Laura Lee Hope - "Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Christmas Tree Cove"

Charles Churchill - "Poetical Works"

Erasmus Darwin - "The Botanic Garden"

Frank R. Stockton - "A Jolly Fellowship"

Editorial
This paper argues that discourses of love in Ghanaian market literature for youth offer a view into complex negotiations of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Deborah Durham's notion of youth as "social `shifters'" and Francis Nyamnjoh's conception of the "interconnectedness" of agency, I take Ghanaian market literature as one specific case of how African literature for youth foregrounds questions of continuity and change as African societies enter into increasingly complex global relations. In this literature for youth, received notions of love, often constructed out of impressions from American pop and hip hop music, carry new notions of agency that compete with existing "domesticated" forms. Authors like Ike Tandoh and Evelyn Tay employ discourses of love to offer youth alternative avenues for empowerment in a context of socio-economic disenfranchizement. In a creative process of "straddling", this writing both reveals and reproduces the contradictions that obtain in youth configurations of agency.

A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Mueller

G >> George Mueller >> A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Mueller




Keswick, Nov. 25, 1847.

"Dear Mr. Mueller,

The tender and Almighty care of our loving Father was never more over
you, and indeed over all of us, than in your stay at Mrs. . . . .'s.
Mr. . . . . . was quite deranged for two or three days before you left.
Without any control, he had been walking about his room for the last two
days and nights, with loaded-pistols in his hands. Furthermore he had
taken into his head that you were going to kill him. How gracious of
God, that he spread His wings over you, and over dear Mrs. Mueller, so
that Satan could not break through the fence, to hurt even a hair of
your heads. Speaking after the manner of men, there was nothing to have
hindered him coming into the room, where we were all at tea, 9 and
firing amongst us; but the Lord was our refuge and fortress, and
preserved us from danger, which we knew not of. He shot himself in the
neck and the breast, but is not dead. He has a strait-waistcoat on. I
assisted in cutting his clothes off, and in other little offices, needed
at such a time, and told him of Christ's love in dying for poor
sinners. 'I know it,' he said. He shot himself the first time about
three o'clock in the morning, and again about seven. What a scene his
room presented. Pistols lying in gore. Bloody knives, lancets, and
razors strewed about the floor." Etc.

I add an extract from a second letter, written by the same Christian
brother, because it shows still further, how very merciful the Lord was
to us at that time, in protecting us.

"Mr. ---- is still alive, and has been removed by his friends into
Yorkshire. It appears, insanity is in his family, his father being at
this time in an asylum. It is evident that he had the pistols in his
pockets, but of this no one knew until after the occurrence took place.
I do not know what time of night you went to bed; but I judge it was
about ten. If so, it was at ten o'clock Mr.--came down from his
bedroom, after having been there six hours. It was a mercy you did not
meet him, as it is plain that he had loaded pistols on his person."

Dec. 31, 1847. There have been received into Fellowship, during this
year, 39: and altogether, since Mr. Craik and I began labouring in
Bristol, 1157, besides the 68 whom we found in Fellowship. Of these
1225, 143 have fallen asleep, 70 are under church discipline, 78 have
left us, and 259 have left Bristol; so that there are only 675 actually
in communion.

During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me.

1, Through the boxes. . . . L140 6 11 1/2

2, Through believers in Bristol, not anonymously . . . . . 57 3 6

3, Through believers, not residing in Bristol . . . . . 127 3 6

4, By a legacy of L100 Stock . . 73 4 9

5, Through presents in articles, worth to us at least . . . . 15 0 0

--------

L412 18 84

To this is again to be added the free education of my dear daughter, at
a boarding school, worth to us at least 50l.

In April, 1848, I was enabled, by the help of the Lord, to complete all
the arrangements for the publication of the Narrative of the Lord's
Dealings with me in the French language; and about September of the same
year the book appeared under the following title: Expose de
quelques-unes des dispensations de Dieu envers Georges Mueller. Paris,
librairie Protestante, Rue Tronchet, 2.

Supplies for the School--Bible---Missionary and Tract Fund, sent in
answer to prayer, from May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850.

When this period of the work commenced, I had for these various objects
5l. 19s. 7 1/4 d. in hand, a sum so small, that, without the help of God,
I could not have gone on even for a few days; for during this period our
average expenditure for one single day, merely for this part of the
work, was as much as the whole balance left in hand. Now see how God
carried me through, in meeting the expenditure of the thousands of
pounds which were laid out for these objects, irrespective of the Orphan
work, from May 26, 1848 to May 26, 1850.

On the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I
received from Westmoreland 5l., being the first donation during this
period towards this part of the work, of which sum one half was intended
by the donor for the current expenses of the Orphans, and the other half
for these objects. On the following day, May 28, was anonymously put
into the Chapel boxes for missions 1s. 6d. and 2d. Now it happened that
all the expenses, connected with these objects, during the first two
days amounted only to about 3l., which I was able to meet by what had
come in and the balance left in hand; and on May 29th I received 100l.
As the application of this sum was left to me, I took one half of it for
the Orphans, and the other half for these objects.--Thus I was
supplied with means to meet the expenses which came on me the following
day, May 30th, when I had to pay the weekly salaries of the teachers in
the Day Schools.

June 9. Great has been my desire, and many have been my prayers to God,
that He would be pleased to condescend to use me still further, in
allowing me the privilege of helping brethren who labour in the word and
doctrine, at home and abroad, without any salary, as I have been able to
do but very little for them comparatively during the last four months.
Now at last, in answer to my prayers, I have received this morning 160l.
for home and foreign labourers.--The Lord may see it needful, for the
trial of our faith, to seem for a season not to regard our
supplications; yet, if we patiently and believingly continue to wait
upon Him, it will be manifest in His own time and way, that we did not
call upon Him in vain.

July 12. My soul has been longing for farther supplies for home and
foreign labourers, to whom I have sent of late all I could. Almost all
the letters received from the brethren, to whom I have sent money, have
shown to me their great need. Some were in the greatest necessity when
my remittances were received by them. Under these circumstances a
donation of 117l. 2s. 7d. came in this morning, of which I took 50l. for
these objects, and 67l. 2s. 7d. for the Orphans.

Aug. 19. Today all the means for home and foreign labourers were again
gone. Also for the support of the various schools and the circulation of
the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, scarcely anything remained; 48l. were in
hand, yet, considering the liabilities for rent, &c., not more than 5l.
of this sum at most could be considered available. When I had,
therefore, so little, there came in 267l. Thus my heart is made glad,
for I am able to send help to many brethren in these days of peculiar
distress.

Oct. 26. This evening there was given to me anonymously at Salem Chapel
a sealed paper, which contained two sovereigns and these words: "For
what most needs." I took this donation for these objects, as I have now
scarcely any money left towards paying the weekly salaries of the
teachers in the Day Schools next Tuesday. Oct. 31st. We have not been so
poor with regard to these objects since the accounts were closed. But I
hope in God.

Oct. 28. I received from Calne 2l.

Oct. 30. Received from Bath 1l.

Oct. 31. There having come in this 5l., and 1l. 10s. 9d. besides, by the
sale of Tracts, I had enough to pay the weekly salaries of the
teachers.

Nov. 4. Saturday. There were now again only a few shillings in hand
towards paying next Tuesday the weekly salaries of the teachers in the
Day Schools, when I received this morning from the neighbourhood of
Leeds 5l.

Nov. 5. There was put into the boxes at Bethesda 2s. 6d.

Nov. 6. Received 1l. 0s. 6d.

No-v. 7. This evening I found, that, by what had come in during the 4th,
5th and 6th in the way of donations, and by the sale of Tracts during
this week, there was more than enough to pay the weekly salaries.

Nov. 9. Only a few shillings were left in my hands on Tuesday evening,
the 7th instant, towards the weekly salaries of the teachers, for the
coming week. Also almost all the Tracts are again gone, and it is nearly
four weeks, since I paid out the last money in hand for missionary
objects. As to this latter point, my heart had been especially longing
to be able to send again help to home and foreign labourers, knowing how
very great the need of many is. Thus I was situated with regard to means
when I received today 1000l., of which sum I took 300l. for these
objects, 100l. for the support of the Orphans, and 600l. for the
Building-Fund. The Lord be praised for this most precious help, which is
doubly precious on account of the seasonable time in which it comes!

Nov. 16. Yesterday and today I have sent out more than one hundred
pounds to brethren who labour at home and abroad, and the Lord has sent
again further supplies; for I received today from C. W. 40l. for home
and foreign labourers.

Jan. 15. 1849. The means for the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, and
for all the various Schools, and for helping missionary efforts had now
been reduced to 15l. It had been during the last days especially my
prayer, that the Lord would be pleased to give me fresh supplies for
brethren who labour in the word and doctrine at home and abroad, as I
had not been able to do any thing for any of them during the last
fortnight, for want of means. I desired also more means for the
circulation of Bibles and Tracts, as several thousands of Tracts had
been going out during the last few days, and as also quite recently
there had been many openings found for the circulation of the Holy
Scriptures among very poor persons. Now the Lord has again given me a
precious answer of prayer. I received this morning a donation of 200l.,
to be used as any of the objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution
might need help. The donor, however, kindly wished me to take 25l. for
myself. I took this 175l. for these objects, and thus I am again
supplied with means for the various Schools, for the circulation of
Bibles and Tracts, and have something for aiding brethren who labour in
the word and doctrine, as I purpose to use 100l. for them. The Lord be
praised for this precious help!

I have received still farther today for missions 23l. 5s.

Jan. 17. Today I have received still further help from the Lord in a
donation of 125l. for these objects. How manifest it is by all these
sums, large and small, received from God in answer to prayer, that He
does not allow me to call upon Him in vain!

Feb. 19. A brother in the Lord, who had sold his earthly possession, for
the purpose of spending the proceeds of it for the Lord, sent me 120l.
as a part, of which he wished me to use 100l. for missions, 5l. for the
Orphans, 10l. for another object not to be mentioned, to give 2l. 10s.
to brother Craik, and to take 2l. 10s. for myself.

Feb. 20. Today I have received still further 200l. of which I took 100l.
for these objects, and 100l. for the Orphans, as the disposal of this
sum was entirely left to me.--I do especially rejoice in all these
considerable donations, partly, because they enable me to assist so many
faithful servants of Jesus Christ, who labour for Him in dependence upon
Him for their temporal supplies; and, partly, because they prove that
the work of God may be carried on in dependence upon Him alone for
pecuniary means, not merely on a small but also on a large scale. See!
dear Christian reader, without making any effort whatever, simply in
answer to prayer, without personal application to any one, all these
sums come in. And thus it has now been going on for more than sixteen
years, [was written in 1850]. Persons said to me fifteen years ago, that
it was impossible to carry on such a work for any length of time,
without regular subscriptions; for the interest which was taken in it at
first, would wear off. I never believed such statements. I was assured
in my inmost soul that, if the work of God was carried on in God's
way, that was the best pledge that it would be provided by God with
pecuniary means. Thus I have found it ever since March 5, 1834, when
this work commenced. For since that time I have received above
Forty-four Thousand Pounds altogether, [up to May 26 1850 only]; and the
Lord has so enlarged the work and helped me, that during the last three
years I have had the privilege of paying away in His service, in
connexion with this work, about Twenty-five Thousand Pounds; nor have 1
had during this period in any one instance to meet a payment, without
being previously provided by the Lord with means for it. If it pleased
the Lord to condescend to use me further in this way, He could so order
it that even a still larger field of labour were intrusted to me, which
would require still greater sums. Truly, it must be manifest to all
simple hearted children of God, who will carefully read the accounts
respecting this Institution, that He is most willing to attend to the
supplications of His children, who in their need cry to Him; and to make
this manifest is the great object I aim at, through the means of this
Institution.

March 13. The same donor who sent me on Feb. 19th the donation of 120l.,
sent me today 100l. more for missions.

March 15. From C. W. for missions 30l.

April 1. Anonymously through Bethesda boxes 2d. for missions.
Anonymously through Salem boxes 30l., with these words: "5l. for dear
brother Mueller, 5l. for dear brother Craik, 5l. for the poor, 5l: for
the rent, 5l. for missionary work, 5l. for the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution." The last mentioned 5l. I took for the circulation of
Bibles and Tracts, and for the various Schools.

April 15. Anonymously through Salem boxes 1d. for missions.

April 18. Received 250l., which, being entirely left at my disposal, I
took 100l. for the current expenses for the Orphans, and 150l. for
these objects. Thus I have especially the joy, in answer to my daily
supplications, of being able to continue to assist many home and foreign
labourers who labour in the word and doctrine.

May 13. Anonymously for foreign missions 1s.

May 23. Received 360l., of which the kind donor wished me to take 10l.
for my own personal expenses, and the 350l. were left to my disposal,
just as the work of the Lord in my hands might require it. I took
therefore one half for the current expenses for the Orphans, and the
other half for these objects, and I have thus the means to continue to
send help to home and foreign labourers.

May 27. From the same donor, who gave on Feb. 19th 120l., and on March
13th 100l., 20l. more for missions.

Aug. 4. During the last month I had sent to home and foreign labourers
about 150l., and many heavy extra expenses had been met for the Schools
and the circulation of Tracts, on which account our means for these
objects began to be reduced, when I received this morning 200l., which,
being left entirely at my disposal as might be most needed, I took for
these objects.

Aug. 9. Anonymously 5l. for home and foreign labourers in the Word.

Aug. 30. 50l. from the donor spoken of under May 27th. Half this sum lie
intends for the Orphans and half for missions.

Sept. 18. I received 100l., to be used as might be most needed. This sum
came after I had repeatedly asked the Lord for more means, as the money
in hand for these objects was now less than it had been for several
months. I took, therefore, the whole of this sum for these objects.

Nov. 3. The means were now again low, lower than they had been for many
months, when I received 200l., which, being left at my disposal as most
needed, I took entirely for these objects.

Dec. 7. Before our means were exhausted for these objects, when there.
was yet 140l. in hand, I received today a donation of 150l., the
disposal of which was left to me, to use it either for the Orphans or
any part of the work of God in my hands. I took 100l. for these objects,
and 50l. for the Orphans.

Jan. 2, 1850. The new year commences, even as to this part of the work,
with new mercies. There was given to me 160l., to be used as might be
most needed, of which sum I took 100l. for these objects, and 60l. for
the Orphans. Thus, before all means are expended, while there is yet
about 100l. in hand, the Lord sends me again a fresh supply, in answer
to my daily supplications, whereby I am enabled to go on with the
circulation of Bibles and Tracts, the meeting of all the expenses
connected with the various Schools, and still further to help preachers
of the Gospel at home and abroad.--I take this first donation from
the Lord in this new year, as an earnest that He will help me during the
whole of this year also in regard to means for these objects.

Jan. 30. During this month I had been especially led to send much
assistance to home and foreign labourers. Also in other respects the
expenses for these objects had been considerable. On this account the
funds for them had been reduced to about 80l., when I received this
evening 450l., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 50l. for my
own personal expenses, to give to Brother Craik 50l., and to use the
other as might be most needed. I took therefore 200l. for the Orphans,
50l. for foreign missions, 25l. for home missionaries, 25l. for the Day
Schools for poor children and for the Adult School and the Sunday
School, 25l. for the circulation of Gospel Tracts, and 25l. for the
circulation of the Holy Scriptures.

Feb. 10. Received 180l., which the donor left to my disposal, as it
might be most needed for the work of God in my hands; he only desired in
his kindness that I should take 20l. of it for my own purse. As there is
a considerable sum in hand at present for the supplies of the Orphans, I
took the whole of this donation for tile other objects, whereby I am
enabled to go on more and more in aiding missionary work, and in
continuing the circulation of Bibles and Tracts.--I have great
delight in showing also by this and other instances to which reference
has been made, how the Lord is mindful of my own temporal necessities,
whilst I endeavour to serve Him, in entire reliance on Him for what I
need with regard to this life, without any salary or any regular income
whatever, so that He not only gives me as much as I absolutely need, but
most bountifully supplies me; for generally I receive from Him far more
than 1 need for myself and family.

March 23. During the last six weeks has been paid out for the
School--Bible--Tract and Missionary objects alone about 270l., and
very little comparatively has been received. On this account came in
most seasonably, and very manifestly in answer to prayer, a donation of
152l. 3s. 6d., which I received this morning, and which I took for these
objects, to replenish our means for them.

March 30. From C. W. 30l. for foreign missions.

May 3. During the last month but very little was received for these
objects, whilst, for missionary purposes alone, 113l. was paid out. Now
this morning I received a registered letter, containing 60l. with these
words:

"---- May 1, 1850.

"Dear Brother,

"I send you 50l, for the missionaries, and 10l. for the Orphans, having
just sold out part of my property in the funds. It pleases me to find
that your new Report will soon be out.

Believe me to be, dear brother,

Yours truly in Christ,

* * * *"

This donation came after many prayers to the Lord for supplies. The work
is now large. The outgoings are great. During the last month were again
expended about 500l. for the various objects of the Institution, nor
have I any prospect that the expenses will decrease; yea, I have no
desire that they should. I have as great satisfaction, as much joy, in
writing checks for large amounts upon my bankers, as I have joy in
paying over to them checks, or bank orders, or large notes, which I
receive from the living God, by means of donors, for this work. For the
money is of no more value to me than as I can use it for God; and the
more I can pay out for the work of God, the more prospect I have of
being again supplied by Him; and the larger the sum is, which I can
obtain from Him, in answer to prayer only, the greater the proof of the
blessedness and the reality of this mode of dealing directly with the
living God, for what I need; therefore, I say, I have as much joy in
giving out as in receiving. I have been devoting myself, for instance,
with all my might, both of body and mind, but especially by labouring in
spirit, to have the Orphan-House filled with children, not only that
thus three hundred destitute Orphans, might be lodged, boarded, clothed,
instructed, and in every way cared for, bodily, mentally, and
spiritually; but also, in order that thus large sums might be needed and
expended, and I might have a greater call than ever to draw largely upon
the inexhaustible treasures of God. That I do not mean, in thus
speaking, to say that money so obtained by prayer may be wasted, will
scarcely need to be noticed; for if any one would obtain means from God
by prayer only, and then waste them, he would soon find that he is not
able to pray in faith for further supplies.

May 7. The donation of 50l. for the missionary brethren, received four
days ago, was very refreshing to my spirit, and most manifestly to me
another answer to prayer; but it did not hinder me from continuing in
prayer for more means, as I have a great desire to spend again, by
God's help, considerable sums in connexion with these various objects,
in the course of this month. Moreover, I was looking out for answers to
prayer, and therefore expected still further means to come in on the
4th, the 5th, and yesterday; and, as I received nothing, I only prayed
the more earnestly, instead of being discouraged. And thus it was that I
obtained this morning a still further answer to my supplication, in a
donation of 150l., of which I took half for the Orphans and half for
these objects, as the disposal of the money was left to me.

My dear Christian reader, will you not try this way? Will you not know
for yourself, if as yet you have not known it, the preciousness and the
happiness of this way of casting all your cares and burdens and
necessities upon God? This way is as open to you as to me. Every one of
the children of God is not called by Him to be engaged in such a service
as that to which He has condescended to call me; but every one is
invited and commanded to trust in the Lord, to trust in Him with all his
heart, and to cast his burden upon Him, and to call upon Him in the day
of trouble. Will you not do this, my dear brethren in Christ? I long
that you may do so. I desire that you may taste the sweetness of that
state of heart, in which, while surrounded by difficulties and
necessities, you can yet be at peace, because you know that the living
God, your Father in heaven, cares for you. Should, however, any one read
this, who is not reconciled to God, but is still going on in the ways of
sin and carelessness, unbelief and self-righteousness, then let me say
to such, that it is impossible, that you should have confidence to come
boldly to God in such a state, and I therefore ask you to make
confession of your sins to Him, and to put your trust for eternity
entirely in the merits of the Lord Jesus, that you may obtain the
forgiveness of your sins. Again, should any one read this who has
believed in the Lord Jesus, but who is now again living in sin, who is
again regarding iniquity in his heart, let not such a one be surprised
that he has no confidence toward God, and that he does not know the
blessedness of having answers to his prayers; for it is written: "If I
regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: but verily God
bath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer." Ps. lxvi.
18, 19. The first thing such a one has to do is, to forsake his evil
course, to make confession of it, and to know afresh the power of the
blood of the Lord Jesus on his conscience, by putting his trust in that
precious blood, in order that he may obtain confidence toward God.

Supplies for the support of the Orphans, sent in answer to prayer, from
May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850.

When the accounts were closed on May 26, 1848, I had in hand a balance
of 1l. 10s. 3 3/4 d. With this amount then we began, whilst day by day
above one hundred and thirty persons were to be provided for in the four
Orphan-Houses in Wilson Street. Nor was there any money besides
available except what had been advanced to the four matrons in the
various Orphan-Houses for the week's house-keeping, which was already
more than half expended; and I had on the 30th to advance again many
pounds for the following week. Place yourself now, dear reader, in my
position, in order that you may the more clearly see the hand of God in
what follows.

On the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I
received from Westmoreland five pounds, half of which sum was intended
by the donor for the Orphans, and half for the other objects. This
donation I took as an earnest out of the hands of the living God, that
during the whole of this period also He would provide for these many
Orphans, as He had done in former years.

May 28. Received anonymously 3s. 9 1/2 d., and from A. S. A. 10s. 2 1/2
d.

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