New Britain herald., 1918-02-21

Bibles and other Christian literature
 are distributed in Polish, Slovak, Bo-
 hemian, Lithuanian and Italian, as
 we'll as in English, and very gratify-
 ing result have followed, as when
 some have been led to subscribe to
 the Polish and Slovak papers for
 themselves, or an Italian woman has
 asked to buy a hymn-book so she can
 teach the children from it. Some
 times the report comes, My uncle
 read the paper you gave me-" or a
 Testament is requested because My
 boarder took the other one you gave
 me with him. and we welcome
 every evidence that the leaven is
 working in ways that we had not an
 ticipated.
 Mothers meetings are held in connection with the Methodist sew
 ing-school and helpful talks on mat ters relating to the home are given the women in their monthly gather l ings. Tn June, @ weekly meeting for Italian women was started in the City Mission office, where the women are given Bible talks in their own lan- guacye, as well as assisted in making garments for their children. This little gathering gives us a special opportunity to help those who are
 bearin heavy burdens of sorrow and privGtion, and who find comfort in the hymns and in the assurace of Divine help in our daily lives.
 "Our work in the homes of the needy people of the city has recently been extended through the request of the Home Service Com Inittee of 1p nH hot oS.1,n h families of men in service in the army and navy, for purposes of in NeStiGation, relief and comfort. This opens the door for an extension Of our work which we believe will be fruitful in increasing our usefulness end enabling us 10 give our svmpa- thetc interest and assistance to ; those whose hearts are heavy with anxiety and whose homes are fccing the dread effects of war. As this part of our work has come to us quite re- gently 1t is too early to speak of 1t in detail, but We are glad that we may in this way extend our friend ship to those in need.
 'Thc work of the sewing-sch ools and other classes and the home yisi- tatiOn are greatly benefited bv the assistance of eight students from tic Kennedy schol of Missions, and we
 are most grateful that they have been ! assigned to our field for thei1, nrac- tice work. Their efficient service in
 cur industrial classes, in personal ! work in the homes and in teaching 1 foreign women English is invaluable, i and we feel that without thair hcip our work would be sadly crippled. In addition to the three appointed n:s- l sionaries of our Society and the ] students from Hartford, we have a 1 loyal band of about fifty voluntco ar workers whose efficient help and Christian influence in the soWin2~ i schools cannot be estimated. We re- ! ioiCe in their devotion to this work and in their consecrated ability and would pay loving tribute at this time to their faithful cooperation
 T wish that it were possible for me to tell you in detail of some of
 the pleasures that we enjoy together, 1 for life is not all grey and somber among our tenement dwellers and we ! have our seasons of recreation and refreshment. I can only touch upon these but I can assure you that no part of our investments of effort or money pays moro immediate interest than that which we put into these Oc | CaSlOn0I 1CSllN1CleS- Duf1nS the sum mer we try to give at least one out ing 10 each group of children and older people under our care, and thjS 1ast summer, owing to the fact that , cur assistant missionaries are cOmpo- tent fnanciers. car rides. with re- treatments, and one automobile ride were provided for 237 women and children at an expense of only $35.32. We could have used several times that sum to good advantage if it had been contributed. Two girls were Missionary society of the Methodist church and we wish that it were pos sible to give a like benefit to many more this coming summer.
 At Thanksgiving time, our neigh hors were not forgotten even in this mcatless, wheatless, sugarless year, and many fervent expressions of grat- itude came back to us from the re- cipicnts.
 christmas was a time of double blessing, of the kind that 'blesses him that gives and him that takes and we were greatly cheered to see how nermeated all hearts in Q spcial way 1lis year when on earth, peace seemed an almost forgotten message Snecia1 celebrations were held in the three sewing schools the Italian Sun dav school and the Mothers meet ;res and personal gifts were distri- butcd to a large number of families. "The spirit of giving seemed to be