The work of no other society gathers so immediately about the name of Abraham Lincoln as does that of the American Missionary Association, and we trust that Lincoln Memorial Day will be celebrated by the churches throughout the land, and that large special offerings will pour into the Association's treasury to bring emancipation from debt and furnish the means for larger labor this glad Jubilee Year.
"PAT'S MISS'N BOX."
BY MRS. E. C. READ.
In one of our Kansas missionary societies a mulatto woman was employed as housekeeper. She has a very bright and attractive little girl, not yet three years old, whose full name is Alice May Lapsly. By the young lady of the house she has been pet-named "Pat," and so is called "little Pat" by the ladies of the missionary society. "Little Pat" became greatly interested in the young lady's mission box, and wanted one for herself. The young lady procured a little modern barrel for her, and the child has saved all the money that has been given her for candy etc., putting it in her "miss'n barral" saying it was to help build a chapel. She began putting her pennies in the barrel when two-and-a-half years old. At the end of three months she brought it to the ladies as they were preparing to send their money to the treasurer. On opening, little Pat's barrel was found to contain one dollar and two cents, which the ladies have sent to the American Missionary Association for the colored schools of the South. They hope the gift and story of "little Pat" may bring courage to the workers and lead others to save their pennies to help feed Christ's lambs. Little Pat is not weary in well doing, but is again collecting money for missions. Soon after the barrel was emptied a book agent called at the house. Pat went up to him as he stood in the door, clasped her arms about his knees and looking up said: "If you dive me some money for my miss'n box Desus will like you." The man looked at her and gave her half a dollar, saying: "The idea of a little thing like that asking for money for missions," and with a queer look on his face which Pat's mother described by saying, "he looked as if he was going to cry," he turned and walked off without describing his book.
Truly, "A little child shall lead them."