and completely dazed at the hopelessness of their
situation. The girl was admitted to the hospital, where she has since
died, and the youngest boy, Israel, we took into the Home. Alas, we
had only room for the one. Israel was at first much overawed by the
standard of cleanliness required in this institution, and protested
vigorously when we tried to put him into the bathtub. He explained to
us that he never washed more than his face and hands at home, not even
his neck and ears, the limitation of territory being strictly defined
and scrupulously observed.

_June 20_

Unlike last year this summer promises to be hot, at least for this
country. I have felt one great lack this year. You have to pass the
long months of what would be lovely spring in England without a sign
of a living blade of flower, though a few little songbirds did their
best bravely to make it up to us. Already we are being driven almost
crazy with the mosquitoes and black flies, songsters of no mean
calibre, especially at night. In desperation our little ones yesterday
succeeded in killing an unusually large specimen, and after burying it
with great solemnity were heard singing around the grave in no
uncheerful tones, "Nearer, my God, to Thee."

I hate to think that these next few weeks will be the last I shall
spend in this country and with these children. The North seems to
weave over one a kind of spell and fascination all its own. I look
back sometimes and smile that I should ever have felt the year long
or dreary; it has passed so quickly that I can scarcely believe it
already time to be thinking of you and England again. I may emulate
the example of Mrs. Lot, but with the certainty that a similar fate to
hers does not await me.

I have just unpacked a barrel of clothing sent from home to the
Orphanage, and find to my disgust that it is almost entirely composed
of muslin blouses and old ladies' bonnets! What am I to do with them?
The blouses I can use as mosquito veiling, but these bonnets are not
the kind our babies wear. I shall present one to Topsy, who will look
adorable in it.

You hint it is hard to get up interest in Labrador because we are
neither heathen nor black. I can imagine your sewing circle of dear
old ladies (perhaps they sent the bonnets) discussing the relative
merits of working to send aeroplanes to the Arabs, bicycles to the
Bedouins, comforters to the Chinese, jumpers to the Japanese,
handkerchiefs to the Hott