For ten days the thermometer stood constantly below the freezing point. One night it touched zero. Everybody kept roaring fires, and cowered over them in their loosely-built houses. Soon the coal-yards gave out, and the wood market was empty. The smooth-shod Southern horses could not climb the icy hills to bring supplies. Fuel became steadily scarcer and higher—wood going up from four dollars (the usual price) to fifteen dollars per cord, and very scarce at that. Rich and poor alike suffered. Many burned the fences, fruit trees and shade trees. Poor people burned their board partitions, bedsteads, tables, even chairs and trunks, and some, after all, had to go to bed as the only means of keeping warm. The “fuel famine” lasted ten or twelve days, the like of which was never known before. Water-pipes burst, fruits, flowers and vegetables were frozen, and general distress ensued. The chilly rain still continues, though ice and snow have disappeared. I doubt if the “blizzards” and “Arctic waves” of the North cause much more real suffering than this chilly, damp, freezing winter here brings to the inhabitants so unaccustomed to this weather. Most Southern houses are very loosely built, generally warmed with fire-places or coal grates, over which you may scorch one side and freeze the other. Water froze one day within six feet of our stove. Much suffering, sickness and death have resulted among the poor in their wretched cabins. Fortunately for some our kind friends North have this winter sent us an unusual amount of clothing, which has been distributed judiciously among those most needy, and has done much to alleviate distress. My wife has given away over 400 garments within the past three mouths, and many shivering bodies have been warmed. From our own good State of Wisconsin we have had no less than seventeen boxes or barrels, containing books, clothing, magazines and newspapers. From friends in other States there have come eleven packages of various sizes, with the same acceptable help for our poor people. And how helpful these timely gifts have been! Although my wife has had no special commission as missionary, she has done considerable in that line. During three mouths past, she has made over two hundred and fifty visits, being confined to the house by illness for one month of that time, and being much hindered otherwise by the incessant stormy weather, which has also greatly interfered with our evening meetings and Sunday services. Besides the clothing above referred to, she has distributed hundreds of papers, tracts, cards and texts, reading and talking with the women and children. Her sewing-school, meeting weekly, has steadily increased, until it now numbers ninety-three girls, of whom sixty were present at the last meeting. Cutting and basting work for so many occupies a good deal of time.