A STEEL Thorn Hedge. No other Fencing so cheap or put up so quickly. Never rusts, stains, decays, shrinks nor warps. Unaffected by fire, wind or flood. A complete barrier to the most unruly stock. Impassable by man or beast. No other Fence Material so easily handled by small proprietors and tenants, or large planters in the South. Shipped on spools containing 100 pounds, or eighty rods of Fencing. Can be kept on the Reel for transient uses. CHEAPEST, BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE OF FENCES. Send for Illustrative Pamphlets and Circulars, as above. * * * * * THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY. * * * * * We send this number of the AMERICAN MISSIONARY to some persons whose names are not among our subscribers, with the hope that they will read it, and that their interest in the work which it represents will be deepened, and we take occasion to repeat what we have set forth and urged frequently during the year, to wit: That we are keenly alive to the necessity of keeping this magazine abreast with the very best publications of other missionary societies, at home and abroad. We shall seek to make its appearance attractive by pictures and illustrations. The Children’s Page will contain original stories and suggestive incidents. The General Notes on Africa, the Chinese and Indians will be continued. The fullest information will be given about our work in the South, now recognized as so important to the welfare of the nation. We shall also make ample reports of our methods and work among the Indians and Chinese in America, and following the Annual Meeting publish a double number like the present issue, giving a full account of the proceedings of that occasion. No Christian family can afford to be without missionary intelligence, and no missionary society can afford to be without readers of its publications; it had better give them to the readers without pay than to have no readers. Missionary zeal will die in the churches without missionary intelligence. But it would be far better for both the societies and the readers if missionary news were paid for. This would give the magazine attentive perusal and the society relief from the reproach of a large expense for publication. Missionary publications should be put on a _paying basis_. Aside from a free list to life members, ministers, etc., the cost of publication should be made up by paying subscribers and advertisements. We are anxious to put the AMERICAN MISSIONARY on this basis. We intend to make it worth its price, and we ask our patrons to aid us: 1. More of our readers can take pains to send us either the moderate subscription price (50 cents), or $1.00, naming a friend to whom we may send a second copy. 2. A special friend in each church can secure subscribers at club-rates (12 copies for $5 or 25 copies for $10).