he would 
 find it. Then he said they would not give him work for they 
 kept it all for the tramps. " Well," said I, " I'll go down and 
 see that they give you work, if you will certainly go and do 
 it." He promised, so I went and arranged for him to have 
 work, but at the Organized Charities they laughed at me and 
 
 13 
 
said, they guessed when he came I'd know it. To tell the 
 truth, I was fearful myself that he would not go, so went right 
 back and told him I thought I would come in and let him 
 know that he could certainly have work. I thought of a call 
 I wanted to make on George street, so I offered to walk down 
 with him, soj. saw him safe at the wood-pile. Made seven- 
 teen calls besides to-day. There were about two hundred at 
 the meeting to-night. John was there, and if he started to do 
 anything, all I had to do was to say, " I'll tell your father," 
 and he was quiet. 
 
 Thursday, August 16. 
 
 ***** To-night I went out and stood in 
 the crowd and some of the fellows and girls did not know 
 that I was there. A man came up to a young girl about 
 fifteen years old, and told her he was going to get a drink 
 and at eight o'clock she must come out and he would meet 
 her at the corner of Temple and Commerce streets. She told 
 him she should not dare stay out all night again, for she 
 should get killed if she did. He then told her he would get 
 her home by four o'clock and help her in through the window. 
 She hesitated a little, but finally said she would go. I 
 stepped up, and taking hold of her said, " No, you won't go," 
 and turning to the man, I said, " If you come around here 
 again trying to get these girls to go off with you, I'll have 
 you arrested on the spot." He was a little taken aback, and 
 muttered something about its being none of my business. 
 " Well, I will make it some of my business," said I. 
 
 I then took the girl into the hall and had a long talk with 
 her, and found that she had been out last night until morn- 
 ing walking the street with that fellow. After the meeting I 
 went with the girl so as to be sure she went home. On my 
 way back I met that same fellow locking arms with another of 
 those young girls whom I had been trying to reach, and who 
 had been in the hall a few minutes to-night, and then went out. 
 I stopped in front of them, and, as it happened, there was a 
 policeman near us. (I should not say happened, for I fully 
 believe the Lord sent him to that spot.) " Now," I said, 
 " this business must be stopped, and if you don't stop it, I 
 
 14 
 
shall." If any one could have seen that man's face it would 
 have done them good. He was caught again. " Keep still, 
 for sake," said he. " I will keep still on just one con- 
 dition," said I, " and that is that you will promise me that this 
 shall not occur again with any girl, and that you will come 
 into our hall every night and stay until half-past nine as long 
 as we are open." " Yes, I'll promise," said he, " and you will 
 see that I keep my promise, too, if you will only keep still." 
 I then took that girl home. I was very tired when I reached 
 home at a quarter of eleven. There is one good thing, I can 
 leave my work when I get here, and go to sleep. 
 
 Friday, August 17. 
 
 Pleasant, but very warm. Went out early this morning 
 and made sixteen calls. Did my best to get more women out 
 for the mothers' meeting this afternoon, but did not succeed. 
 They are all very busy when you want them to go to a meet- 
 ing or else they don't understand you. They understand 
 some things well enough. Really, one would not think they 
 knew anything some times, but I know it is all put on, for 
 they understand quickly when I have anything for them. 
 Went to see the woman who came to the meeting last week, 
 and helped her with her work so she could come, and went for 
 her when it was time, for one cannot depend upon their word 
 one bit. There were as many as a dozen that promised me 
 they would come this afternoon, but only that one came. 
 Went to the jail to see one of the women whose time was up 
 to-day, and told her I could not come for her until night, and 
 I wanted her to wait until I came for her, so that none of her 
 old chums would get hold of her and lead her astray again. 
 I took her to her home, if home it could be called, a little 
 dark, dirty room in an old attic, and gave her some supper. I 
 told her I would come for her to come to the meeting to-night 
 and go home with her. Did so, and promised to go in the 
 morning and get her breakfast, for I should not dare give her 
 a cent, for fear she would get a drink with it. At the meeting 
 to-night one girl asked me if I thought there was any danger 
 of her becoming a Christian if she came to the mission ; said 
 
 15 
 
her mother wanted to know. I told her all we wanted of the 
 girls was to have them become good, honest girls, and do 
 just what they knew was right, and as they could not do that 
 alone, Jesus would help them if they would only let Him. I 
 told her we did not want her to do anything that was wrong, 
 and she could tell her mother so. Then she wanted to know 
 if I would come and tell her mother something about Jesus, 
 and see if she would not believe He was a good fellow. I 
 told her I would, and so shall try and go to-morrow. At one 
 place where I went to-day the children were all jumping and 
 shouting around a rag doll, which they had nailed on to the 
 clothes post. I went to see what the fun was and before they 
 saw me I heard one girl say, " Hit him again, hit him again." 
 They were all striking the poor old doll, spitting on it, and 
 throwing things at it. "Ain't he most dead ?" said a little 
 boy. I did not imagine what {hey were doing until I asked 
 one of the little ones, and she told me they were killing 
 Jesus. When I told them it was wrong to do so, they said, 
 "All the little Sheenies play so." It seemed dreadful to think 
 of those dear little children starting in life with such ideas of 
 our dear loving Saviour. It makes me willing to endure any- 
 thing if I can only get different ideas into their little heads. 
 They stopped when I told them it was wrong, for they were 
 very small, and they really love me, -and will not do things 
 that I tell them they ought not to do. I showed them how 
 to play two or three little games and then went on. 
 
 Saturday, August 18. 
 Pleasant, but very hot. Got up about five o'clock and 
 wrote off some more verses for the children, then wrote a short 
 letter home. Started for Oak street a little after seven and 
 took my dinner so to not have to walk so far in the hot sun. 
 The first place where I went was one I had been to but once 
 before, and as the woman saw me she came and slammed the 
 door almost in my face and said, she didn't want that Jesus 
 woman bothering 'round in her house, the first she knew she 
 would be bringing Him with her. I did not want to open the 
 door and go right in, so I began to talk to the children and 
 gave the baby some candy, to carry in to mamma, for yester- 
 
 16 
 
day when I was in there she had been as pleased with the 
 candy as anyone. Baby left the door open a little way so I 
 could see her take the candy. She then began to drive one 
 of the children to the store for her, but the child did not want 
 to go, so I said, "Come, and I'll go with you," then one of the 
 little girls and in fact all of the children were ready to go. So 
 I took the seven and started for the store and got a five cent 
 loaf of bread. When I came back of course I had to go in 
 with the children to carry the bread, and if she did not turn 
 around and say, " Thank you." I don't mention meetings in 
 such a place as that is yet, but bye-and-bye shall get acquaint- 
 ed with them and shall not be afraid to say anything to them. 
 
 Once win their love and then shall be all right. Went 
 into eight other places where I had been before, and four new 
 places, then went to the hall to eat my dinner, but it was just 
 impossible, for I was so hot, tired and dirty. After dinner, 
 or noon rather, made three more calls and then went to the 
 hall for the Band of Hope. Asked one of the large boys if 
 he would be door-keeper for me, and he did very well for a 
 a while, but when about seventy-five boys came around out- 
 side, it was too much for him, so I shut the door and locked 
 it and told him to stand there and let me know if any little 
 boys or girls came that he thought wanted to come in, but in 
 about two minutes a large stone came through the window, 
 and then the boys outside scattered, so had it quiet for a few 
 minutes. No, I can't say it was quiet inside, but it was 
 outside, so that helped. Can't describe that hour, it was 
 dreadful. If there had been some one to play could have got 
 along better, but will not give it up. Am going to stick to it 
 and have a temperance meeting. Kept about a dozen of the 
 ringleaders and had them help me pick up things after the 
 rest had gone, and so tried to win them over a little, but I 
 never saw such boys to win over, it seems almost impossible 
 to do it, but the Lord is able and I believe He will help us win 
 them. 
 
 Had to have that window fixed again to-day, have spent 
 for candy, window, etc., $4.85, this week. Asked the janitor 
 what he called good wages to pay a man for work by the hour, 
 and he said about twenty-five cents, then I said, "I want to 
 
 17 
 
hire you to tend door for me on Saturday afternoons for 
 awhile, just open and shut the door when the children go out 
 and come in, and I'll give you twenty-five cents until I tell 
 you I don't want you." Thought it would pay better than 
 spending $1.7$ every week for a window. 
 
 After the children had all gone, I thought of a colored 
 woman whom I had promised to go and see sometime this 
 week. As it was Saturday night, thought I must go any way 
 so as to keep my word. As I came to the number she gave 
 me I saw two horrid-looking men (Italians) hanging on the 
 old fence, and I had such a strong impression not to go in, 
 but f thought I promised to go this week and I must, so I 
 went by them and went in. There was a little entry that I 
 stepped into and knocked on the inside door, and a white 
 woman opened the door. I asked if there was a colored 
 woman living there, and she looked back at a man who sat in 
 the room and then said, " Yes, wont you come in?" Then I 
 had that same impression not to go in, so I said, " No, I can't 
 go in to-day, but I would like to see her a minute, can she 
 come to the door ?" She then said : " John, will you see if 
 Lizzie can come to the door a minute." He started to a door 
 and opened it and said : " Lizzie, can you come out a minute, 
 there is a lady here wants to see you?" I did not hear any 
 answer and don't think there was any woman in there. He 
 went into the room and I think he must have gone to the win- 
 dow and spoken to those men at the door. Anyway he came 
 back and said : " She says she cannot come out very well, but 
 for you to come into her room," but I thought, no you don't 
 get me into that room. But I said, " No, I can't very well go 
 in to-day, but will come some other day." I then saw by the 
 shadow on the wall that the door had shut behind me, but had 
 heard nothing. I knew some one was behind me, and I 
 thought of those dreadful looking men who were out by the 
 fence. Well, at that time they tried to make me drink that 
 beer, I thought, supposing I really did get in a place where I 
 could not get out what should I do, and the thought came to 
 me, get some red pepper and put in your pocket and you 
 could use that. No sooner thought of than done. I got a 
 quarter of a pound and did it up very tight, and had carried it 
 
 18 
 
ever since, but had had no occasion to use it, so was beginning 
 to think I was foolish to carry it, but had not been able to 
 think to get it out of my pocket. Now I thought of it, and 
 talked as fast as I could to them, telling them what to tell 
 the colored woman, etc., till I could get the pepper open and 
 get a handful. Then I drew the door together between the 
 man and woman and myself, and turned, and quicker than a 
 flash, threw the handful of pepper in the two fellows' faces 
 behind me, and rushed for the door. It was locked, but the 
 key was in it, so I turned it and was out of the door in an 
 instant Oh, how those poor fellows did yell; I can hear them 
 now. Well, I was pretty weak and turned my steps toward 
 the house. Hope I did not make them blind so they will never 
 get over it, but what was I to do? Went to meeting to-night 
 and there was a large crowd out and they were pretty noisy, 
 but not quite so bad as they were a month ago. 
 
 Sunday, August 19. 
 
 * Had the room packed full to-night and 
 they were dreadful. One whole side was sent out, and then 
 in about three minutes they began to come in again a half a 
 dozen at a time, as Mr. S. does not know them yet well 
 enough to tell who they were. Some of the boys had pea 
 blowers to-night. Several of the peas hit Mr. S. right in the 
 face, but you could not tell who blew them, for they all had 
 the blowers. Quite a number had whistles too, and once in a 
 while there would be a loud whistle. There were two cats 
 brought in, and how frightened the poor things were. We 
 could not catch them and all the crowd wanted to help catch 
 them, so it seemed as if there was no chance at all to say any- 
 thing that any one would hear, but we tried it and I do 
 believe that it was not all in vain. It seems wicked to let 
 them repeat the Lord's Prayer as they do, but I believe they 
 will stop it after awhile, and if we give up saying it they will 
 think they have stopped our repeating it, and I know from 
 what I have had told me that all most of them come here 
 for is to break up the meetings. 
 
 <9 
 
Thursday, August 23. 
 
 Got up about five, wrote a letter and studied a while, and 
 then went and got the sick people some breakfast and washed 
 and dressed the children. As I was making calls, a boy 
 came out of one house and said his father wanted to see me, 
 I felt just a little uneasy, but thought I might be able to do 
 some good and went. There sat four men and two women 
 around a table playing cards. They bad three empty beer- 
 bottles and two full ones. One of the men said, " We thought 
 you would like to play a game with us, so we sent Mitty out 
 to ask you in." " Well," I said, " that is something I don't 
 know how to play ; if you have a game of dominoes or 
 checkers I'll play a game with you. I can't stay very long 
 for there is a man and woman, both very sick, for whom I 
 have been getting breakfast, and I promised to come back 
 soon." I told them a pitiable story of how I had found 
 these people, and they seemed a good deal surprised, for I 
 think they intended to have some fun by getting me in there, 
 expecting me to talk to them about playing cards, and I did 
 not mention it at all. At last they asked me what we were try- 
 ing to do down in that hall. Then I had a chance to talk, 
 and in such a way that there was nothing to laugh at. When 
 I got ready to go, the boy's father said, " Now I'm real glad 
 you are doing what you are, and if there is anything you want 
 a chap like me to do, just call on me, and if that feller," point- 
 ing to Mitty, "makes you any trouble, just let me know it 
 and I'll break his neck." I asked them if they did not have 
 any work. One had lost his job a day or two before, another 
 did not like his place, and the rest could not find work. I 
 spoke of the woodyard and asked if it would not be better to 
 earn fifty cents than nothing. They had not looked at it in 
 that way, and two of them started and said, " Let's go down 
 now," and they went. 
 
 Went and attended to the sick ones again, and just as I 
 was going by a saloon the door opened and I saw one of my 
 women in there. She was one I had met as she came out of 
 jail last week, and had taken her to her room and given her 
 something to eat when she had nothing. I went right in and 
 
 20 
 
she was just draining a glass of something. I went and took 
 her hand and tried to get her to go home, but she was just 
 drunk enough to be a little ugly, so she was determined not to 
 go. The saloon keeper stepped up then and ordered me out. 
 I straightened up, and looking him in the face said, " If you 
 make me go out without that woman, I'll make you smart for 
 having this place open last Sunday." He was conquered in 
 an instant and hurried to the woman and told her she must go 
 out. Then he whispered to me and said, " What will you take 
 to keep still ? " M I'll take nothing, sir," said I, " only you had 
 better look out that this place is not open again on Sunday f 
 and when any of the people whom I am trying to help live 
 decent lives get in here, and I come for them, you need not 
 order me out. Those two things will keep me still this time." 
 I got the woman home, she trying to hug me and crying all 
 the way, and saying she had not had anything to drink, etc. 
 When I got her home, I told her that she would feel better if 
 she went to bed. She took off what little clothing she wore 
 and lay down. How I should like to put some of these 
 miserable wretches into a bath tub and clean them up once. 
 I don't believe they would look like the same people when 
 they came out. Had a grand racket at the hall again to-night. 
 There were three dogs, two cats and a mud turtle brought 
 in and set free. * * * * 
 
 Sunday, October 21. 
 
 I have been to New York for a week visiting missions and 
 have not seen one that I would like to exchange for ours. 
 They behaved pretty badly again to- 
 night. They came in in a rush and it took some time to get 
 them quieted down. Mr. S. said as soon as he could be heard, 
 that any one who yelled to-night would have to go out. After 
 a little, one of the older fellows yelled as loud as he could and 
 he was told to go out. Immediately another said, " I'll go, 
 too," and then the others all started. They had put glue or 
 mucilage on the chairs and they started, too. For a little 
 while there was great confusion. I took hold of one chair 
 and gave it a jerk and the boy went out. The policeman took 
 
 21 
 
hold of another and with it came a piece of the boy's pants. It 
 really was not as much fun as the boys had thought it would 
 be. All the rest had to get up to see if they were stuck down, 
 of course,' and it took some time to get things straightened 
 out so we could go on. It is very strange that they hear 
 anything but they do get some good in spite of it all* 
 
 Monday, October 22. 
 
 Got up at half-past five. Was so tired it seemed as if I 
 could not get up earlier. Went to see how the woman was 
 who was sick before I went away, a week ago. She was glad 
 to see me and the'baby is doing nicely. I don't believe she 
 has washed it since it was born. I washed it then and the 
 next day, so I know it has been washed twice. I took it up 
 and washed and dressed it. Oh, it was so dirty! I wish some 
 of the ladies who have little ones could see one of these poor 
 little neglected things. I told the mother she ought to wash 
 and d*-ess it every day. She said she guessed I wouldn't if I 
 had to work all day washing as she did. Well, I don't know 
 as I should, but it seems as if I should. Her husband drinks 
 and she just about kills herself to take care of herself and six 
 children besides the baby. I have such a thankful feeling 
 because I am not in their places and I almost wish I could be 
 divided in order to^be in ever so many places at once helping 
 them. At one place where it has been hard to get any hold 
 of the family I found the mother real sick, so I did everything 
 I could to make her comfortable, and cleaned up the children, 
 giving them each a penny to go out and spend, and then stay 
 out to play and let her rest. She was unaccustomed to have 
 any one do anything for her, and it just broke her all up and 
 she lay there and cried like a baby. She said she would never 
 be so mean to me again as she had been, and she did not see 
 what made me so kind to her. I told her I loved her, that 
 she was my sister and I ought to do for her. She could not 
 understand me at first, but think she did before I came away. 
 Went from there in where a woman was trying to fry some 
 
 May i, 1892. 
 *These young men are now leaders in a literary and social club which meets weekly at the 
 Hall, and when they are present at a religious meeting are respectful and attentive listeners. 
 
 22 
 
doughnuts the way Mrs. C. said I had told her. Mrs. C. had 
 had such a time by getting her's too soft that she said so much 
 about it, that the woman had her's as far the other way. They 
 were so hard you could easily play foot-ball with them. I 
 told her if she would let me know the next time she wanted to 
 make some I would come in and show her how to do it. She 
 asked if another woman could come, too, and I said, "Oh, yes, 
 bring in as many as you wish; I had as soon teach a dozen as 
 one." She said she wanted to ask me how we made a shirt, 
 as she was trying to make one for her husband. She had 
 taken an old calico skirt of her's and she was trying to make 
 the top of it answer for the neck, and had slit up the side and 
 cut it off for sleeves. It was too ridiculous for anything I 
 told her if she would let me have that shirt for a pattern, I 
 would get a shirt fixed ready for her to sew oit! I really 
 stretched the truth a little, for I wanted it to keep as a sample 
 of their work. She thought she hadn't better let me_take it, 
 for she had got it^so he could wear it pretty soon, and she was 
 afraid she would have to wait too long. I told her if she 
 would come over to the mothers' meeting on Friday after- 
 noon I would have some new cloth there, and she might make 
 her husband a new shirt. She said she would come, but it 
 remains to be seen whether she does or not. Have been in 
 to forty-four places to-day. Want to get around as fast as I 
 can, for I have been away and it is a good excuse to get into 
 some of the places again. One man came out and said they 
 wanted to have me come in and pray with them. I knew all 
 was not right by his actions, so I rather dreaded to go in, but 
 I asked for help and went. There sat about a dozen men and 
 as I went in one of them got up and gave me his chair. All 
 of them had such dreadful looking faces it was really quite a 
 tight place to be in. I said : " I hear you want me to pray for 
 you. Now I will pray if you will all kneel down." They all 
 knelt. I sent up another silent prayer and knelt by my chair, 
 and then how I did pray. I don't believe I ever prayed much 
 faster in my life, and when I said " amen," they all said it, too, 
 and got up. " Well, you are a buster," said one fellow; "we 
 didn't get you in here to pray at all, but to have some fun and 
 we thought you would run when you saw so many of us." " I 
 
 23 
 
don't believe in running, especially when men need praying 
 for," said I. " I know, but we didn't want you to pray when 
 we sent for you," said the fellow. " No, but you needed it," 
 said I, "and now I want to know if you won't go on pray- 
 ing for yourselves every clay. I will pray for you and will 
 come in any time and pray with you if you want me to. Come 
 up to the hall evenings. We have good meetings and I think 
 you would enjoy them." They all said they would come. 
 
 Friday, October 26. 
 
 Had two women for my mothers' meeting this afternoon, 
 although I worked all the forenoon to get more. The woman 
 I promised the shirt to, came, and I had it all cut out. I 
 showed her how to put it together and she was surprised to 
 see the different pieces it took to make it. She supposed it 
 was all cut out together. It is strange that they know so 
 little how to do things. ****** 
 
 Had the girls' meeting to-night, and about eighty were in. 
 It is just as hard to manage the girls as it is the boys. As 
 they went out I heard one girl say, " I am not going home 
 now, I'm going to have some fun first." "Is he coming to- 
 night ? " said another. " Yes, and you can go with us if you 
 want to," said the first girl. I could not catch all that was 
 said, but heard, "Not out-doors, you fool you, but over in the 
 old house." I did not know what to do at first, for Miss R. 
 was with me, but as she is here to get some idea of mission 
 work, I thought this would give her several ideas, so I told 
 her of the case and she said she would stay with me if I was 
 willing. We stayed in the hall about half an hour and then 
 started out and went quietly up to the old house. Well, I 
 could not write down the talk we heard, but at last I could 
 stand it no longer, and I said, " Nellie and Carrie, come out of 
 this place this instant or you will get in trouble." All was very 
 quiet. I knew they were there, but I did not know just how 
 many men there might be, and must own, I felt a little queer 
 about going in there in the dark. So I took Miss R's hand 
 and held it so she would not think I was in earnest and start 
 off, and said, " Miss R., you go for two policemen and tell 
 them to corne with their lanterns, and if anyone tries to 
 
 24 
 
get away from here, I'll yell as loud as I can." Some one 
 
 spoke now and said, " For sake, keep still and we'll 
 
 come out," and out came an oldish man. No one knows how 
 long this had been going on. I gave him a piece of my mind 
 and then took the girls both to their homes. There are so 
 many girls going astray just like that. Oh ! that I may be 
 the means of saving hundreds of them. I'll be willing to en- 
 dure anything if the Lord will only use me. 
 
 Thursday, November i. 
 
 Got up at five o'clock to study and write, and started for 
 Oak street at seven. I had promised to show Mrs. S. how to 
 make a shirt for her husband, so went there first. She was 
 not half dressed and was walking the floor with the baby 
 screaming at the top of its voice. She was trying to feed it 
 from a bottle with milk that had stood no one knows how 
 long and was so thick that it would not come out of the bottle. 
 I got some fresh milk and warmed it a little, and then told her 
 to let me take the baby and feed it and she could get washed 
 and dressed and comb her hair so we could go to work. The 
 cloth she brought to me to work on she had used to wrap the 
 baby in and was so dirty I could not work on it. Just then a 
 little girl ran in saying her little sister was in a fit and mamma 
 wanted me to come quick. I told Mrs. S. to wash the cloth 
 out and hang it by the stove, and rushed for the neighbors. I 
 got some warm water and put the child's feet and hands into 
 it and rubbed her quite hard and she began to come out of it 
 after a long time. After she was all right I went back to the 
 shirt, and I wish some one else could have seen that piece of 
 cloth. She had pretended to wash it, but such a looking 
 thing as it was. It was still wet so I could not cut it, so I 
 said, " Let me take this home and get it all planned, then it 
 will not be so much work for you to see how to cut it." I took 
 it to the hall and washed it myself as well as I could in 
 cold water. I pulled it and folded it before it was quite dry 
 and then put it under pressure and it looks very well now. 
 
 Friday, November 2. 
 I cut out that shirt as well as I could this morning and got 
 
 25 
 
it where she could sew it up and then left her, promising to 
 come again and see how she got along. After making three 
 calls I went back and she%thought she had it almost done, but 
 such sewing! It was simply basted. I said: " Why, you 
 have basted it all over havn't you ? And you have basted it 
 better than I did, too. Now you want to sew it like this," and 
 I showed her how to back-stitch. Well, I talked so fast, and 
 praised her so much for her basting that she didn't say a word 
 about its being sewed. That is the way I have to manage 
 with the women in the mothers' meeting to get them to sew a 
 little better without offending them. I made eight calls and 
 then went in again. If I hadn't seen theother work I should 
 have thought this was dreadful. I took a few stitches in it 
 here and there, so as to make it a little stronger. * * * * 
 
 1889. 
 
 Monday, January 7. 
 
 There were so many things that I wanted to do to-day, 
 that I did not know which way to turn, but have found it does 
 not do any good to plan, so just start out and go first where 
 it seems best, and the next thing I know it is night. I went 
 first to do some little things for some sick women and then 
 sent one of the women I found fighting the other day, off to 
 do some washing. I thought I should have to look out and 
 see that they did not have another spree, if she had some 
 money, but as she went by the hall on her way home, she 
 gave me all her money to keep for her except fifteen cents 
 which she had spent for something to eat. I went to see one 
 of the young fellows who has been at the hall a good deal 
 and who was sick and not expected to live. I carried him 
 some flowers and he was pleased with them. After awhile 
 his mother left the room to get something to put the flowers 
 in, and Tommy looked at me and said, " Miss Remington, 
 I'm not satisfied, I'm not satisfied." "Why are ycu not 
 satisfied?" said I. "I'm not satisfied to die as I am," said 
 he. " Well you need not," said I, "Jesus is ready to take you 
 if you will only let Kim, and then you can go and live with 
 Him and be happy always, and some day the rest of us will 
 
 26' 
 
meet you there." "Oh, He wont take me now, will He ?" " Yes, 
 right now; just believe and say, ' Here I am, Jesus, take me,' 
 and He will do it." Just then his mother came back, and he 
 stopped and I saw he wanted me to, so I said no more then. 
 As I left him I contrived to say : " I am going to pray for 
 you. Will you pray for yourself, too ?" " Yes," he whis- 
 pered. " Will you come again to-morrow ?" I have been 
 praying for him all day. Went from there to see the little M. 
 children. They have no mother, and the aunt they live with 
 is very poor. There was no fire, and the aunt had gone out 
 and told them they must not touch the stove. I found they 
 had not had any breakfast, so I went and got a five-cent loaf of 
 bread and some eggs. I boiled them an Qgg each and put it 
 on some bread, and they ate as though they liked it, and the 
 bread was about half gone when I left. I went into eight 
 more places this forenoon, and in one I swept up a room, in 
 another quieted a cross baby and got it to sleep, in another I 
 showed a woman how to make a soup out of some bones she 
 was going to throw away. So, in one way and another, I 
 made each place a little more cheerful than it would have 
 been. I do love every one of these poor ignorant people, and 
 if I can only make their lives a little brighter I shall be fully 
 repaid. After dinner I made nine more calls. In one place 
 there were some men playing cards, smoking, and drinking 
 beer. The woman, they said, was sick and in the other room, 
 and they invited me to go in and see her. I own I felt rather 
 queer to have those seven men between me and the door. I 
 am generally very careful to keep between the door and them, 
 but I seemed called to go, and breathing a prayer for help, 
 and thinking of my red pepper, I went in with apparent 
 bravery. I wish the church people could see the sight I saw 
 as I went in that room, only I'm afraid they would say, "There 
 is no use in trying to do anything with such people," and I 
 believe there is. There lay a woman in one corner on a heap 
 of rags, and a man in another on some more rags. Well, I 
 thought the woman was dying, and I told the man who showed 
 me into the room to go for some doctor as soon as he could. 
 I rubbed her and worked over her for some time and it seemed 
 as if he would never get back. At last he came, and the 
 
 27 
 
doctor with him. As soon as the doctor got the chance he 
 said to me : " You are not safe in here. When I go out, you 
 go, too. I cannot leave you in such a place." I said : " I 
 cannot go as long as I can be of any use here. I am not 
 afraid of them." They had become a little alarmed by this 
 time, and as the doctor went out he told them that if they did 
 just as I told them, he thought the woman would live, but if 
 they did not, he thought she would die. I made a poultice of 
 some flaxseed that I sent one of them out for, and fixed her as 
 comfortably as it was possible to fix a woman on the floor, and 
 after cleaning up a little, I left. As I went out, I said : " I 
 wish you would put those things into the fire and never play 
 with them any more," pointing to the cards. Immediately, 
 the man put them into the fire. " Now, if you would pour 
 that beer down the sink and never drink another drop, you 
 would begin to be quite a man." He started with the beer. 
 I could not understand what made him do those things, but 
 think it must have been because the doctor told him the last 
 thing that if he did what I told him, the woman might live. 
 The doctor said she had pneumonia, and that it was very 
 doubtful if she lived. After making other calls and getting 
 an old quilt from one of the ladies, I went back and made her 
 more comfortable. I talked to the men about going to work 
 and being able to have a bed and other things. They all 
 listened, and two men said they would go to work to-morrow, 
 and one of them thought another fellow could have a job 
 where he was going. They were looking quite different this 
 time. There were no cards or beer to be seen, and the men 
 had cleared up the kitchen a little. 
 
 Tuesday, January 8. 
 Went to see how that sick woman was and found her a little 
 easier. Three of the men had gone off to work and two others 
 were out of doors. The man who was drunk in the corner 
 was the woman's husband. He was all right to-day, and says 
 he is going to turn over a new leaf and go to work. They all 
 seemed very thankful for what I did for them. I shall do all 
 in my power to help them to take hold and live better. It 
 seems to be a perfect surprise to this kind of people to have 
 
 28 
 
 
any one care for them. She asked me this morning if I was 
 an angel. That gave me a chance to tell her of Jesus and 
 His love for her. It is perfectly wonderful how the Lord 
 opens the way for me to speak of Him. 
 
 Sunday, June 23,. 
 Pleasant. Got up about half-past five, for have been so 
 very busy all the week have not had time to study my Sunday 
 School lesson at all. Went to church and Sunday School, 
 then started out to go round for the children. Had a good, 
 large Sunday School to-day and very good order. It is just a 
 year ago to-day that I came here, and what a change there 
 has been in the people that come to the mission. To begin 
 with, all the people that let their children come to the mission 
 for a year ago was to break up the meetings and to " shut 
 the d — d hole up," as they said. Now all I have to do is to 
 go through the street and if the children see me, they call out 
 to the mother, " I'm going to the mission," and they will 
 come along quietly with me and no such yelling as there used 
 to be. I go up one street and down another so to remind 
 them of Sunday School, as their parents do not care whether 
 they go or not, so they get off to play and don't think of it. 
 After we get to the hall I wait out of doors with the children 
 so as to keep them still until the door is opened. Then 
 another thing that is different, a year ago there was hardly a 
 child but what would tear its paper up as soon as it got out of 
 doors and throw the pieces in your face, now most of them are 
 careful to keep them to read. * * * * 
 
 Monday, June 24. 
 
 * * One of the girls asked me to- 
 
 night if I would go and see her father to-morrow, as he was 
 very sick. I promised to go. I have been there a great many 
 times, but have never seen him. People have told me to look 
 out for him when he is drunk, for he will pitch right in 
 and fight. 
 
 Tuesday, June 25. 
 
 Stormy. Went out early and made four calls and then 
 went in to see Mr. . As I went into the kitchen his wife 
 
 29 
 
was crying and saying to a little boy who was crying, too, 
 " Well, you know we haven't any. If your father would be- 
 have himself, you could have something to ■ eat." I said: 
 " Well, my dear, what is the trouble, are you hungry ?" The 
 little boy said, " Yes," so I gave him five cents and told him 
 to run to the store and get me a loaf of bread. He took the 
 money and ran. " I am very sorry," said I " that you are 
 having such a time, and that your husband is feeling so badly." 
 Just then I heard a sort of a grunt, and turning to the door 
 that was open saw him trying to look out. I forgot all about 
 his wanting to fight, and went right to him and said : " I am 
 so sorry for you." I wish I could draw a picture of this face, 
 such astonishment, to think I was sorry for him. I asked him 
 if his head ached. He said that it did, so I asked his wife if 
 she had some coffee. She said they had none, so I sent the 
 boy for some and had her make a good strong cup of coffee. 
 After he felt a little better I began to talk to him about stop- 
 ping right where he was and turning over a new leaf and tak- 
 ing Jesus for his helper. " Oh, Miss Remington, you don't 
 know what you are talking about. Why, I can no more let 
 beer alone than I can stop breathing." " I know you can't, 
 alone ; but Jesus will help you if you will only let Him." 
 " Oh, I wish I could," he groaned, " but there is no use. The 
 sooner I am dead and out of the way the better it will be for me 
 and all the rest." " No drunkard can inherit the kingdom of 
 heaven," I said. " Now look here," said I, " will you give me 
 your word that you wont touch a drop of beer for one hour, 
 God helping you ?" He hesitated, and then said, " Yes, I 
 will." " Then let us ask God to help you," said I. I prayed 
 for him earnestly, and as I stopped he said, " God help me." 
 " Now, I am going to make a few more calls and I'll be back 
 in just one hour, and don't you touch a drop," said I, " until I 
 come back. Remember your promise, and if you are tempted 
 just ask God to help you." I told his wife to make another 
 good cup of coffee and give it to him, if he wanted any before 
 I came back. I went back just as the hour was up and found 
 him walking the floor this time instead of lying on it, and say- 
 ing " I must have it, I must have it." " Here I am," said I, 
 "have you had any more coffee ?" " He would not touch it," 
 
 30 
 
said his wife. " Please bring me a good strong cup," said I. 
 I got a chair for him and one for myself and helped him steady 
 the cup so he could drink. After he had taken it, and got 
 over his trembling a little, I said, " Now, will you promise me 
 for another hour, God helping you ?" It took several minutes 
 to think this time, so I said, " Let us pray about it." I prayed 
 again earnestly that he might be given strength to promise 
 and to keep the promise. Each time I prayed that the appe- 
 tite might be taken away. As I rose from my knees he said : 
 " Yes, I'll promise, and God helping me, I'll keep it." Then, 
 after talking to his wife about cleaning up and making the 
 house as pleasant as possible, I left, promising to come again 
 in an hour. I went, and had about the same time as I had 
 before. All day I have kept it up, going there once an hour 
 and praying with him, and making him promise for another 
 hour. I came from there at ten o'clock to-night, after getting 
 him to promise he would not go out until morning. At first 
 he was not willing to do it, but I told him if he would not 
 promise I should not go home at all, but should stay there 
 with him. As I went out his wife followed me and said : "He 
 will go as soon as it is morning and then he'll be just as bad 
 to-morrow as he has been to-day." " What time will he 
 probably go ?" said I. " He will go by five o'clock sure." 
 " Then I will be here by four o'clock," said I. I must stop 
 writing and go to bed so as to be sure to wake up in season. 
 Am pretty tired. Made eighteen short calls besides working 
 with him so much to-day. 
 
 Wednesday, June 26. 
 I did not sleep much last night for fear I should not wake 
 up in time. At three o'clock I got up for I was afraid I 
 
 should go to sleep again. Reached Mr. 's house about 
 
 ten minutes of four. He was up, walking the floor, waiting 
 for the saloon to be open, so he conld get in. He did not 
 hear me until I was beside him, and I said, " I am so glad 
 God has kept you from going out." " Oh," he said, " I wish 
 you knew for one minute what this dreadful appetite is. I 
 should not wish you to know any longer than that. Why 
 don't God take it away ? You have asked Him to over and 
 
 31 
 
over." " He certainly will," said I, " if we keep on praying. 
 He has answered our prayers, for He has given you strength 
 to bear the dreadful longing and not yield to it." We had 
 another season of prayer and f persuaded him to lie down on 
 the bed and I read to him from my Bible which I brought 
 with me. At half-past six I told him I would go home to my 
 breakfast and leave him to have his, and then I would come 
 back. He said he could not eat anything, but when I went 
 back I carried a loaf of bread and a little piece of meat, and 
 made him some toast. He ate a little and drank some coffee. 
 I have kept going there every two hours all day to-day and 
 went the last thing, about ten o'clock, to-night. He is much 
 better to-night and stronger, so he is better able to control 
 himself. He told me he would not go near the saloon until 
 I came in the morning and that I need not come as early as 
 I did this morning. The Lord is able to keep him and I be- 
 lieve He will. 
 
 Friday, June 28. 
 
 I went to the lodging house to see if the man I sent there 
 last night had gone to the woodyard to earn money to pay for 
 his lodging, as he promised to do. I asked the people if they 
 had ever seen the fellow I sent there before. They said they 
 guessed they had, as he had been staying there three or four 
 nights and that they should not have taken him in last night 
 if I had not sent him. " Do you know where he is now?" said 
 I. " Probably he is over in the saloon. He has been there 
 most of the time lately." " Here is your ten cents," said I, 
 " now I will go and get mine." " Let us know when you 
 get it," said they with a laugh. I went over to the saloon and 
 as I opened the door several fellows who were in the little 
 back room put their heads out to see who had come in, and I 
 saw the man I was after. I heard a noise and a door open 
 and shut, so turning, I said to the bartender, " The man I 
 wanted to see has gone out." I went out the front way and 
 round into a little alley, for I knew where that back door went 
 just as well as that fellow did, and I met him hurrying for the 
 street. " You might as well stop," said I ; " for if you under- 
 take to get away from me I will have you arrested on the 
 
 32 
 
spot." He could not see the street, so he did not know but 
 there was a policeman right there. " Now are you going to 
 pay for your lodging ?" said I. By this time there was quite 
 a crowd gathered and the windows were up in the saloon and 
 the men were listening to the fun. '■ If you think you can 
 come into our hall and tell such a lie as you did last night, 
 and get ten cents out of us for your lodging, when you are sit- 
 ting around all day in the saloon, you are greatly mistaken." 
 " Well, here is your ten cents for my lodging, and if you will 
 let me off this time, I'll never do such a thing again." "Just 
 as sure as a fellow comes into our hall again and asks for a 
 lodging, I'll hand him over to the police and we'll find out 
 if he is a fraud or not, and if he is, we will give him free lodg- 
 ings for a while," said I. I don't believe we shall be troubled 
 with lodgers any more, as I had such a good audience to listen 
 to what I told this man. When I came out of the alley, I saw 
 a policeman hurrying down the street towards the crowd, so 
 I waited and explained what the trouble was. Made -eight 
 calls and then came up to dinner. Went back and made 
 seven more. Can't make so many as I used to, for they are 
 so different and want me to stay longer. Then they have so 
 many different things to show me ; they like to have me see 
 how nicely the girls have made up the beds, etc. So many 
 of the places where a year ago there was not a bed, now they 
 have them, and the girls that have been in the kitchen garden 
 love to see how nicely they can make them, and those 
 who have not been in the class have seen how these girls do 
 and try to do the same. Wish the teachers who have helped 
 in this work could see the difference in the homes. They 
 would feel paid for all the time and labor spent, I know. 
 Must tell them more about it to encourage them. Went up 
 to see that family where the little girl died on a table a year 
 ago and where there was not a bed, and the father and mother 
 were such dreadful creatures, and you would not know it was 
 the same place. Wish I had a picture of it as it was then, 
 the poor little dirty child and all, and a picture of it now. 
 One of the children is sick now, but not dangerously sick, 
 and she is in a nice clean bed with a white spread on it, and 
 as the mother stood by me to-day she said, " This aint much 
 
 33 
 
as you found us a year ago, is it ? " They have neither of 
 them drank a drop now for about eight months and the mother 
 is in the mothers' meeting. Had the mothers' meeting this 
 afternoon and there were twenty-two present. I often think 
 of a year ago when I was going to the hall alone every Fri- 
 day afternoon and could not get a woman near it, then how 
 one woman ventured to go, and we went for three months 
 before we could get another there. Had the meeting for the 
 girls to-night and there were forty-eight there. A very good 
 meeting. 
 
 Thursday, July i i. 
 The first thing this morning, I got into a place where 
 there were eight men and four women who lived in two 
 little rooms. ******** 
 It is wonderful how the Lord takes away fear when I get into 
 such a place. One of the women was trying to make some 
 ginger-bread, so I showed her how, and then how to make 
 some pie crust, for she had some apples. After getting her 
 so I thought she could get along, I went into the next house 
 and helped a woman fix over an apron she was trying to make 
 for her little girl, which she had almost ruined. I went back 
 to see the pie, and if she had not cut the apples up worm holes, 
 skin, stems and all, and got them in the crust! I showed her 
 how she ought to have done it, and before I left I had a chance 
 for a little plain talk with this woman, who I found was really 
 the boss of the place. I saw that I had quite a little hold on 
 her when she would stand and listen to me. Have never 
 been in here but once before, but shall go oftener now. * * * 
 
 Friday, July 12. 
 * * * A woman came to me at the close of the 
 mothers' meeting and wanted me to give her ten cents to get 
 a loaf of bread. She had eaten nothing to-day or yesterday. 
 I asked her where she lived and she said it was a dreadful 
 place and she did not want me to go there. I told her if it 
 was a dreadful place, that was just where I wanted to go. At 
 last, I persuaded her to go with me. I thought I had been 
 into every nook around here, but she took me where I had 
 never been. I supposed I had been all through that house, 
 
 34 
 
but this was in the very top. There was not room enough 
 
 to stand up straight, and ten people lived there. Oh, the dirt 
 
 and the air in that room ! 1 was actually faint and sick, and 
 
 I can stand a good deal. She told the others that I had come 
 
 to see where she lived and was going to get her something to 
 
 eat and she would give them some. They were not very 
 
 pleasant looking people and I'll own I felt better when I got 
 
 outside. As I came down the dark stairs, I met another old 
 
 creature going up. I went and got them something to eat 
 
 and took it back. I asked if they were all able to work, and 
 
 they said, " Yes," if they could only get work to do. I told 
 
 them I would see if I could find them some work and let them 
 know ********* 
 
 Saturday, July 13. 
 Got up about five. After breakfast I went to see the peo- 
 ple in the garret, and then understood how so many of them 
 live there without work, for there were several new men there 
 this morning. I probably came earlier than they expected. 
 I made up my mind that here was a problem ; to find how to 
 get all these people to work and shut up the place. I did not 
 pretend to notice anything, for I thought it better to take the 
 women alone, if possible. I had one hundred and seventy-five 
 children at my Band of Hope, and after the temperance meet- 
 ing I let all those, who wanted to, sit down to sew. There 
 were one hundred and seventy-two who stayed and it was a 
 job to get them to keep still until I could put a piece of patch- 
 work into their hands. They could not half of them thread 
 their needles, so I said, " All take your thread out of your 
 needles, and when I say, One! Two! Three! you can thread 
 them again and I'll see who can do it the quickest." It took 
 three minutes for the quickest and at the end of ten minutes 
 there were twenty-five who had not threaded theirs. Such look- 
 ing pieces as I have that they sewed ! I am going to keep 
 them and make use of them some Saturday in having them 
 pulled out to sew over. 
 
 Wednesday, July 17. 
 * Went to the garret and found two of the 
 women alone. I asked one of them if she would not rather 
 
 35 
 
go out to work or take in washing than to keep such a place, 
 and was surprised enough when she said, " Yes. I am sick 
 of the business, but do not see how I am going to get out of 
 it." " Well," I said, " If you mean what you say, there is just 
 one way out of it, and I'll tell you what it is if you want to 
 know." She said she did, and I said : "Just stop short right 
 where you are, and tell the men and women who come here 
 that you are sick of it, and are not going to go on with it 
 another day." " But where shall I get food to eat ■?" said she. 
 " I'll see to your food if you really mean business, until I can 
 find something for you to do," said I. She said then she 
 would stop. The other woman said she was willing to give 
 up her old way of living, too, if I would find her something to 
 do. I said : " I will do my best, but now let us stop right 
 where we are and ask God to help us, for we can never do this 
 alone in our own strength." So we all knelt and I prayed 
 earnestly that they might really mean what they said and 
 take Christ as their helper. They said they should shut right 
 down on the men and women. They might be obliged to 
 keep them that night, but there would be no more such actions 
 as there had been. * * 
 
 Thursday, July 18. 
 * * Found the women in the garret looking quite 
 happy. They said they had thought of a way in which they 
 could get a respectable living. They would get some rooms 
 and keep boarders honestly. I did not like to have them do 
 it, but I had nothing better to suggest and could make no 
 objections if they were determined to do it honestly. I shall 
 keep a pretty close watch of them. When I prayed with them 
 to-day, they prayed for themselves, too. They were both in 
 the meeting to-night and said they had found some rooms. 
 
 Friday, July 19. 
 * * * * Those two women who had been 
 moving to-day came to the mothers' meeting. They said 
 the one time they had been to the hall helped them so much 
 they wanted to come again. After the meeting they wanted 
 me to go home with them and see their new rooms.* 
 
 "These two momen continued to keep a respectable boarding house. One of them has since 
 died and the other lives honestly and comes regularly to the hall. 
 
 36 
 
 
Saturday, July 20. 
 I got up early to cut blocks for my sewing school. I tried 
 the race with threading the needles again to-day, and then 
 picked out the four who did it the quickest and asked them 
 if they would be teachers and help the others. The sewing 
 hour is very hard work for me, for they all want something at 
 once. I am in hopes that I shall have help about it in the 
 fall, when people get home. I want it to go, and shall plod 
 along as well as I can until help comes. One thing we do 
 every Saturday afternoon is to have the children who have 
 buttons off their shoes, sew them on the first thing. To-day, 
 two of the girls took off their waists and sewed some buttons 
 on, and one girl sewed up a rip in her dress. * * * 
 
 Wednesday, Septembr 4. 
 
 It has been so warm to-day that everything looked and 
 seemed a great deal dirtier than it otherwise would. I have 
 been just as busy as I could possibly be all day. Went to one 
 place where I prepared the breakfast, cleaned the children 
 and made their beds. The mother has been sick, but is a 
 little better and I am in hopes she will get well soon now. I 
 took the baby with me for two hours so as to give her a rest. 
 Made eleven calls with him and then went to the hall and let 
 the children in. The first thing I did was to wash them all, 
 which is quite an undertaking, but nothing to what it used to 
 be, for some of them come quite clean now. I kept them until 
 noon and then sent them home. Had ninety six children to- 
 day. Several mothers came to the door with their babies and 
 left them and then came for them at noon. The baby had 
 been just as good as it could be all the morning. I took it 
 home and got them all some dinner, and after the baby had 
 something to eat he went to sleep. I then came home to 
 dinner. Went right back and at the first place I stopped 
 I found the woman discouraged because she had begun a dress 
 for her baby and as she had made a mistake, she could not 
 put the dress together. I worked a little while and straight- 
 ened that out for her so I left her happy. At the next place 
 the woman was having neuralgia in her face and was almost 
 
 37 
 
crazy. The children all wanted something, so that made it 
 worse. I showed the children how to make mud pies out in 
 the yard so the mother could be quiet. Then I rubbed her 
 head until she felt better. At the next place the mother had 
 a very large ironing that must be finished and sent home to- 
 night. The baby, three months old, was crying, and she said 
 it had been crying just so hard all day. T took it up and as 
 she had nothing to feed it, I sent the little boy for some milk 
 and after warming it, gave the hungry little thing something 
 to eat. Then I washed it, as the little fellow had not been 
 taken up at all to-day. It really seems wicked for such peo- 
 ple to have children. I fixed the baby the best I could and 
 took it out of doors with me, and kept it for about two hours. 
 When I went back she had finished her ironing so I carried 
 it home for her. The woman looked at me rather sharply 
 when I left the clothes. Don't know who she thought I was. 
 Gave a music lesson about five o'clock, after the girls got 
 home from school. I went into one place and helped a boy 
 do some examples that had been troubling him at school. 
 The father came in while I was there and wanted to know if 
 there was anything that I did not know how to do, for he had 
 seen me giving the music lesson. He asked if I would teach 
 him to read and write. I told him I would if he really wanted 
 to learn and would come home every night at six o'clock, I 
 would be there and would teach him for an hour, except Mon- 
 day and Thursday nights, when I have the large girls. Went 
 to the meeting to-night. 
 
 Saturday, September 7. 
 ***** Started Penny Savings Bank to- 
 day, and had twenty-one depositors. They are all afraid of 
 it, as some one tells them that we want to get their money 
 away from them. ***** 
 
 Thursday, Dec. 5. 
 
 I went out very early this morning as one of the children 
 
 said her father was sick. He was in a saloon and as he 
 
 bought a drink he says it seems as though something struck 
 
 him, and that is all he remembers. Probably he got into a 
 
 38 
 
fight, whatever it was, he is badly bruised and I am afraid he 
 is hurt internally so he will never get over it. Had quite a 
 talk with him, and he says if he ever gets over this, he will 
 never drink another drop as long as he lives. It seems his 
 mother was a nice woman and a member of the Methodist 
 church and he always went to church and Sunday school, 
 until he was about sixteen years old. Then he says he 
 thought he was too big to go to Sunday school and very soon 
 he was too big to go to church too, so he stayed away from 
 both. I asked him if he would like to have me pray with him 
 and he said he should, so we all knelt and I prayed earnestly 
 for him, and for the rest of the family. When we rose, he 
 thanked me and said I had done him lots of good. I told his 
 wife I thought she ought to have a doctor, and she said, if he 
 was not better, she would. After the evening meeting, I 
 went to see them again and talked and prayed with them. I 
 could see that he was worse. 
 
 Friday, Dec. 6. 
 
 Got up early and was just ready to study when I was told 
 there were two women who wanted to see me. I was sur- 
 prised to find it was the sick man's wife, and for an instant I 
 thought he must be dead. She said, " Oh, Miss Remington, 
 my husband is so very sick I don't know what to do. I 
 might as well tell you the truth, I have no money to pay a 
 doctor so I have not had one." " He must have a doctor," I 
 said, so I telephoned for one telling him that I would see that 
 he had his pay. I went to the place as soon as possible and 
 the doctor had just gone. The woman said her husband had 
 been crazy all night and it was all they could do to hold him. 
 He had been more quiet, but now he was worse again. She 
 said, "Miss Remington has come, don't you know her?" I 
 took hold of his hand, and he said, " Yes, I know her, she will 
 not let you abuse me, I know she will take my part." He 
 was quiet for a few moments at a time and then it was almost 
 impossible to hold him, but I clung to him like a tiger. The 
 women were so frightened I could not get them to do anything, 
 not even to go for help, so I held him for nearly eight hours. 
 Finally, a grocer came in and I asked him if he would stay 
 
 39 
 
until I could see about getting the man into the hospital. He 
 said he would if I would hurry. I went to the hospital and 
 they told me to go to the Town. I went to Mr. Preston and 
 he said go to the Town Agent, and see if they would send a 
 doctor. I went there and they were going to send me down to 
 Wooster street to hunt up a doctor, and run the risk of my 
 not finding him and wDrking until night as I had done. They 
 had a telephone and I asked if they could not telephone and 
 save my going down there, so they did. The doctor would 
 not be in until six o'clock and they calmly asked if it would 
 not answer if he came then. Well, I told them if they had 
 been holding a crazy man for about eight hours and had not 
 had a mouthful to eat since half past five in the morning, 
 I did not think they would care to go back and hold him three 
 or four hours longer. Guess I was a little excited. Then 
 they began to inquire if his family could pay a part of the 
 charge at the hospital. When I promised to see that half of 
 the charge was paid, they decided to send a doctor right over 
 and see about the case, then after the doctor had been, they 
 would send to the hospital. What a lot of red tape, I thought, 
 yards of it. The poor grocer had staid there all the time I 
 had been away. I then held the man until half past six when 
 the ambulance came for him. It took four men to get him 
 down stairs. I went to the hospital with him and then went 
 back to the house and comforted the family the best I could, 
 and then went to the hall for the meeting. Oh, how tired I 
 was ! 
 
 Sunday, Dfxember 8. 
 
 Went to church and Sunday school. Went to the hall 
 early as usual to get out as many children as possible. There 
 was a large crowd to-day, more than there has been for a 
 good while. They did very well, but others called them 
 pretty noisy ; perhaps it was for now, but I always stop and 
 look back a little and that always helps me. Came home and 
 rested till five o'clock and then went to the hospital and found 
 the man just alive. He knew me and tried to smile, and said 
 " Thank you," then dropped away while I was there. His body 
 will be carried home to-morrow. 
 
 40 
 
Had a full meeting to-night and Dr. Todd was there. Asked 
 
 him if he would attend the funeral of Mr. C , and he said 
 
 he would. Came home about half-past nine. 
 
 Monday, December 9. 
 
 Started out a little after seven and went up to Mrs. C. to 
 help her do anything I could to get ready for the funeral. 
 Then went to the Town Agent and paid half of Mr. C.'s ex- 
 penses at the hospital, as I said I would. It cost me $2.25. 
 Found two women a good deal interested, in my calling to-day. 
 One of them I think is secretly trying to be a Christian. I 
 tried to have her come right out boldly and let it be known, 
 but she is not quite ready yet. Think she will soon, though, 
 for she cannot help it. The other is not out in the light 
 yet. Prayed with them and did the best I could with them. 
 Had about ninety women and girls out to-night. 
 
 Tuesday, December 10. 
 Went to see those two women again to-day, and they said 
 they would both come to the meeting to-night, and if there 
 was a chance given, they would say they were trying to be 
 Christians. So they both came, and I had it all understood 
 with Mr. S. to have an after-meeting and to give them a 
 chance and they did. There were three others that said they 
 wanted to be Christians, so we prayed for them and with 
 them all, and talked with the three new ones, and tried to 
 lead them into the light. This is the first of anything of the 
 kind that we have had at the meetings. Made twenty-one 
 calls to-day. Dr. Todd attended the funeral. 
 
 Saturday, December 14. 
 * * Made three calls after the Kitchen 
 
 Garden and then came home to dinner. Went back to the 
 Band of Hope about two o'clock and had about two hundred 
 there. Then at the Sewing School there were about seventy- 
 five. The Penny Savings Bank was well patronized to-day. 
 They are getting so they are not so afraid of losing their 
 money now, since two or three have drawn some of theirs and 
 
 4i 
 
find they can get it. There were about one hundred out to- 
 night and we had a good meeting, also a good after-meeting. 
 There were seven that testified to-night and five more who 
 wanted to be prayed for. After the meeting we stayed and 
 talked with those who are trying to live different lives, and 
 encouraged them all we could. Came home about half-past ten. 
 
 Sunday, December 15. 
 
 Went to church and Sunday school to-day, and then as 
 soon as I had my dinner, started for the mission, for wanted 
 to see how many I could get out to hear Mr. Moody to night, 
 for although he had not said sure he could come, I felt sure 
 he would. Told everybody on the way that I could, and then 
 after Sunday school spent the rest of the afternoon in going 
 around and trying to get them out. There were about four 
 hundred and fifty out, and Mr. H., Mr. T., Mr. S., and Mr. P. 
 were present to speak, so taking the singing and the speaking, 
 the time was all taken up nicely till twenty minutes of ten, 
 and nearly the whole crowd stayed in so to be there when 
 Mr. Moody came. He spoke to the whole crowd for about 
 half an hour and then dismissed the meeting, saying there 
 would be an after-meeting for all who would like to stay. About 
 one hundred and fifty stayed and about twenty new ones ex- 
 pressed a desire to become Christians. He then asked all the 
 Christians in the room to go around and talk with those who 
 were not Christians, and he went around and talked a little 
 with every one who raised their hands. Oh, it did seem so 
 nice to have such a grand meeting! It has been a long while 
 to wait, but the Lord is certainly blessing us greatly just now. 
 We stayed till midnight with some of them. I got home just 
 quarter past twelve. 
 
 Monday, December 16. 
 
 Started real early this morning and went to one place 
 where a man and his wife both raised their hands for prayer 
 last night. As soon as I saw their faces, knew it was all 
 right with them. Said they were just saying they had heard 
 of family prayers and wondered just what it was, and wanted 
 to know if I would tell them, so I did and we had them right 
 
 42 
 
there. Then I told them how nice it would be for them 
 every morning and night, and they said they would. Went 
 to another place and they were all happy, too, the mother, 
 daughter and two sons. The father is in a saloon, so they 
 are all praying for him and wanted me to also. I told them 
 about the place where I had just been, and about their having 
 family prayers, and asked them if they did not want to do the 
 same, and they said they did, but that they did not know how, 
 so I told them how, and they said, " Can't we have them now, 
 so you can help us start ?" So we did, and then I went on to the 
 next place. Have called on all who are interested, to-day, 
 except two men, who have no home here, and wno would be 
 off at work, so it would do no good to call. Sent them each 
 a little note telling them I thought of them, and prayed that 
 they might be kept from yielding to temptation. Then gave 
 them some references to look up and read in the testaments 
 I gave them. Oh, it is such a glorious work telling poor lost 
 men of Christ, and helping them live better lives. Girls 
 meeting to-night and we had a nice little talk by one of the 
 ladies. Had told her some of the girls were interested, and 
 guess she told her story to suit the occasion. Came home 
 about ten. 
 
 Tuesday, December 17. 
 'Went to see others to-day who are not at all interested as 
 yet, and made sixteen calls. There were different things to 
 do in each place to helr>the poor tired women, and one woman 
 whom I have helped a good many times, said, "What makes you 
 so good to me ?" I said : " Because I love you." Then that 
 gave me a chance to tell her how Jesus loved her, and tears 
 came to her eyes. There are so many chances in the course 
 of the day to speak a word for the Master. When we first 
 began it was very hard to do it, but now there are many 
 places where they are glad to hear of Jesus. Got into a new 
 place to-day and did want to speak a word there, but it did 
 not seem to be best. Asked her to let her children come to 
 Sunday school, and she said she would see, so shall go for them 
 next Sunday. Had a good full meeting to-night, and a good 
 after-meeting. About twelve spoke and three new ones said 
 they wanted to be Christians. * * * * Came home 
 about half-past ten. 
 
 43 
 
1890. 
 
 Thursday, March 6. 
 Went and washed my two babies and took care of the 
 mothers, and made eight other calls this morning. I helped 
 one woman to cut an apron and another to fix some sleeves. 
 I showed another one how to make a loaf of plain cake. This 
 afternoon I called on some families who have just begun to 
 come to the mission. They are none of them Christians. At 
 one place one of the women asked me some questions about 
 what I told them last Friday afternoon, and it showed me she 
 was interested. Another said, " You show that you are a 
 Christian by the way you love us and do for us." That gave 
 me a chance to tell her how much more Jesus had done for 
 her. Then I said, " Now don't you think it would be real 
 mean if you should turn right against me and not like me 
 when I have been good to you ?" " Yes," she said, " I 
 wouldn't do such a thing ; it would be dreadful mean." Then, 
 of course, I had a point on not loving Jesus when He had 
 done so much for us. " Well, we can see you," said she. 
 " But, suppose you should write to your mother who is away 
 off and tell her how kind I had been to you, don't you think 
 she would believe it, even if she could not see me ?" " Yes, 
 she does believe it now and says she wishes she could see 
 you." Then I had another point. I got her to kneel down 
 with me and I asked God to open her eyes that she might 
 see Jesus. She said she did want to be a good woman, and I 
 fully believe she will be a Christian soon. We had a good meet- 
 ing to-night. It is so nice to live near and save the long walk. 
 
 Monday, March 17. 
 As I was going by Mrs. B.'s this morning, one of the chil- 
 dren came running out and said her mamma wanted to see 
 me. She told me of a poor young woman "who would not live 
 long. She said she was not a Christian and she wondered if 
 I could go in and say anything to her. She would not hear 
 a word about dying and would not let me in if she knew who 
 I was, but if she did not know perhaps I could make up some 
 errand. I said, " Yes, I'll make an errand to go in." So I 
 went down the street and bought some oranges and went right 
 
 44 
 
to the house. I told her I had heard of her through Mrs. B., 
 and brought her some oranges, hoping they would taste good. 
 She was pleased and thanked me. After a while, 1 asked her 
 if she liked to hear anyone read to her and she said, " Yes, 
 but I do not get a chance to hear anyone very often." 
 Then I asked her how many children she had, and she said, 
 "Two." She called to them and they came in. I had to love 
 them, as I always do little children, and I said, " They have 
 better care than a great many oi my little ones." Then she 
 asked where I was that I had so many, and I said, " At Wel- 
 come Hall, down here." She threw up her hands and scream- 
 ed, " Go away, go away ; don't you tell me I have got to die.'' 
 " No," I said, " I have not come for any such purpose, don't 
 you worry one bit. I don't see why people speak about 
 dying as they do, for it is only going home to Jesus, and a 
 nice home it is too, that he has prepared for us." "What's 
 that," she said, " Say it again, quick." So I said, " It is only 
 going home to live with Jesus forever, and also with dear ones 
 who have gone before." " Why," she said, " Nobody ever 
 told me that way before." Then I said, " Have you not 
 heard how Jesus came and died for us all, so that we should 
 not die, but live forever with Him ? " She had never heard 
 the story of Jesus and His love as it really is. She knew 
 there was a God, but that was all. I never shall forget what 
 a look of joy came into her face when I told her so she under- 
 stood. I prayed for her and promised to come and see her 
 real often. She clung to me so it was very hard to get away 
 from her. I have been in three times to day as it is right on 
 my way and I run in as I go by. 
 
 Tuesday, March 18. 
 Started early and went to see Mrs. C. again, " Oh," she 
 said, " What a change this is from what I was yesterday 
 morning at this time. What if you had not come !" and 
 she burst into tears. Well, we both cried, but it was for joy. 
 It is wonderful to see what a change Christ makes in one's 
 life. I am so thankful God sent me to her just as He did, 
 and helped me so wonderfully in leading her into the light. 
 Oh, to live nearer to Him, so he will use me more ! He gives 
 
 45 
 
me little tastes once in a while just to keep me from getting 
 discouraged when everything seems so hopeless. I know it 
 is wrong to get discouraged, but I do sometimes before I 
 hardly know it. Then some of these bright things come and 
 take it away pretty quick. She wanted to know if I would 
 do my best to keep an eye on the children, and I promised I 
 would do everything I could for them. She says there is a 
 grandmother in New Jersey who she thinks will take them. 
 She wanted me to write her of her condition. Her father and 
 mother were displeased because she married this man and her 
 father had said he would never let her into his house again. 
 I wrote a letter that I think will touch the hearts of that father 
 and mother. I got a woman to go and stay with her for 
 a few days. She loves to have me read and pray with her. I 
 ran in a minute on my way up to-night and she was very com- 
 fortable, except that her back was aching. I rubbed it awhile 
 and she dropped off to sleep. 
 
 Friday, March 21. 
 I went as usual to see Mrs. C. this morning. While I was 
 praying with her, I heard some one come in and stop. I 
 closed sooner than 1 otherwise should, and the next instant 
 she was in her mother's arms, and her father was standing by 
 waiting his turn. As soon as possible she told them who I 
 was. They seem very nice and I am so glad they have come, 
 and that everything will be all right with them. * * * 
 
 Saturday, June 7. 
 Pleasant. I started out early this morning to see all the 
 children who have not brought their plants to the hall for 
 to-morrow, so be sure they would get them there. Have 
 about one hundred and fifty now and there are some so large 
 that the children cannot bring them, so shall not try to get 
 every one out. Seven of them are in Fair Haven. The 
 children who had them moved over there. Out of the one 
 hundred and eighty given out last year, children's day, there 
 are one hundred and seventy in good order now. Think they 
 have done nicely with them. Had the Band of Hope this 
 afternoon and had one hundred and sixty children present. 
 
 46 
 
After the children had gone, some of the ladies from the 
 church came down and helped arrange the plants for to- 
 morrow. It was a good deal of a job to label all of them as 
 the children brought them, but I wanted to be sure each child 
 had its own plant back again. A very good meeting to-night. 
 Stayed to write up the account of the meetings for the day 
 and to do other things that needed to be done, and did not 
 get home till about eleven. 
 
 Sunday, June 8. 
 Pleasant. Went to church and Sunday school at the church 
 and then started for the Sunday school in Oak street. Had a 
 large school to-day, for they knew about the plants. A very 
 large Sunday school to-night also, but every child's plant was 
 labeled so those who were not Sunday school scholars did not 
 receive a plant. They were a good deal surprised, some cried 
 and said they were coming every Sunday now, etc., but I told 
 those who were really coming every Sunday that I would 
 keep a list of their names and if they really did come, I would 
 see that they had a plant. One child felt so very badly and 
 would not be comforted, that I went home with her, for she 
 said her mother would whip her for coming home without a 
 plant. I knew the child and that all she came for was a 
 plant, and knew it was not fair to give her one, when there were 
 fifty hanging around in the same way, so took her and went 
 home with her. Found the mother waiting for her, and it 
 seemed the child had told her mother that all who went to the 
 hall to night were to get a plant, so that was why she was 
 afraid to go home. Well, her mother was as disappointed as 
 she was and began to cry and say she really thought they 
 were going to have a plant. "Now," I said "Your children are 
 not in Sunday school anywhere, but are running the streets 
 all day Sunday. Why is it that you are not willing they 
 should go to the mission ?" " They do go sometimes," said 
 she. "Never," said I, "Only at Christmas time or at sometime 
 when they expect to get something. You have nine children, 
 so you might have had nine plants, but as it is, it would not 
 be right to give your children plants and not give them to 
 the other children who do not come Sunday school. Now, if 
 
 47 
 
you are willing that they should come to Sunday school and 
 will let them come, after I see that they mean business and 
 are really coming, I'll give them each a plant." That made 
 her feel better and she said they might come. Had all the 
 younger children go home first with their plants, so as to be 
 sure they did not get them broken. Gave out two hundred 
 and ten plants to-day, and told them to see how many could 
 care for them this year and bring them next year to trim up 
 with. Had them leave their old plants until to-morrow so to 
 be sure nothing would happen to them on the way home. Told 
 the story of Henry R.'s plant and they were all greatly in- 
 terested. He was a little boy who died last fall, and when 
 he was dying, he said, " Now I can't carry my plant to the 
 mission next children's day, can I." " No," said I, " But I'll 
 carry it for you." " Oh, will you ?■" said he. So I promised 
 him I would carry it and tell the children it was his. He be- 
 came a Christian and so did his mother while they were sick, 
 and both died happy. Mr. Smith told the story to the chil- 
 dren, and as they' all knew Henry and liked him, they were 
 touched by it. Stayed so long with that woman talking plants 
 and Sunday school to her, that I did not get home 'till eleven 
 o'clock. 
 
 Thursday, July 22. 
 
 Went over to State street to teach a woman a passage to 
 recite at the mothers' meeting, Friday. Promised her last 
 week that I would come and teach her one for this week. 
 Taught her Matt, xi: 18 ; "Come unto me," etc. * * 
 Went up to see L.'s mother, and she says L. — is doing well, 
 says they like her very much at the place where she works, 
 and that she has one evening off each week and comes home 
 and spends it with her. That is so different from what she 
 did a year ago. She would not stay in a place then more than 
 two or three weeks, for she was such a hand to run the streets 
 nights and stayed out all night even, and people would not 
 keep her. There are eight of those large girls, sixteen or 
 eighteen years old that were in my Sunday school class for 
 about a year and a half, who were such street walkers that 
 the police were watching them and were on the point of 
 sending them to the Reform School when I first got them in. 
 
 48 
 
They are now nice respectable girls, doing well in the places 
 where they work. Four of the same set of girls were sent to 
 the Reform School two years ago now, just after we opened 
 the mission. Went to see Mrs. C. — to-day and let her have 
 two dollars of her money to get another mattress for a bed. 
 We reckoned up the things that she had bought with the 
 money that she has given me to keep for her since last Sept- 
 ember, and she has bought one full set for a chamber, a bed 
 for another room and four chairs and a rocker, some dishes, 
 ($2.50 worth,) a new dress, a hat, some shoes, stockings, 
 mittens and some cloth for various things, such as sheets, pil- 
 low cases, etc. I now have left $3.60 of her money. Am 
 trying to get as many of the women to save as possible. This 
 woman was one that did "hot have even a bed in her house, 
 and was drinking everything up she could possibly get hold 
 of. She is now living an honest sober life. These things 
 brighten me up. Whenever I am tempted to think all my 
 hard work is good for nothing, some of these cases come up 
 and I can go on again cheerfully. Wish everybody could 
 know just how badly off some of these people were and see 
 the change in them now. But it is impossible without being 
 right with them as I have been. 
 
 Friday, July 25. 
 Pleasant. Went to see the sick woman first and did what 
 I could for her, and then went to see the woman who was so 
 much interested yesterday in the reading. She was a good 
 deal more cheerful to-day and was so happy that the Lord sent 
 me to her she said. I read to her some more and prayed with 
 her again, and she promised to come to the meeting to-night. 
 She came to the mothers' meeting this afternoon. Made 
 eight other calls and then came home to dinner. Went right 
 down to get ready for the meeting before the women came; 
 got there and found eight waiting on the steps for me. The 
 meeting is at two o'clock and they are always there at one, or 
 a little after. There were thirty-two present. At the devo- 
 tional service the women most all gave a passage. They kept 
 coming up to me all through the meeting, and saying over the 
 verse I had taught them, to see if they could do it. One 
 
 49 
 
woman asked me to pray for her husband and she said she 
 would pray for him, too. I really think she is trying to live 
 a Christian life. It was the girls' meeting to-night and so 
 there were only a few there, thirty-five. A man came in at 
 the close of the meeting and wanted to know if I remembered 
 him. I looked at him and had to own I did not. " Well, you 
 ought to," said he. "Just a year ago last March you picked 
 me up out of the gutter, and took me to the lodging house and 
 paid my lodging, and the next day you came to the place 
 early in the morning and took me down to the wood yard, and 
 I sawed wood enough to pay you back, then I came in here to 
 the meetings and told you about my wife and two children, 
 and you urged me to give up drinking and go home to them 
 and treat them all right and have a happy home, and I did it. I 
 promised you I'd write to you, but the truth of it was that I 
 could not write and was ashamed to own it to you." "Yes, 
 I remember you now," said I, " but where are your wife and 
 children now ?" " Oh they are here in New Haven now, up 
 
 on W street, and we have got as nice a little home as you 
 
 often see. Of course, we ain.t got anything nice, but then we 
 are comfortable." Then he wanted me to come right up and 
 see them, said he had told them all about me and they would 
 be glad to see me. So I promised to go up to-morrow and 
 see them. Have often wondered what had become of him, 
 but never really expected to see or hear of him again. Have 
 kept his name in with others, that I have in a little book, of 
 those that I have tried in particular to help. Such a case 
 gives me hope for even the worst of these people. Shall go 
 up in the morning to see the family. Stayed and talked with 
 him a good while. He says he has never drank a drop since 
 that night. Came home about eleven. 
 
 Saturday, July 26. 
 
 Went to see several sick ones then started for W street. 
 
 Found the number of the house as he gave it to me, and his 
 wife seemed to know in an instant who I was. Said her hus- 
 band told her he thought I would come this morning, but that 
 she did not hardly think I would trouble to, as she knew I 
 must be very busy. Had a very pleasant call. She told me 
 
 5° 
 
how wretched she had been, and how her husband had always 
 done ever since they were married until last spring, a year ago. 
 Said she had not seen or heard from him for about six months 
 when he came home to her at that time. She was not going 
 to believe him at first, for he had fooled her so many times, 
 but he seemed so in earnest this time that she thought she 
 ought to try him again, so she did, and she said from that time 
 to this he had done just the best he could and they had had a 
 nice pleasant home. Oh it was so sad to hear her tell how 
 he used to treat her and the children; but then it was so nice 
 on the other hand to hear her tell of the difference now. It 
 made me feel that I would never doubt any one again, but 
 that I would do all in my power for them, no matter how low 
 down they are. They said they were going to church now 
 all of them, and as they are so far from the mission, they will 
 not probably come down to that only once in a while. Made 
 eight other calls to-day and had the Band of Hope, Sewing 
 School, Penny Savings Bank, and the evening meeting to- 
 night. All went off well. Am going home on a vacation 
 to-morrow. Don't want to go off and leave the people and 
 the mission, but know I need the rest. 
 
 Thursday, August 28. 
 Came back to New Haven to-night to get things in shape 
 a little before Sunday. ' Have written to fifty-eight of the 
 mission people since I have been away. They wanted me to 
 write to them, and I promised to answer every one who would 
 write to me, and the result was that fifty-eight of them wrote 
 to me. They knew I was coming back to-day, so twenty-five 
 children were at the depot to come up with me. It was very 
 nice to have them so glad to see me. There was no meeting 
 to-night, so came right up home, and did not go out anywhere 
 but to see one woman who was sick when I went away, and 
 whom I promised to go and see just as soon as I got back. 
 Went to see her and then came in for the night. 
 
 Sunday, August 31. 
 Went to church this morning and to Sunday school and 
 then right after dinner started for the mission Sunday school. 
 
 51 
 
They have been running loose for some time, so a good many 
 of them had gone to the green and some in swimming, and 
 did not get them all. Went into three places and helped 
 wash and dress the children so they could go. That is a 
 thing that they did not use to do. They never thought of 
 such a thing as washing themselves up to go to the mission. 
 In one place where the dirtiest children that we had, lived 
 when we first began to work here, a little girl, ten years old, 
 had to-day given five children younger than herself, a bath, 
 and taken one herself. They all looked as nice and clean as 
 could be. This oldest girl was, without any exception, the 
 dirtiest child we had when we first began, and Oh, how she 
 would swear. Now she is very nice always and very quiet, and 
 clean. She has not been absent from Sunday school this 
 year yet, and has only been absent once, in a year and a half. 
 Not many teachers present at Sunday school, so it was rather 
 hard getting along to-day. After Sunday school went to see 
 three old ladies who live in the same house together, and who 
 are not able to get out to the mission, and read to them awhile, 
 and prayed with them and then talked awhile, they were so 
 glad I had got back. Have been over and read to them and 
 prayed with them certainly once every week, and twice when 
 I could, for more than a year, so it seemed a good while to 
 them that I was gone. Went to the meeting to night and we 
 had a good one, also a good after-meeting. 
 
 Wednesday, November 26. 
 Went to the hall early, for the provisions for Thanksgiving 
 were to come this morning. They came about seven, so I 
 
 could go right to work fixing the baskets. Mrs. C had 
 
 been around all the morning gathering pies so I could put a 
 pie in every basket. To begin with, every basket had to be 
 marked. Then I would take one and fill it according to 
 the family. Where there were nine children of course I put a 
 good deal more in it than where there were only three or lour. 
 But when I got them all done and the papers over them they 
 all looked alike; but the name on the handle told whose it was. 
 * * * * The regular attendants at the mothers' 
 meetings had been invited to the hall at two o'clock to a meet- 
 
 52 
 
ing. The regular meeting is on Friday, so I told them as 
 this was not a regular meeting, not to bring any of their 
 friends. They came with their thimbles ready to sew, but not 
 seeing the tables arranged as usual for work they were sur- 
 prised enough, and stopped, not knowing what to do. I told 
 them we were not going to sew to-day, but were to have a 
 little talk together. So they had a pleasant time talking and 
 singing, and I read to them a thanksgiving story, and Dr. 
 Phillips talked to them a little while and they all enjoyed 
 hearing him very much. As he finished they all sang again, 
 and then I told them of the Thanksgiving meeting we were to 
 have to-morrow night, and asked them all to come, and then 
 gave out the baskets. They were all very much pleased and 
 said a good deal. Oh it is so blessed to be able to make these 
 poor people happy, and make them think some one cares for 
 them! Then it gives many a chance to speak a word to them 
 of how Jesus cares for them. I carried baskets to several 
 places where I knew they would not have anything unless it 
 was a dry crust of bread. Went out this evening and we had 
 quite a large meeting. Came home about ten. 
 
 Thursday, November, 27. 
 I went out this morning about quarter of seven to see if 
 one family for whom I had saved a basket had got anything. 
 Did not take the basket, but went first to see what they had 
 got. I knocked, and no one answered, so after knocking 
 again, tried the door and finding it unlocked, went in. The 
 door from the kitchen was open into a little dark bedroom, 
 where there was no window, and where there were two 
 lodgers sleeping. Knowing where the pantry was, I opened 
 the door and looked in, and there were some potatoes, turnips, 
 chicken, etc., about the same as I should have brought them, 
 so saw the Lord had used some one else to help them and left 
 as quietly as possible, they being none the wiser. Went into 
 five other places before the people were up, and in three of 
 them the children were up, so had a little time with them and 
 talked about what they were going to have good to-day, etc., so 
 in this way found out the ones who were wholly without any- 
 thing good to-day. Then went home to my breakfast and 
 
 53 
 
right out again to attend to the destitute ones. At one place, 
 found the mother and children all crying, and went to work 
 to see what the trouble was. It seemed the poor woman had 
 saved fifty cents intending to get a chicken to-day, but when 
 she went to get it, it was gone, and the husband had gone 
 also. One ol the children had been out and hunted him up, 
 and he was in a saloon spending that money. Well, for one 
 minute I could have — well I don't know what I couldn't have 
 done with that fellow if I had got hold of him. But in an in- 
 stant was calm again, for had prayed for strength and wisdom. 
 " Now," I said, " You shall have the chicken, so don't cry 
 any more about that, but dry up the tears, for I want you all 
 to help me." " I don't care anything about the chicken, only 
 for the children's sake," said the poor wife, " but he will 
 come home so drunk, and then we shall have to fight with him 
 all day. Wish the children and I could all die out of the 
 way." " Oh no," said I, "you must do all you can to help 
 make him a better man." "A better man !" said she, "he 
 has drank for twenty years every cent of my money he could 
 lay his fingers on, it would take a good deal to make him stop; 
 he will never stop as long as he can breathe and get it, he 
 says he shant." " Well," said I, " Will you do exactly as I 
 ask you to, just for to-day ?" "Yes, we will," said the mother, 
 "but there is no use in your getting a chicken, for as soon as 
 you are out of the way, he will take it away from us and go 
 out and sell it before we can get it into the kettle." " Well, 
 we will see," said I. " Now you clean up your faces so he 
 wont know you have been crying, and get cleaned up around 
 here as well as you can before I get back." " Oh don't go 
 after him, for he will kill us sure for telling you." "Don't you 
 fear," said I. " I'll not get you in any trouble, and don't you 
 mention such a thing that he has been in the saloon this 
 morning." I then left. Going along I thought what I would 
 
 do, so going into the saloon, I said, " Mr. will you 
 
 please come to the door a minute, I want to ask a favor of 
 you?" He immediately came, and as I got him outside, I said, 
 "Can you lend me fifty cents till to-morrow?" "Well, no, 
 I can't," said he, " but I'll lend you a quarter." " All right," 
 said I, " that will do." All this time I was getting him along 
 
 54 
 
towards home, without his hardly knowing what I was doing. 
 I had got his money anyway, so he could not spend any more. 
 " Now," I said, " what makes you go back into that saloon? 
 Why not stay right at home with your wife and dear children? 
 It will seem so nice to stay with them and it will make them 
 all so happy." " I can't stay at home," he said, " for there will 
 be a fine row when my wife finds out what I have done." 
 " Why, what have you done ? " said I. " I'll tell you," said 
 he. " You can help me out of this if you will, and if you will, 
 I'll promise you I'll stay in all day with them." " Well, how 
 is it," said I, "I'd like to know how you mean before I prom- 
 ise." " Well, you have borrowed some money of me, haven't 
 you ? well you need not tell her how much, and I wont, and 
 just as soon as I can earn the rest of it, I'll give it to you and 
 you give her the fifty cents that I took out of her pocketbook, 
 this morning." " Yes, I'll help you out said I, if you wili keep 
 your promise which you made, that you will stay in all day 
 with them and not go near the saloon." "I'll do it," said he. 
 By this time we were up the stairs to his tenement. " I've 
 borrowed some money of your husband, said I, and I un- 
 derstand it was your money. What were you going to get with 
 it, anything for to-day ? " " Yes, I was going to get a chicken," 
 said the wife, a little surprised I could see. " Well I'll get 
 you the chicken, said I, so you will have that." I went out 
 and came back soon with a basket of things which I had been 
 looking around to^see where was the best place to use them. 
 " Now," I said, " let me help you get these things on the 
 stove cooking, so you can have your dinner in season." So 
 before I left the house, the chicken was in boiling, and the 
 turnips and potatoes pared and the rice pudding in the oven, 
 and the pie cut, so there was nothing that was in good 
 shape to sell. Did not know how strongly his appetite might 
 come to him after I was nicely out of the way. Left that 
 family feeling differently from what they did when I went in. 
 Went into about twenty more places and did different things 
 in each place. In several, all I had to do was to tell them how 
 to make a rice pudding. In some, they did not understand 
 how to fix the chicken. So after doing all I could to help 
 them, went home and cleaned up and got ready to go to 
 
 55 
 
dinner. * * * * It has been a very pleasant day 
 to me and one I shall never forget. Came home about ten. 
 
 Friday, November 28. 
 Pleasant in the morning. Went around calling all the 
 forenoon. At four of the places where I called the wom- 
 en wanted me to teach them a passage, so when I wanted 
 them to recite one again, they would know one. A great 
 many of them cannot read a word of English. Many of them 
 have never heard the story of the creation, so am reading that 
 to them for the Bible reading, Friday afternoon. Came home 
 to dinner and then went right out calling again. Went to 
 see a woman who came into the hall the other night and who 
 has just come to New Haven to live. Had a real nice talk 
 with her, she seemed to trust me so fully, asked me about 
 our meetings, and the story of Jesus was all new to her. I 
 told her how He died for us and she cried, it touched her so. 
 I had a little Testament in my pocket and took it out and read 
 to her a little, and gave it to her, as she could read English a 
 very little. I prayed with her and she urged me to come to 
 see her again. Shall try and go in a few days. It was a good 
 deal for her to take in, but she seemed to trust me so fully that 
 I am in hopes the Lord will use me in bringing her into the 
 light. Made nine other calls and they were all nice and pleas- 
 ant. Had the meeting for the girls to-night, and they all 
 came by quarter past seven and some at seven, to have time 
 to study some verses before the meeting began. There is 
 one thing about it, these girls have got a good deal of Bible 
 into their heads that will always stay. A very pleasant even- 
 ing. Came home about nine. One little girl asked me to- 
 night if I would pray for her father. 
 
 Saturday, November 29. 
 Started out early this morning to go with some children 
 who must be vaccinated so they can go to school. Their 
 mother was sick, so could not go with them and they were 
 afraid to go alone. Went with them about half-past seven, 
 and then went to sixteen places to see if the children were 
 surely coming to the kitchen garden. They have not been 
 
 56 
 
very regular, and have made up my mind that they are going 
 to come better than they have, if it is a possible thing, and 
 think by going for them a few Saturdays can get them to 
 come all right. Had twenty-one out, so that was a little bet- 
 ter. At two o'clock had the Band of Hope, and then at quar- 
 ter of three the sewing school, fifty-two being present. There 
 were several new depositors in the bank to-day and a good 
 many older ones. Have one hundred and twenty-seven 
 depositors now. After they were all gone went and made six 
 calls where there were sick ones. Went in to see the people 
 who were in such trouble Thanksgiving morning, and the 
 father is at work and he has not touched a drop yet. Gave 
 me the quarter this noon so I could leave it to-night with 
 his wife, and as I went in she said, " He has told me all about 
 it, so I know what you did the other day ; he says he don't 
 know how we can ever pay you for what you have done for 
 us, and I don't either." "I'll tell you," said I, " go right on do- 
 ing right and live good honest lives, and I will feel doubly paid. 
 Take Jesus to help you, for you can never do it alone." Had 
 
 about one hundred out to the meeting to-night and Mr. F 
 
 brought down two ladies who could sing and play, so it was a 
 great help. About fifty stayed to the games. Came home 
 about half-past ten. 
 
 Monday, December i. 
 * * Went up to see that woman again to 
 whom I gave the testament, and she thinks it is just grand if 
 she can believe all I told her, and she wants me to see her 
 husband and tell him, too. Says she don't understand it well 
 enough to tell him. Says she has told him all about me and 
 how kind I have been, etc., so she thinks he will listen to me 
 and let me tell him the story I told her. I shall try and see 
 him as soon as I can. The Lord is certainly blessing the work 
 of the mission greatly, although a good deal of it is not done 
 so that 'every one can see it. I think it will all be plainly 
 seen some day. Made seventeen calls this afternoon. The 
 girls Friendly Society was held to-night and about fifty girls 
 were present. Think it is going to be the means of reaching 
 a good many girls who could not be reached in other ways. 
 
 57 
 
The girls enjoy doing the work very much and are very quiet 
 and ladylike all through the evening. 
 
 Wednesday, December 3. 
 Very stormy. * * * * Going near one place 
 where I did not think of calling to-day I could not seem to 
 get by, so went up into the house and there were seven little 
 children all huddled together trying to keep warm, and the 
 three youngest crying. " Well, children, you look cold," said 
 I, " where is your mother ?" " She has gone to do a washing 
 and then she is going to get a pail of coal and something to 
 eat." Well, I went out and bought a little coal, some meat 
 and a five-cent loaf of bread, and then went in and made a 
 fire and cooked the meat and gave those children something 
 to eat. They ate as if they had not had anything for a week 
 and never expeeted to eat anything more. They were bare 
 footed, so I hunted around and with their help found some old 
 stockings and some old shoes, and they were old, too, and so 
 got their poor, little, cold feet covered a little. When I came 
 away, I left them all as happy as they could be. Left a good 
 fire so that they will certainly be warm all this cold, stormy 
 day. Told them the story of Jesus and they listened very 
 closely; as I got through, one of the little things asked me if 
 I came from Jesus, and I told him Jesus sent me. Shall go 
 up again to-morrow and see how they are. They have not 
 been to Sunday school yet, shall try and get them into it now 
 and don't think I shall have much trouble to do it. Went 
 into eight other places before noon, but found no more as 
 badly off. Kept thinking of that woman to whom I gave the 
 Testament and who was so interested, so went up to see how 
 she was getting along, and the first thing she said as she threw 
 her arms around my neck, was, " Your Jesus is my Jesus too, 
 Oh, come in and tell my husband about it too." So to be 
 sure, I went in, and her husband came to me and said, " You 
 has made my wife crazy about this Jesus man." I said, "Oh, 
 no, she is not crazy, but she is happy, and she wants you to 
 be happy too." So then I told him the story as simply as 
 possible, and he said, " If it is true, why has not anybody 
 told me before ? " I told him he had probably never been 
 
 58 
 
where they had a chance to. I asked him if he ever went to 
 any religious meeting, and he said "No." And his wife said 
 she never had until she came to the hall that night, and she 
 said, " You was kind to me and loved my little baby, so I 
 knew you would not tell me anything wrong." He did not 
 say he would accept of Jesus as his Saviour, but of course he 
 will for he cannot help it. Went to see one of my women 
 who was sick, and found she had been neglected all day, so 
 cleaned her all up and combed her hair and made her bed, 
 got her something to eat, etc., and she seemed like a new 
 woman when I came away. Made four other calls and then 
 came home and got dried up. ready for the evening meeting. 
 It has stormed hard all day. Went to meeting to-night and 
 there were about one hundred and twenty out, and we had a 
 good meeting. It was the night for the boys to stay and we 
 had about fifty to the games. 
 
 Thursday, December 25. 
 * * * Have been around to a good many places to- 
 day wishing thern a " Merry Christmas." At one place there 
 was a little candy store, and as I stepped in and said, " Merry 
 Christmas," the man of the house looked out from the kitchen 
 and shouted, " We are having our " Merry Christmas here, 
 come out and get some." I stepped into the kitchen and 
 there sat nine men around a table drinking beer and playing 
 cards and smoking. I spoke to them, and the man took me 
 up to a large pan of what looked liked doughnuts, he placed 
 a chair for me, and giving me a large iron spoon told me to 
 help myself. I told him I had a late breakfast and would take 
 one with me instead of eating it. Then he said he had some- 
 thing else that he wanted to treat me to, and was very per- 
 sistent. I told him I did not like it. " Why, it is Christmas," 
 said he, "Just take a little to celebrate." Just then his little 
 boy stepped up and pulled his father's coat and said, " She 
 don't want any of that stuff." (He was one of the Band of 
 Hope boys.) " Now if you would let that stuff alone and not 
 touch it to-day, you would be happier to-night and all feel 
 better," said I. One of the men at the table heard me and 
 got up and came to me. " What is that you said about being 
 
 59 
 
happier ? " said he. I repeated what I had said. " What 
 would you have a fellow do ? " said another. " It's a mighty 
 long day to sit around and do nothing all day." '.' Can you 
 play dominoes ? " said I. "Yes, but we haint. got any, so 
 what good does that do us ? " said he. " Can you play check- 
 ers"? said I. "Yes, but we aint got them either," said he. 
 " Well, now," said I, " If you will put away that beer and 
 those cards, and promise me that you will not touch another 
 drop of anything to drink to-day, I'll go to the hall and bring 
 you down some games, and lend them to you for to-day." 
 " Here goes my bottle," said one fellow going to the door 
 and throwing it out. " And here is mine," said another, 
 doing the same. The rest put theirs away, and I went to the 
 hall and got the games and showed them how to play them. 
 Among the rest was Tiddledywinks, and that was new and 
 pleased them greatly. * * * At noon, I went and 
 made them some strong coffee and carried them a pie, and in 
 the afternoon, one of the ladies to whom I had been speaking 
 of my nine men sent them some oranges. * * * 
 Well, I have put six drunken men and one woman to bed to- 
 day, and made them stay there. The men I fixed with games 
 this morning have stayed sober all day. " Now didn't I tell 
 you the truth?" said I. "Are you not happier than you 
 would have been if you had drank that beer all day and played 
 with those dirty cards ? " " Yes, we are," said they, all 
 together, and they shook hands with me and thanked me. 
 Then I asked them to come up to the hall and spend their 
 evenings, and they said they would. 
 
 1891. 
 
 Friday, January 23. 
 There have been several new women at the mothers' meet- 
 ing lately, and I have tried to see them all this morning. At 
 one place they are as badly off as any of the places were 
 when we first commenced here. There is not a bed or a 
 chair in the house. There are two old boxes which they sit 
 down on. There are five children, and Oh, it is so dirty ! 
 The woman had a headache and I said I was sorry, for she 
 
 60 
 
had not been able to do up her work. She looked surprised, 
 but I did not seem to take at all, and kept on talking, and 
 said I would kelp her. So I asked for a broom but she did 
 not have one, so I went and bought a ten cent broom and told 
 her I would make her a Christmas present of it. That made her 
 laugh, and when I began to sweep, she said, " Don't dirty it, 
 keep it clean." " No," I said, " I got it to sweep with and 
 I'll sweep up for you so that you can go to the mothers' meet- 
 ing." I wanted to do it to show her how nice her home could 
 look. There was a decided change in the looks of that 
 room. I wet her broom, so the dust would not rise, I told 
 her, but mainly to get the broom so she would not take it 
 back to the store and exchange it for something else, and 
 after I had swept it all nicely, I took an old rag and dusted. 
 Then I began to smoothe her head for her, and took a wet 
 cloth to cool it, so it was easy to get off some dirt at the same 
 time. I told her if she had a comb and brush I would fix her 
 hair a little, and that would make her head feel better. She 
 had neither, and I went and got a five cent comb and combed 
 her hair out a little. Then I told her to comb it the first 
 thing every morning and wash her face and it would be 
 good for her headache. At the next place everything was 
 about as bad, but the woman did not have the headache, and 
 I could not do the same there. It would not do to go at them 
 and tell them they do not do things right, but by getting 
 some excuse, for doing work for them, they quickly catch on 
 and do it for themselves and think the world of whoever was the 
 means of showing them. I knew this woman would go over 
 to see the other one as soon as I was gone and would see 
 what I had done, and it would have its influence on her also. 
 
 Wednesday, April 15. 
 Went to see sick children all day. Out of the twenty-eight 
 cases that I visited, there was but one that had a bed in the 
 house three years ago, and if the children had been sick then 
 they would have been lying on the floor. Now they are all 
 in beds and looked very comfortable for them. * * * 
 A woman met me as I came out of meeting and asked me to 
 come over and see if I could make her husband go to bed. I 
 
 61 
 
have done it before when he was drunk, so I went in and 
 said, " Your wife tells me you are not feeling well to-night, 
 what seems to be the trouble ? " " My head is all in a whirl," 
 said he. "I'm sorry, but if you'll go to bed I'll promise to stop 
 that whirl," said I. " All right, I'll be much obliged," said 
 he. So after he had knocked over a table and we had saved 
 the lamp from destruction, he got to bed with our help, and I 
 wet a cloth and put on his head to make him think I had 
 really done something for him. He dropped off to sleep, but if 
 we had not got him to bed, he would have kept the rest up all 
 night. 
 
 Thursday, August 21. 
 
 * * I hurried around to help some of the women go 
 on the excursion to-morrow. Mrs. C. thought she could not 
 possibly go and take the children, but after an hour's ironing, 
 mending, etc., I had helped her so all the seven children could 
 go. Then I went and helped Mrs. M., who has eight children. 
 
 Friday, August 22. 
 
 Started early to see if there was any one to help get ready 
 and to see if my fruit and provisions had gone all right. * * 
 At last I had about three hundred men, women and children 
 on board the boat. It was pretty windy and the water was 
 ^ery rough, and in a short time a good many of the people 
 were sick, but they were very quiet all the while even though 
 they were frightened. One woman was wringing her hands, 
 etc., when I heard one of the other women say, " Now — don't 
 be — afraid , — for we — are — all — righ t, — for— Mi — M iss — Miss 
 — Remington — is — here." 
 
 I was so busy with those that were sick that I did not 
 notice that we had turned back until the captain came to me 
 and said, " There is no use trying to go on ; I have turned 
 back for New Haven." For one minute, it seemed as if I 
 could not have it so, and then I thought it must be all right 
 some way or the Lord would not have ordered it so. I asked 
 the captain if the people might stay on board and let me have 
 time to see what I could do. They were delighted to find 
 
 62 
 
that I was still going to plan something for them to do. It 
 took me about an hour to arrange for the two lines of horse 
 cars to take them to Savin Rock, but Mr. Preston was very 
 kind and helped me a good deal. I sent an express man to 
 take the food from the boat to Savin Rock and he did not get 
 there until three o'clock, so they were all pretty hungry. The 
 food disappeared quickly, but they all had enough, and, after 
 all the discouragements, the people had a pleasant day. I 
 will own I was very tired, for it was a trying day. A great 
 many of them have not been away from their dirty homes 
 since I took them last year, and I know it did a great deal 
 of good.* 
 
 Monday, September 28. 
 I have hardly stopped to eat or sleep for the past week, for 
 everything has seemed to come in a heap. On Saturday I 
 invited all of the mission committee and several others down 
 to the Band of Hope and the children had a special programme 
 of songs and poems written for the occasion, and brought the 
 pennies they had given towards the new building as a sur- 
 prise. There were #6.56 that they gave. I was glad to have 
 them do it, for now they will feel that they have all helped 
 towards building it.f 
 
 Tuesday, October 13. 
 
 a * * As I came back to-night, Mr. T 
 
 met me with a quarter towards his ton of coal. There are one 
 hundred and fifty-two families that have nearly money enough 
 to buy themselves a ton of coal. They have been saving in 
 little sums all the summer and fall. One man has just saved 
 what he would have spent in drink every day and he has 
 more than enough already. Another man brought me fifty 
 cents for his coal as I left the hall. 
 
 Tuesday, October 20. 
 I thought I would go around to-day and make a few calls 
 on some of the people I have induced to go to some church. 
 
 ♦During the week or two following this excursion. Miss Remington took parties of children, 
 numbering from ten to fifty, either on day or half-day excursions, until the whole number who 
 shared in the benefit of her fresh air effort was about six hundred, and her journal gives an 
 entry of only $98.20 as the expense incurred. 
 
 IThis amount was later increased to $10.00 by the children's gifts, and was used to pay for 
 the name " Welcome Hall," that was placed over the front door, 
 
 63 
 
At one place where the girl used to walk the streets nights, 
 so much, she is doing nicely. She works, and stays at night 
 in the house. She attends church and Sunday school regu- 
 larly. I met one of the girls whom I had more trouble with 
 than any other, I think, and she told me that she and her 
 mother had a little store. I went and found her mother, and 
 she said she had intended to come and see us and had not 
 forgotten what she owed us there at the mission. It did me 
 good to hear her talk, fori saw that she knew that we had 
 helped her daughter a great deal. I wish that all could see 
 the difference in those two homes. At one place a mother 
 was cutting out some pants for her little boy out of some old 
 ones that had been given her. Three years ago she could 
 not make so much as an apron, to say nothing of really cutting 
 and making pants. Her beds were made, her floor swept, 
 her hair combed and she had a clean dress and apron on. 
 The first time I saw her, three years ago, she was smoking a 
 pipe, and four men were lying around a table, smoking and 
 drinking beer. Her husband and brother were two of the 
 men. Now they are both at work doing well. There are 
 so many cases that were just as bad and worse that are now 
 in good shape. It is perfectly wonderful, I think. But the 
 Lord is able to do great things and He certainly has done it 
 in a great many cases right here. 
 
 Friday, December ii. 
 Started early this morning and went to. twenty-three 
 places this forenoon. After dinner went right back to the 
 hall for mothers' meeting. There were seventy-one present. 
 Had our devotional service at three o'clock. I have made 
 this change so as to be sure they can all stay. One poor 
 woman told me how hard it was for her to get along as her 
 husband is sick and she has no friends to help her. I went 
 home with her and saw that she had told me the truth, so I 
 went out and bought her a few things. Spent sixty-five cents 
 for her. I made seven other calls and then came up and ate 
 a little supper and hurried back for the girls' meeting. Started 
 for home and met a woman coming to see where her daughter 
 was. I started along with her to find the girl. We hunted 
 
 6 4 
 
for about an hour and then went back to the house to see if 
 she had gone home and we found that she had not. As the 
 mother was pretty tired I told her to stay in and I would go 
 on looking. The truth was, she was so slow I knew I could 
 do it quicker alone. After hunting awhile I met R. with 
 another girl and asked her why she did not go home. " What 
 is the use to go home ?" she said, " we can't do anything there 
 and I am not doing any harm. We are only walking around." 
 I persuaded her to go home and went with her. There were 
 several men at a table with plenty of beer around and they 
 were playing cards. " Well," I thought, " I wish some of the 
 ladies could see what I have seen to-night, and it would make 
 it easier for them to keep on working Monday nights just to 
 help keep these girls from going to ruin." They have noth- 
 ing as a rule in their homes to keep them there, but every 
 thing to drive them away. I came home about half-past 
 eleven. 
 
 Friday, December 18. 
 I went out and made twelve calls this forenoon and then 
 hurried home and packed up all the things I could, to be ready 
 to move to my rooms in the new building, for I had engaged 
 a team to come after mothers' meeting this afternoon. Went 
 down to the meeting and had a good number out. At about 
 three o'clock I stopped as usual for our devotional service. A 
 lady came in just then and as I was ready to have them sing, 
 she came up to me and said she would like to say a few words 
 this afternoon, and asked if I was willing. Of course I was 
 delighted, so when they finished singing, I said Miss — — 
 wanted to speak to them a few minutes, and I knew they 
 would be glad to listen to her. I thought they all looked 
 
 very much pleased and in an instant, I saw why. Miss 
 
 said, " Miss Remington, it is you that I wish to speak to this 
 afternoon and not the women," and then she presented me 
 with a beautiful chair. I could not say much, but I knew it 
 was a great deal for those women to save their money and do 
 so much for me. I thought, I would never get tired of doing 
 for them again, for it is worth everything to feel that they are 
 my friends and they know I am theirs. I do love them all, 
 I cannot help it, and I would not if I could. 
 
 65 
 
1892. 
 
 Monday, March 28. 
 
 Mr. C. stayed here last night and this morning he wanted 
 to know if there was anything he could do for us, so I let him 
 fix the furnace and take up the ashes. It was very funny last 
 night when I told him he could stay here, he was so afraid of 
 making trouble. I showed him his room and after a time he 
 appeared and asked for a pail. The clean sheets made him 
 realize how dirty he was. I told him he could go down stairs 
 and have a good bath. I gave him plenty of soap and towels 
 and he worked about an hour scrubbing up. I have two rooms 
 here in the new building, so if I have a man or woman I don't 
 know what to do with for a day or so I can take them in and 
 take care of them. Then it is so nice to have a bathroom for 
 them. The man went away this morning determined to let 
 drink alone for the day and to try and find work. Made nine 
 calls this morning and then came home to dinner. Found a 
 lady just going away. She came back and told me about her 
 boy who drinks very badly and she wanted me to help her. 
 I told her I could not, but the Lord could and we would ask 
 Him to show us and use us in winning her son. She is not 
 a Christian, but seemed willing to do anything to help her 
 son. I told her the first thing was to give herself to Jesus 
 and her son would be more likely to accept Him. Shall do 
 all in my power to help them. ***** Had 
 the meetings as usual to-night ; the Gospel meeting in the 
 large hall, the Friendly Workers' Society in the girls' room, 
 and the reading room was open for the young men. It is so 
 nice to have all these things with the rooms for them. Oh, 
 yes, there was a dressmaking class in the laundry, and once a 
 month there is a cooking class. I often think of the time 
 when Miss G. and I were plodding away with the girls over 
 in the other room and were at our wits' end to know what to 
 do with them. Now the young ladies attend to the work so 
 it is not one bit of worry to me. Mr. C. staid here again to- 
 night as he has not found work. There were about fifty men 
 at the meeting to-night, and there are a good many of them 
 trying to stop drinking. The fifteen who came forward for 
 
 66 
 
prayers last night were all here to-night. One woman brought 
 me three dollars and a half to keep for her rent. She comes 
 every week and brings her money for me to keep for her so 
 she will not be tempted to spend it for drink. 
 
 Tuesday, March 29. 
 
 * * * * When I came home for dinner I found 
 a little girl waiting to see me to tell me of a man who was sick. 
 I found the man quite sick and his wife quite drunk, so I had 
 a time between the two. The man was very anxious for a 
 doctor, so I came home and telephoned for one. I had just 
 come in when the bell rang again and a child had come to 
 say her mother wanted me to tell the people at the hospital 
 that she could go there to-day, (she is to have an operation 
 performed,) she also wanted me to get a cab for her. I just 
 went up-stairs and telephoned to the hospital, also to the Cab 
 Co., so that was all done very easily. No one knows what a 
 help the telephone is to me. It saves a great many miles of 
 walking in the course of a week. * * * * When 
 a man was going home from his work to-night he stopped and 
 told me how he had wanted a drink all day and asked me if I 
 would pray for him so he would not yield to temptation. I 
 asked him in and prayed with him, and then he said with 
 God's help he would not yield and he promised to come in 
 again in the morning. 
 
 Wednesday, March 30. 
 
 * * Gave twenty-eight girls and three little boys 
 a bath after school to-day. It is such fun to see how they 
 enjoy it. The worst of it is to put their dirty clothes back on 
 them again. Wish some of the people who have never seen 
 how their clothes are would attempt to dress one of them. We 
 had a religious meeting in the main room this evening and 
 the reading room open as usual. There were forty-five men 
 in the reading room to-night. One of the women brought me 
 the last ten cents towards her ton of coal. Another woman 
 gave me a quarter to keep for her. She is keeping a little bank 
 account, hoping to be able to get some things to fix up her 
 home a little. There are over two hundred depositors in the 
 bank now. 
 
 67 
 
Saturday, April 2. 
 * * * While at dinner a little girl came and 
 said her mother wanted me to come and see Mrs. M. I went 
 as soon as possible and she was just on the verge of delirium 
 tremens. She wanted me to send for the doctor for her, so I 
 sent for one of the medical students and he came. There 
 were three others in there almost as badly off, but it is very 
 different from what it was when there were twenty or twenty- 
 five such creatures there all the time, men and women both. 
 Any one who had never seen it so much worse would think it 
 pretty bad now. The yard was full of children ready for the 
 Band of Hope at one o'clock. There were about two hun- 
 dred in to-day * * . * After the sewing school and 
 after I had attended to the bank, I started out to collect money 
 for some men who cannot draw their own pay. I have fifteen 
 families now that I am looking out for and drawing their pay 
 for them and helping them about using it. Three of the men 
 would have lost their jobs if I had not promised to take care 
 of their wages for them, and the rest want me to take care of 
 theirs for them so they can pay up their debts, as I can make 
 it go farther than they. There was one family where there 
 was a man, his wife, and three children. The man has for a 
 long time been genuinely trying to give up drink, but I went 
 to see him once when he had just been having a spree. He 
 said, " It don't make much difference what becomes of us 
 anyway. We can never be anybody and have things like 
 other folks." I said, " Yes you could if you would let the 
 drink alone." He said, " I couldn't get out of debt then, on 
 seven dollars a week, and owe as much as I do now, so I 
 might as well drink and have some fun as I go along." " If 
 you would let drink alone for three months you could get out 
 of debt very easily," I said. " Why, Miss Remington," he 
 said, " you know it couldn't be done." " If you will give me 
 your wages, every cent of them, and work all the time for 
 three months, I will support your family and pay every debt. 
 If I don't, I'll pay them myself." " I will do it, but I think 
 she will get sick of her bargain. Don't you ?" said he, turn- 
 ing to his wife. She did not think it could be done, but I 
 had made the offer and I made up my mind I would do it. 
 
 68 
 
When the time was up I had every debt paid and five dollars 
 in the bank for him. * * * 
 
 Sunday, April 3. 
 
 When I came home from church to-day one of the children 
 met me and said her mother was worse, so I went home with 
 her, and worked over the woman for a while. Oh, how dirty 
 she is ! I am going to clean that woman up if I live until 
 to-morrow. It is dreadful to go there and work in such filth. 
 I gave the girls a bath the other day and they say they have 
 felt funny ever since. There were eighty who had a bath 
 here this last week. It is beginning already to make the peo- 
 ple clean the children's clothes and it will do a great deal in 
 that line soon. After dinner I started for my little ones. I 
 had one hundred and twenty-eight to-day. I had to go home 
 with some of the little ones who are too small to go alone. 
 On my way I stopped to invite some to the meeting to-night 
 whom I am anxious to have come. We had the children's 
 meeting first, as usual, with about two hundred present. 
 There were not as many at the meeting for older ones as last 
 Sunday evening, only about one hundred and fifty. A very 
 good meeting. At the after meeting there were eight new 
 ones who asked us to pray for them, besides several who have 
 done so before. After the after meeting they staid and talked 
 for some time. 
 
 April 29. 
 
 Stormy in the morning, but cleared up towards night. Went 
 up about six o'clock to see one of my men that is having a 
 very hard struggle just now trying to leave off drinking. He 
 was having that dreadful craving that drunkards have, and 
 said that he must have a drink or die. I asked his wife if 
 she had an egg, and as she did not have, came home and got 
 one, also some milk and red pepper. I beat up an egg and 
 put it in a glass of milk, and put quite a good deal of the red 
 pepper into it and stirred it up together, then gave it to him 
 to drink. It seemed to help him, so I told his wife whenever 
 he had that teeling again to give him som^ more of it. I 
 asked if he wanted me to pray with him, and he said he did : 
 after praying, I asked him to pray for himself and he asked 
 God to help him and to keep him for to-day. Went to see a 
 
 69 
 
sick woman and found several things to do there. The first 
 thing was to clean her up the best I could, which was quite a 
 job. Then I fixed up a nice little breakfast for her, and used 
 a clean handkerchief that I had with me for a napkin. She 
 said it looked so good that she could not help eating it. After 
 doing all in my power for her, I asked her if I should pray 
 for her and she said, " Yes, do pray." Then went to the 
 Orphan Asylum to see about a little girl that I wanted to get 
 in there. Hurried back and went to the City Hall to get 
 Mrs. B.'s money; then made six short calls and hurried in to 
 get dinner. While at dinner there were four different ones 
 came to tell me of their troubles, etc. Before we were through 
 eating the bell rang, and upon looking out of the window, I 
 saw eleven women standing there ready to get in for the 
 mother's meeting. There were only sixty-eight present to- 
 day. There are two or three new ones that I have to praise 
 up a good deal yet about their basting, in order to get them 
 to sew well. Twelve women gave me five cents each to keep 
 for their coal next winter. As soon as the meeting was over 
 went up to see how my man was getting along, and found he 
 was all right and that the egg, pepper and milk had helped 
 him. Prayed with him again, and then went off and made 
 five calls before it was time for supper. While eating, three 
 of the people came for advice, etc., and when I got through 
 there were about thirty girls in the yard waiting to get in. 
 There were sixty-four girls present, and besides repeating the 
 Bible verses and chapters that they have learned, they learned 
 seven new verses to-night. One of the young men came and 
 asked if he could have a bath, so went down and made the 
 necessary arrangements, and then left him to clean up. Came 
 up stairs about half-past ten. 
 
 April 30. 
 
 Got up about five o'clock and did some work that was to 
 be done here. As soon as we were through breakfast I went 
 up to see Mr. -j — , and he is feeling a good deal better to-day. 
 On my way back to the house I saw one of my men, and he 
 said he was just going to the hall to see if I was there, for he 
 wanted me to pray with him, that he might be kept from 
 
 70 
 
yielding to temptation to-day, so took him into the hall and 
 prayed with him and got him to pray for himself. Some one 
 said to-day, " What makes you work so with those good-for- 
 nothing creatures ?" I don't think they are good for nothing, 
 or at least, they ought not to be, and with God's help they 
 shal lnot be. Made six calls before it was time for the Kitchen 
 Garden class. One of the girls told me her mother was sick, 
 so while they were having their lesson, I went down to see 
 her. Well, I should think she would be sick : she was so 
 dirty. She has been lying there several days and no one has 
 done anything for her. She felt better as soon as I got her 
 cleaned up. She said she had sent for me three or four times, 
 but it was when I was out. After the Kitchen Garden class 
 had gone, went out and made four more calls and then came 
 in for dinner. The yard was full of boys and girls ready for 
 the Band of Hope at one o'clock. There were one hundred 
 and ninety-eight present. Three of the boys and four of the 
 girls said their mother wanted to see me this afternoon. After 
 the Band of Hope is the sewing school, and it was not quite 
 as large as it is sometimes. The Penny Savings Bank is well 
 patronized just now, better than it has been all winter, by the 
 boys and girls. Just as soon as the children had all gone I 
 started for the money which I collect every week for the men. 
 Stopped and called on three of the women that wanted to see 
 
 me. Went to see how Mrs. was to-day and found her 
 
 better. She said, " Oh can't you read a little to me and pray 
 with me before you go ?" so I did. Had to stop at the Organ- 
 ized Charities and see about a case ; then hurried back and 
 went to see the rest of the women who wanted to see me. 
 Came back here at six so to be here when the people came 
 for their money. Helped Mr. and Mrs. M. plan for next week, 
 then went out and bought supplies for another family to last 
 over Sunday. By this time it was supper time. The W. C. 
 T. U. had their meeting in the large room, and I had the usual 
 meeting for the boys and girls in the smaller rooms. After 
 the meeting the boys have the games and the baths. Twenty- 
 'eight had a bath to-night. After they were all gone I arranged 
 my room for my infant class to-morrow. Came up stairs 
 about half-past eleven. 
 
 71 
 
EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE JOURNALS 
 
 ISS gjp. |£. REMINGTON 
 
 MISSIONARY OF THE 
 
 WELCOME HALL MISSION, 
 
 NEW HAVEN, CONN. 
 
 PRICE SO CKNTS. 
 
 Copyright i8q2 by Miss M. E. Remington, New Haven, Conn.