The following letter from Rev. J. S. Porter, Missionary of the American Board, will explain itself. Will there not be among those who shall read it some one who would like to purchase the remaining coins given by the poor little orphan girl in Bohemia for the colored people? If so, our Treasurer, H. W. Hubbard, will forward the coins upon application from those who would like to purchase one or more of them. A Christian lady in Detroit, who abounds in good works, has generously sent us $25 for one of the coins:
"Prague, Bohemia, Sept. 14, 1895.
"Enclosed find seven Austrian crowns, the gift of a little orphan girl, Marie Kuchera. She wanted to do something for the colored people, and this is her offering. Her pastor wished me to send the original crowns that she gave. Some two years ago I was called into the country, an hour and a half away, to officiate at the communion service of a poor consumptive mother and widow. It was a joy to see her sweet patient endurance during all the long hours she was waiting for her Lord. She had not long to wait.
"The little girl who sends these seven crowns—which equal $1.40 in our money—was the little one she left an orphan. Their home is a humble one, only one living room, and yet in this humble cottage she is learning to open her heart to the great needs of her Master's kingdom, and rejoices to send these offerings for the poor black children."
ACTIVITY, ECONOMY, BENEVOLENCE.
The following letter tells the story of the remarkable career of a Christian minister, whose activity was maintained through a long life, and whose self-denial enabled him to accumulate handsome sums of money to be bestowed on worthy objects of benevolence. His sympathies were not narrow, but widespread, and his genial love of children continued to his latest days:
"My father, Rev. Otis Holmes, of Lake Grove, L. I., was an enthusiast in missions, and never let the time of the missionary concerts go by without attendance. His salary was never above $800 per year—latterly only $400—and during his last years, to save the Home Missionary Society, he gave his services. By rigid economy and incessant toil, with no vacation during fifty years, he laid aside $1,500 for missions, $500 to the American Board, $500 to the American Missionary Association, $500 to the Home Missionary Society. He gave, too, a parsonage lot, and contributed largely to two parsonages.
"In his earlier ministry he came in contact with pro-slavery parishioners, and ever and always stood up for the slave, and at no little sacrifice. And so upon the temperance question, at the age of eighty and upwards he would arouse most intense enthusiasm in meeting. None were heard oftener or more gladly. He had great strength and vigor and rarely ever missed an appointment. No weather detained him. He won many souls to Christ, and was quite often called away to revival work. He was exceedingly fond of children and entered heartily into their pastimes. He died at Lake Grove at the age of nearly ninety-one, and was an active pastor at the age of eighty-four. He died honored of his ministerial brethren, whom he ardently loved, and was mourned by a large number whom he had benefited during his ministry. Such a life of labor and love should make its appeal to a selfish and skeptical world."