"I'm not in any hurry to know;" said Miss Melinda, pouring out a cupful of the steaming beverage; "you don't look as if you'd been on much but a wild-goose chase. There, drink that as quick as you can; it will take the tired out of your bones." She set the cup down on the table, drew up the tea-pot, and went back to the keeping-room.

"Have I?" queried Miss Priscilla, over her tea. "By the grace of God the Botsford Mission Circle shall yet be."

That evening twenty little white notes went up and down Botsford Main Street and into the cross-roads. They all carried this message:

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND:

I shall be very glad to see you at Maple Cottage, Wednesday afternoon, January 20th, at 4 o'clock. Please bring that other girl. Cordially yours,

PRISCILLA HOVEY.

Our Work at Home.

ANNUAL MEETING.

REPORTS OF BRANCHES.

THE oldest daughter, the Philadelphia Branch, was represented by its President, Miss Halsey. It had held its own fifteenth birthday, and counted up the entire amount raised during that time as $25,000. The receipts for 1885 were $2,416, and they have 32 organizations; but “mission, anti-mission and omission Christins" are found among them, as elsewhere.

They acknowledge with gratitude the moral support given to the Branch by the new Secretary of the American Board, Mr. Kincaid, who holds vigorous views in behalf of the female department of the Board.

Miss Stirling, District Secretary of the New Haven Branch, said they had no startling events nor new departures to chronicle. Faithful work among the auxiliaries and steady efforts to inspire the young with a love for missions, had characterized the past twelve months. This was the kind of work which endures, and on which they built their hopes. Their receipts for the year were $10,866.40. They pay the salaries of 7 missionaries, 22 Bible

women, and 3 native teachers, besides supporting 13 schools and 81 scholars.

Mrs. Fairbanks, Home Secretary, spoke for the Vermont Branch. She said they always had something new in Vermontnew perplexities and emergencies, fresh deliverances, and added proofs of God's good hand upon them.

There have been some changes in their officers. Mrs. Horace Fairbanks, who for ten years has been the beloved President of the Branch, has felt obliged to resign the position. While accepting her resignation with deep and lasting regret, they are giving sincere and cordial welcome to their new President.

Vermont counts 116 auxiliaries and 102 mission circles in her large family. Their receipts ($4,500) are a little less than last year; but considering the financial state of the country, they think that never in their history has more consecrated money gone into the treasury than in 1885.

Mrs. Wilkinson, Corresponding Secretary, spoke for the Rhode Island Branch. They feel very rich in having given two of their daughters during the year to the foreign work - Miss Jillson to Smyrna, and Dr. Root to Madura. These new ties are giving the Branch a vital interest in these far-away fields. They are rich, too, though with a great sense of loss, in having lately given a beloved officer, Mrs. William J. King, to the better country, even the heavenly. The number of organized societies remains unchanged, and their receipts were $3,695.40.

The Maine Branch was represented by Miss Crie, Home Secretary. Notwithstanding the obstacles under which they labor in their state of magnificent distances, good work has been done, and they feel that they certainly have not lost ground. They number 86 auxiliaries and 70 mission circles, and their annual contribution was $3,600.

The New Hampshire Branch was represented by Mrs. Wallace, Corresponding Secretary. It has been readjusting some forces, and doing some pruning work, during the year, but they close with a gain of eight organizations. They have at present on their roll-call, 100 auxiliaries and 74 mission circles. In some of the latter, the children have themselves sustained prayer-meetings, and the blessing of the Lord has rested upon them.

The contributions have been larger than ever before, and a legacy of $2,000, in addition, gives their total receipts, $6,336.14. The choicest fruitage of the year has been the gift of a daughter of their Vice-President, - Miss Ellen M. Blakely, - who has gone to Marash.

Springfield Branch reported through Mrs. Brooks, Correspond

ing Secretary. The year had no brilliant record of success, but abundant evidence of earnest work and quiet growth. Fifty-three organizations compose their family. Some of these have largely increased their attendance and interest, and, as a natural consequence, their giving. The total receipts for the year were $3,197.65. They commence the new year resolved to work more earnestly, to give more abundantly, to pray more unceasingly.

The Hartford Branch was represented by Mrs. Burt, Home Secretary. They cannot yet claim that every church in their territory has an organization, but they do feel thankful that so many are being stirred up to good works. There seems to be a steady gain in interest, membership, and receipts. They have 45 auxiliaries, and 36 mission circles, nearly all of them working for Christ and his cause.

The Eastern Connecticut Branch, which reported through its President, Miss Gilman, celebrated its tenth anniversary last June. The record for the last year showed a slight increase in the number of societies and a quickened life in some existing ones. The public meetings continue of unabated interest, but they are asking why so few from their Branch are offering themselves for service in the foreign field.

The greetings of the New York Branch were brought by Mrs. Cunningham, Vice-President. Beginning their work ten years ago with a contribution of a thousand dollars, they have in the decade added to it several tens of thousands; and better than the money has been the offering of New York's consecrated daughters. The principal gain last year was in the direction of mission circles. The appointment of an officer to work especially for the children had proved a success.

The Worcester County Branch was represented by Mrs. Kimball, Home Secretary. They have just closed their tenth year, and the record for the decade has been one of steady increase in contributions and a deeper and more widespread interest in the work. The contributions for 1885 were a little larger than ever before, amounting to $4,376.99.

Miss Hodges, delegate, reported advance in the Franklin County Branch, especially among young ladies and children, and more than usual interest in the meetings. The Branch misses the labors of many earnest members who have "taken up work on the other side."

The Hampshire County Branch was represented by Miss Tyler, Recording Secretary. They hold quarterly meetings, and their third annual rally of Mission Circles, last October, was a most interesting occasion. The reports of both mission circles and

auxiliaries show in most cases that they are alive and growing.

Mrs. Thayer, Recording Secretary, of the Norfolk and Pilgrim Branch, said they had found out that nothing was so enlarging to heart-interest as a little hard work. They had found out this secret by steady practice, and they meant to keep right on. The children's zeal does not flag, the young ladies are prompt to respond to extra calls, and the busy women count it their business to attend to the Lord's work with diligence.

On the whole the year has been marked above others in interest. They have 44 societies, and support 2 missionaries, 3 Bible-women, 7 scholars, and 3 village-schools.

The greetings from the Andover and Woburn Branch were brought by its treasurer, Miss Wilder. So many officers have been changed in the union of these two organizations, that it has seemed like a new work. The unifying process is still going on, but will soon be complete. The receipts have been about $2,700.

The Berkshire Branch reported through Mrs. Giddings, its President. While they thank God and take courage because of temporal prosperity, they do not fail to recognize the blessings that are theirs through the prayers of some of the Lord's hidden ones. Two new auxiliaries, formed during the year, make their present number of organizations 40. The contributions amounted to $2,778.96, which was more than the year before. A thank-offering service was a special feature of their October meeting, which, in its earnest tone, seemed an "after-glow" to the great meeting of the American Board in Boston.

Mrs. Ploubet, Home Secretary of the Middlesex Branch, said they were in doubt whether the year showed a record of gain or loss. The statement made last year, that they had an organization in every church, must be taken back, as the auxiliary last formed had died. Some mission circles, too, had suspended meetings, and from some they had received no report. A this was on the side of loss; but to encourage them, many of the societies show a warm, living interest, and the contributions, which they feared would fall behind, have come up to the average of other years. They are praying for a deeper love to Christ, and an enthusiasm born of the indwelling Spirit.

Mrs. Burnham, Secretary of the Essex South Branch, reported an unusually prosperous year. Hearts and purses had felt a new impulse, and their receipts had been the largest in their history – $2,492.24. A thank-offering at the November meeting amounted to over $400. Their aim is progress, till there shall be an organization in every church in their territory.

Suffolk Branch reported through Mrs. Holmes, its recording Secretary. Their present organizations are 101, and many signs of growth show that it is a live branch of the missionary tree.

A plan was inaugurated last year for sending visitors to each auxiliary within their limits. These visitors have entered heartily into the work, and the plan seems to promise success. In the foreign field they are supporting 17 missionaries, 18 boarding and day schools, and 8 Bible-women. The receipts for the year were $12,244.39.

The Essex North Branch was represented by its President, Miss Brown. She said there yet remained much land with them to be possessed, but they had added two to their roll of auxiliaries and mission circles, making now 24. Their receipts, too, showed a steady increase, being $1,340.10 for the year just closed.

The Old Colony Branch was represented by Miss Capron, Corresponding Secretary. They number twenty-four organizations, and have recently appointed a Superintendent of Mission Circles. From this new office they hope for an increased number of circles. Their receipts ($1,866.16) show a slight increase over last year.

They are supporting three missionaries, a Bible-woman in Ceylon, a native teacher, a school in India, and scholarships in Turkey.

The Barnstable Branch reported through its Secretary, Mrs. Dodge. It is now in the third year of its history, and some of the auxiliaries are bravely holding their own in the face of discouragements, while others are making steady advance. They are making themselves felt as a power in the churches, helping to sustain the monthly concerts, and creating an interest in missionary work.

and

A special feature of their annual meeting was the thankoffering service. The offerings were accompanied by a verse, inclosed in envelopes. The amount thus raised was over $100.

The Middlesex Conference Association reported through Mrs. Tweed, its President. She said this smallest bough of all was considering whether it could grow to be a Branch. They have but nineteen churches in their territory, but their receipts are growing; for whereas five years ago they gave but $19, last year their contributions were $234.

WORK OF THE WOMAN'S BOARDS.

[Condensed from an Address delivered at Providence before the Woman's Board, by Rev. N. G. Clark, Senior Foreign Secretary of the American Board.] THE organization of Woman's Boards marks an epoch in foreign mission work. It is the characteristic feature of missionary