ge, prayer was the only resource. The LORD
answered it by the unexpected arrival of a long-lost box of clothing
from Swatow, that had remained in the care of the Rev. William Burns
when I left him for Shanghai, in the early summer of the previous year.
The arrival of the things just at this juncture was as appropriate as it
was remarkable, and brought a sweet sense of the FATHER'S own providing.

About two months later the following was penned:----

_November 18th, 1857._

Many seem to think that I am very poor. This certainly is true enough in
one sense, but I thank GOD it is "as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, yet possessing all things." And my GOD shall supply
_all_ my need; to Him be all the glory. I would not, if I could, be
otherwise than I am--entirely dependent myself upon the LORD, and used
as a channel of help to others.

On Saturday, the 4th inst., our regular home mail arrived. That morning
we supplied, as usual, a breakfast to the destitute poor, who came to
the number of seventy. Sometimes they do not reach forty, at others
again exceeding eighty. They come to us every day, LORD'S Day excepted,
for then we cannot manage to attend to them and get through all our
other duties too. Well, on that Saturday morning we paid all expenses,
and provided ourselves for the morrow, after which we had not a single
dollar left between us. How the LORD was going to provide for Monday we
knew not; but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls in the Chinese
character--_Ebenezer_, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us"; and
_Jehovah-Jireh_, "The LORD will provide"--and He kept us from doubting
for a moment. That very day the mail came in, _a week sooner than was
expected_, and Mr. Jones received a bill for two hundred and fourteen
dollars. We thanked GOD and took courage. The bill was taken to a
merchant, and although there is usually a delay of several days in
getting the change, this time he said, "Send down on Monday." We sent,
and though he had not been able to buy all the dollars, he let us have
seventy on account; so all was well. Oh, it is sweet to live thus
directly dependent upon the LORD, who never fails us!

On Monday the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we had not told
them not to come, being assured that it was the LORD'S work, and that
the LORD would provide. We could not help our eyes filling with tears of
gratitude when we saw not only our own ne