body' fully as much as the interior does for that of a 'sound mind.' "To supply the place of a parent to those who have none, and are on that account scarcely responsible towards a government, is a problem which has long occupied politicians, economists, and philanthropists. The politicians have not made much of their speculations as yet. The State, in its workhouse schools, has not been able to congratulate itself on any remarkable success. An institution like the Northumberland Village Homes, which street arabs, and worse, now regard and will hereafter look back upon fondly, with love and gratitude as to father and mother, surely has a strong claim on our sympathies. God grant His richest blessing to those noble-hearted men who have originated and who find labour and the money needful to carry on such a happy work as this." Who would not say "Amen to that sweet prayer?" We have given this extract to show the place and its surroundings where the poor little things from some of the darkest cellars and attics, hovels and doorsteps of the neighbouring towns, are now located, and the influences and associations, teaching and training that are turning out of such unlikely materials happy children and good and clever women. The single harvest from one of these Homes would be no small amount to the credit of any one to whom it was due, when the Father of all comes to reckon up His jewels-the priceless souls of men and women. CHAPTER III. MORE HOMES WANTED AND BUILT. "They answered, Who is God' that He should hear us, Strangers speaking at the door: Is it likely God, with angels singing round Him, 6 "Two words, indeed, of praying we remember, 'Our Father,' looking upward in the chamber, We know no other words, except 'Our Father,' And we think that in some pause of angel's song And hold both within His right hand which is strong. 'Our Father!' If He heard, He would surely (For they call Him good and mild) Answer, smiling down the steep world very purely, E. B. BROWNING. HE second annual meeting of the Homes was an important one. The Bishop of Newcastle presided, and he pointed out the need for such an institution in language as powerful as it was true, and based largely upon his own observation and experience; while Mr. Hall indicated the need there was for further extensions of the Homes to meet the wants that were being pressed upon they are allowed to prattle and talk to each other, as they would do at home, under, of course, moderate restraint. Round the matron the younger children cling as if she were indeed their own mother, and had exhibited, as she does, more -from the experience of some of them--than a mother's care and affection. After tea and the lessons were over, the children sat down to sew, for all the clothes needed by them are made in the Home, under the direction of the matron; as every kind of household duty is done by them, the children being each set their work for the day. The younger children retire to rest at seven o'clock, but before they retire prayers are said, and the hymns learnt at the school are sung. Surrounded by her family with very diverse tempers, Mrs. Craig holds conversation with them and reads to them or gets one of the elder children to read; and so the evening passes, varied by a little recreation in the yard, in fine weather, or in the adjoining house in wet or cold weather. At eight o'clock the elder girls retire; and the matron sees all her little family to rest. There is a bed for each child, and each child is required to see to the making of her bed. The beds are clean and comfortable with plenty of warm clothing. At six o'clock in the morning the elder girls arise and make the fires and perform the other needed duties. At seven the younger children are aroused, and under the superintendence of an elder girl are washed and dressed. Bedmaking, dusting, and scouring fills up the time until breakfast, and then after prayers the children get their porridge, and after clearing away the breakfast things, go to school at nine o'clock. At twelve o'clock they return, when dinner is provided. Two hours more at school fill up the usual routine of the day. Such is life at this time of the year. It was washing day yesterday, and one of the eldest girls had been washing instead of being at school, and was turning the washing machine, with as jolly a countenance and as happy a face as could be seen in a day's march. "What a contrast must such a life be to that which some of the children have hitherto experienced, and what a future must there be to what it might have been, had they been left to the evil influences of a wretched home and the streets! Prevention rather than cure is what is being aimed at-homes for the homeless, and motherly attention for those without mothers. Looking at the cheerful faces, listening to their simple prattle, and seeing their ardent affection for their mother, one cannot help thinking, when remembering what they were, that one of the most beneficent works in which men and women can be engaged is being carried out in these Homes." A bazaar was held at Tynemouth on January 12th, 1881, and the two days' sale realised £350. The first annual meeting was held at Whitley on July 26th, 1881, under the presidency of Dr. Bruce. There had been no foundation stone ceremony, no opening ceremony, and the first meeting was simple but as practical as the buildings themselves, which were well built, and neat, but not showy; useful, but not obtrusive. Such were the first pair of buildings raised-the one by Messrs. James and John Hall, and the other by Mr. Richard Donkin, M.P. for Tynemouth. Dr. Bruce, the brother of Sir George Bruce, the well-known engineer of London, in taking the chair, told the story, not of the inception of the institution, but of the reception of some of the inmates, showing how much needed it was, and how blessed must be the uses of such an institution. He said, "This was the first anniversary meeting of an institution somewhat novel in its character but one of vast importance in its results. When the infant begins its earthly career they know little what its subsequent course would be. Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward'; and much trouble was often the lot of those who were very ill able to bear it. He had inquired a little into the history of some of the girls in the Home, and if they knew their history he was quite sure that they would rejoice exceedingly that the girls had been rescued from the misery, and probably from the vice, to which they would otherwise have been exposed. Here was one case : A captain is lost at sea and his wife is rendered a widow. For a while she struggles for existence, and at last falls into evil habits, becomes addicted to the vice of drunkenness, she marries and her husband is drunken and her child neglected, and the bread given out of pity is taken out of her hands by her mother to sell for drink. What must that girl's sufferings have been, and if she had been left to struggle upwards until she attained something like maturity they could readily conceive how ready, how easy a prey would she have been to that vice which abounds in all our large towns. She was left in the house, an empty house, deserted by both her parents, and then she was brought to the Home. Here she is now a happy girl, a useful girl, and an obedient girl, loving the mother of the Home, and possessing a kind, affectionate, sisterly feeling to those who are associated with her. She knew nothing when she came here, but now knows a great deal, as she had received a twelve-months' good training. Another girl is the daughter of parents who are outrageous drunkards, and she suffered so very much at their hands that she resolved by some means or other to escape from the parental roof. And as a means of doing so she did not care where she was taken to, only let it be some other place than her miserable home--she stole a jacket and hid it, in order that she might be brought before the notice of the police. She was brought to the Home and she is now a good, obedient girl. Misfortune-pure misfortune-not misconduct of parents-is often the cause that renders girls needful of the help here afforded to them. There is one case of a man working diligently at his business, but he sickens and dies. The mother endeavours to keep her family together, she is overworked and dies also. There is also a son about twenty years of age; he makes the best attempt to do something to keep his sisters and another brother in existence, but he dies. Two of the |