AN ORPHANAGE IN STRAITS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the quiet suburb of Upper Clapton, an unpretending work of great usefulness has been carried on for some years. Twenty years ago, a lady gave up everything in order to found and personally superintend this Orphanage for Girls. Begin- ning on a very small scale, the work grew in importance, and for the last few years there has been room for thirty orphans, who have been carefully taught and wisely trained for the battle of life.
This home is not intended for very poor and outcast children, but for the orphans of small tradesmen, clerks, mechanics, and others. There is special need for a work of this kind. Bitter suffering is often borne without a cry by widows and orphans who have once known better days ; and, alas ! such children often sink lower than the veriest outcasts for want of a home such as that for which I venture to plead. The Orphanage of St. Agnes, at Upper Clapton, is just now in great straits for want of funds, and there is much danger of a collapse. The foundress has exhausted all her own funds, everything having been freely given, with the sacrifice of herself, to the work of her life. And now her deep anxiety has brought with it illness and the absolute need of a little rest. A few donations to enable her to find a locum tenens for a while, and some promised subscrip- tions to fill vacant gaps in her scanty list of benefactors, would make all the difference, and the good work would go on its way once more.
I have personal knowledge of the great work which is being done, and one of my colleagues in this parish acts as honorary chaplain. I would very gratefully receive and acknowledge any donation or snbscription.—I am, Sir, &c., Vicar of St. John's, Bethnal Green.
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