to these northern
people for the greater part of the year. No provision whatever is made
by the Government for hospitals for the Labrador. Again the only ones
are those maintained by this Mission. Lack of education, lack of
opportunity, and abundance of overwhelming poverty make up the lot of
the majority of people in this north part of the country. Little
wonder from their point of view, that one youth, returning to this
land after seeing others, declared that the man he desired above all
others to shoot was John Cabot, the discoverer of Newfoundland.

_August 15_

You complain that I have told you almost nothing about these children,
and you want to know what they are like. And I wish you to know, so
that you will stop sending dolls to Mary who is sixteen, and cakes of
scented soap to David who hates above all else to be washed. I find
these children very difficult in some ways; many of them are mentally
deficient, but it appears that no provision is made by the Government
for dealing with such cases, and so there is nothing to do but take
them in or let them starve. Some are very wild and none have the
slightest idea of obedience when they first arrive.

[Illustration: TOPSY'S AMBITION IS TO BECOME LIKE A FAT PIG]

One girl I have christened "Topsy," and I only wish you could see her
when she is in one of her tantrums, which she has at frequent
intervals. With her flashing black eyes, straight, jet-black hair,
square, squat shoulders, she looks the very embodiment of the Evil
One. She is twelve, but shows neither ability nor desire to learn.
Her habits are disgusting, and unless closely watched she will be
found filling her pockets with the contents of the garbage pail--and
this in spite of the fact that we are no longer dining off one
herring. She says that her ambition in life is to become like a fat
pig! Last night, when the children were safely tucked in bed and I
had sat down to write to you, piercing shrieks were heard resounding
through the stillness of the house. A tour of investigation revealed
Topsy creeping from bed to bed in the darkness, pretending to cut the
throats of the girls with a large carving-knife which she had stolen
for this purpose. To-day Topsy is going around with her hands tied
behind her back as a punishment, and in the hope that without the use
of her hands we may have one day of peace at least. Poor Topsy,
kindness and severity alike seem unavailing. She steals and lies