THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.

Ir is consolatory to find that one of the results of Ragged Schools in this country, has been the establishment in the United States of a kindred Institution, "THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY" of New York, and of a new paper called the "RAGGED SCHOOL REPORTER," which, like our own Magazine, is published for the purpose of bespeaking pecuniary aid and public sympathy for the cause it advocates.

The movement in New York has owed its origin to individual effort. The Rev. Lewis Pease is the name of the good missionary who, struck with the physical and spiritual destitution of the people inhabiting THE FIVE POINTS district of that great city, and having in vain appealed to the parents and adult persons among them to lead a better course of life than that they were pursuing, turned his efforts towards rescuing the "little children" from the state in which they were. "He gathered a few around him one morning," says the account before us, "and said, 'Boys, show me a baker's shop.' They ran eagerly to do so; but the baker refused at first to feed these.' young thieves, as he termed them; so the missionary purchased bread, and distributed it himself. And now, children,' said he, will you come to my meeting, next Sunday, at the corner of Cross Street?' They answered, Yes; and kept their word; but the meeting was far from encouraging to the prospect of reform. Hootings and peltings greeted the religious exercises, and constrained a speedy adjournment; nevertheless, MR. PEASE had broken the ice; and on the Sabbath following he opened his meeting in the room fitted for the purpose, and which had formerly been a grog shop. Here, by mingled appeals to moral and physical wants-by feeding the hungry, coaxing the timid, and gradually familiarizing his operations to the peculiar natures with which he had to deal-he at length gathered up an attentive and quiet congregation, out of what had been the very dregs of the Five Points.'

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"MR. PEASE Soon discovered that, to gain influence in this degraded locality, he must go and live there, and become a neighbour of the inhabitants. Accordingly, he took up his abode among them, and received as inmates some of the most destitute and wretched. A Sabbath and Day School were 800n in active operation, and a commencement made for industrial training. For some time the whole pecuniary responsibility of the undertaking was upon himself, assisted by such voluntary subscriptions as he could raise; but after a time, the Institution had become so far enlarged, as to require the renting of three houses, in addition to that originally hired. The National Temperance Society thereupon came forward with a proposition, which was accepted, to take the Institution, with its superintendent as agent, and become responsible for it for the future."

Since then, the Children's Aid Society has been established; and its appeal to the public is so well expressed, gives us so complete an insight into the state of the Juvenile Dangerous Class of New York, and points out so convincingly the means by which the existing evils may be met and provided against, that we cannot do better than call the attention of our readers to it :

"This Society,' says the notice, has taken its origin in the deeply-seated feeling of our citizens that something must be done to meet the increasing crime and poverty among the destitute children of New York. Its objects are to help this class, by opening Sunday Meetings and Industrial Schools, and gradually, as means shall be furnished, by forming lodging-houses and reading-rooms for children, and by employing paid agents, whose sole business shall be to care for them.

"As Christian men, we cannot look upon this great multitude of unhappy, deserted, and degraded boys and girls, without feeling our responsibility to

God for them. We remember that they have the same capacities, the same need of kind and good influences, and the same immortality, as the little ones in our own homes. We bear in mind that One died for them, even as for the children of the rich and the happy. Thus far, almshouses and prisons have done little to affect the evil. But a small part of the vagrant population can be shut up in our asylums; and judges and magistrates are reluctant to convict children, so young and ignorant, that they hardly seem able to distinguish good and evil. The class increases. Immigration is pouring in its multitudes of poor foreigners, who leave these young outcasts everywhere abandoned in our midst. For the most part, the boys grow up utterly by themselves; no one cares for them and they care for no one. Some live by begging, by petty pilfering, by bold robbery; some earn an honest support by peddling matches, or apples, or newspapers; others gather bones and rags in the streets, to sell. They sleep on steps, in cellars, in old barns, and in markets; or they hire a bed in filthy and low lodging-houses. They cannot read. They do not go to school, or attend a church. Many of them have never seen the Bible. Every cunning faculty is intensely stimulated. They are shrewd and old in vice, when other children are in leading-strings. Few influences, which are kind and good, ever reach the vagrant boy; and yet, among themselves, they show generous and honest traits. Kindness can always touch them. The girls too often grow up even more pitiable and deserted. Till of late, no one has ever cared for them. They are the crosswalk sweepers, the little apple-pedlars and candy-sellers of our city; or, by more questionable means, they earn their scanty bread. They traverse the low, vile streets, alone, and live without mother or friends, or any share in what we should call home. They know, also, little of God or Christ, except by name. They grow up passionate, ungoverned; with no love or kindness ever to soften the heart. We all know their short, wild life; and the sad end.

"These boys and girls, it should be remembered, will soon form the great lower class of our city. They will influence elections-they may shape the policy of the city-they will, assuredly, if unreclaimed, poison society all around them. They will help to form the great multitude of robbers, thieves, vagrants, and prostitutes, who are now such a burden upon the law-respecting community.

"In one ward alone of the city, the XIth, there were, in 1852, out of 12,000 children between the ages of five and sixteen, only 7,000 who attended school, and only 2,500 who went to Sabbath School-leaving 5,000 without the common privileges of education, and about 9,000 destitute of public religious influence.

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In view of these evils, we have formed an Association, which shall devote itself entirely to this class of vagrant children. We do not propose in any way to conflict with existing asylums and institutions, but to render them a hearty co-operation, and, at the same time, to fill a gap, which of necessity they have all left. A large multitude of children live in the city, who cannot be placed in asylums, and yet who are uncared for, and ignorant, and vagrant. We propose to give to these WORK, and to bring them under religious influences. A Central Office has been taken, and an agent, CHARLES L. BRACE, has been engaged to give his whole time to efforts for relieving the wants of this class. As means shall come in, it is designed to district the city, so that hereafter every Ward may have its agent, who shall be a friend to the vagrant child. Boys' Sunday Meetings have already been formed, which we hope to see extended, until every quarter has its place of preaching to boys. With these we intend to connect Industrial Schools,' where the great temptations to this class, arising from want of work, may be removed, and where they can learn an honest trade. Arrangements have been made with manufacturers, by which, if we have the requisite funds to begin, five hundred

boys, in different localities, can be supplied with paying work. We hope, too, especially to be the means of draining the city of these children, by communicating with farmers, manufacturers, or families in the country, who may have need of such for employment. When homeless boys are found by our agents, we mean to get them homes in the families of respectable, needy persons in the city, and to put them in the way of an honest living. We design, in a word, to bring humane and kindly influences to bear on this forsaken class-to preach, in various modes, the GOSPEL OF CHRIST to the vagrant children of New York.

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Numbers of our citizens have long felt the evils we would remedy, but few have the leisure or the means to devote themselves personally to this work with the thoroughness which it requires. This Society, as we propose, shall be a medium through which all can, in their measure, practically help the poor children of the city.

"We call upon all who recognise that these are the little ones of Christ; all who believe that crime is best averted by sowing good influences in childhood; all who are the friends of the helpless, to aid us in our enterprise.'" May the CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY flourish, and accomplish all the good its promoters have at heart!

"FAINT, YET PURSUING."

A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE LATE MISS JANE M. HUGHES, THE DEVOTED DAY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE "FIELD LANE RAGGED SCHOOL." If ever the above words could with propriety be applied to other than Joshua and his three hundred men, (Judges vii. 4,) they marvellously express the character of the departed one, the subject of this memoir. With an object before her, she lived for and sacrificed all to it. "Not weak in faith," though weak in body, she knew, or rather she allowed no difficulties-she was "faint, yet pursuing."

Miss Hughes was born in London, June 14th, 1821. She was a thoughtful child, and liked good books, but scarcely the subject of deep convictions till between sixteen and seventeen years of age. It was a sermon on the day of judgment that first made her tremble. After the work of grace had been begun in her soul about three years, she was one Sunday passing down Gray's Inn Lane, and was driven by a snow-storm into the Episcopal Chapel, where the late Mr. Mortimer was preaching. This was of God, as the sequel will show. The trials through which that afflicted, but honoured servant passed, and the comforts he received, were not simply for himself. He "comforted others with the comfort wherewith he himself was comforted of God," and the trials through which Miss Hughes had to pass made his sermons very precious to her. For years she fed and grew under his ministry. Until 1844, she was not led out into active service for the Lord. She had learnt, however, the Lord's grace and love, and was now to tell of Him. In August of that year, a fellow attendant on Mr. Mortimer's ministry prevailed upon her and her companion, (then Miss Rice,) to promise to attend the Field Lane School, then comparatively in its infancy. Miss Hughes went the same afternoon. A class of boys was subsequently given to her, and though, when first invited to the school, she had shrunk back on the ground that she had never been used to teaching, she at once became thoroughly interested. Her heart was in it. This was the secret of all her after devotedness and continuance. She never left the work from that day till she went to her bed from which she never rose, having persevered for nearly nine years. For four years she was a voluntary teacher. In 1848, she became the Day School Teacher. To this she gave her whole soul. She strained every nerve in the work, and as her kind and Christian physician, (Dr. Waller of Finsbury Square,) said, “it was

NERVE, and not STRENGTH." For some time she managed the school entirely without assistance. During the whole time she was connected with it, she had the school in perfect order. The stamp of her little foot, (she was very small of stature,) not only demanded, but effectually commanded silence, and often has some comparatively gigantic stripling, (for elder boys and young men gladly attended the day school,) been unable to resist her. She was firm, yet gentle, and would be minded. But it was the firmness and gentleness of LOVE!

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Miss Hughes was not one of those who labour a certain number of hours for a certain sum. 'Field Lane" was her home-the work her delight. Not only did she labour during the week, but no one could dissuade her from attending the Friday and Sunday Evening School. The difficulty was not to insure, but to prevent her attendance. Her labours were great even for a strong person, and she was ever of a weakly constitution; and in addition laboured under repeated attacks of bronchitis and most violent palpitations from a heart in some way affected. Sometimes these attacks compelled her to be absent, but often at other times has she gone to work in a state when others would have kept their bed. On one occasion Dr. Waller had ordered her leeches, and the friends with whom she resided were alarmed in the night, being unable for some time to check the profuse bleeding, and yet the next morning she was at " Field Lane," as if nothing had happened. In short the question with her was not, Should I go? but, Can I? If she found the thing possible, that was enough. Thus, notwithstanding all her ailments she lived above them, and did more than many healthy persons. was "faint yet pursuing."

Truly she The following motto, found written in her diary, bearing date January 1st, 1853, is characteristic of her indomitable perseverance in the improvement of time:

"Servant of the Lord most high,

Catch the moments as they fly."

In the month of March, this year, she had a most severe illness. She told Mr. Brock of Bloomsbury Chapel, (under whose pastoral care she had been from the time Mr. Mortimer proposed to leave London in 1849,) when he called to see her during her illness, that she once thought she should have died. She rallied, however, and for a little time, prior to the School being closed for cleansing, again resumed her duties; but she never quite recovered the attack. The day of the annual meeting, May 4th, was the last time she was there, She complained of being very ill; but the friends who gathered on the occasion, little thought they should never see her again till clothed upon" with her "glorious body." She went home, took to her bed, and on the ninth day she was "absent from the body, present with the Lord." Thus, to the very end, she clung to Field Lane-"faint, yet pursuing."

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On the following Wednesday, her remains were removed to a spot she had once said she should like to be buried in-Abney Park Cemetery-the place where Dr. Watts wrote many of his hymns, and where so many of the Lord's saints "sleep" among the rest, the former Treasurer, and one of the Committee of the school.

A large number of persons gathered, among whom, in addition to Mr. Gent, from the Ragged School Union, were the Treasurer, and many members of the Committee and teachers, a large group of parents, several with infants in their arms, and some of the children and young men from the school. Had the place of interment been nearer, the whole School would have been there; as it was, the grave was surrounded by several rows of mourning friends, all of whom loved her, and deeply felt her loss. Mr. Brock attended on the occasion, and was evidently much moved. On the following Sunday he preached an excellent sermon from "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

"Field Lane" has had a loss, indeed, in the removal of this devoted teacher; such a teacher is a precious gift. In supplying her place, it is not talent simply that is wanted-that money can purchase; but it is devotedness and talent combined, that are required. This the Lord alone can give. Would we ever realised that it is "the Lord of the harvest" that must" send forth labourers into his vineyard!"

As a little record of her labours, the Committee have caused the following notice of her removal to be placed in their Minute-book :—

"This Committee record, with the most intense regret, the death of their esteemed teacher, Miss Jane Margaret Hughes, which took place May 13th, 1853, at the age of thirty-two. Her long connexion with this school, her labours of love-first as a voluntary teacher on the Lord's Day, and subsequently, in addition, as their Day School Teacher, (for which positions she was so eminently fitted by nature, and so abundantly qualified by grace)—her singleness of eye; her marvellous and untiring zeal which led her to sacrifice time, friends, health, comfort, to this one object-the good of the school; and adorned as were these efforts by her unostentatious, retiring, and consistent walk; secured for her, while living, the love of many friends, who deeply deplore her loss, and treasure in their memory this bright example of the grace of God.”

The following is from the Earl of Shaftesbury:

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"May 16th, 1853.

“DEAR MOUNSTEPHEN,-Few things could have more afflicted those who wish well to the Field Lane School, and the honour and happiness of the poorer classes, than the event which you have just announced to me-the death of Miss Hughes. "She was indeed a bright example to every one, high and low; and our only comfort is, that she has gone to shine in the place promised to such as her, as the stars, for ever and ever.'

Yours truly,

SHAFTESBURY."

In conclusion, let us comfort ourselves with the assurance that Miss Hughes did not labour without fruits. If we mistake not, she reaped a little in her life-time; but we do well to remember, in training children, it is rather "seedtime" than "harvest." But the harvest is to come. The "bread cast upon the waters shall be found after many days." Who will doubt but that many a child from Field Lane, though never blessed with the paternal instruction of a faithful mother, like Eunice, (2 Tim. i. 5,) yet having had such a teacher, will, through God's grace, treasure up the good seed in their minds; so that Timothy may not be alone in his experience, (2 Tim. iii. 15), and our departed friend not without her "joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus!"

Plans and Progress.

PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS AND JUVENILE THIEVES. PROFESSIONAL beggars!! what a title-who are they? Why, beings dwelling on this earth, with hands to work and strength to labour; who, upon principle and by practice, eschew all employment which causes the sweat to rise on their brows or their backs to ache. Men who trudge from union to workhouse, from farmhouse to gentlemen's seats, getting food and sometimes raiment free from charge; and lead a jolly life, with " chops and steaks o'nights to supper," and pots of ale and pipes of tobacco at others' expense, and all without giving a particle of labour in return.

Arrant rogues and sturdy beggars; such a one as a friend of ours introduced to his stable yard a short time ago, and said, if he would wheel some