but knots and strings; they had not been untied for
weeks, perhaps months, and had to be cut off with a pair of scissors--we
found something tied round its waist, to which the child constantly
stretched out its wasted fingers and endeavoured to raise to its lips.
On examination it proved to be an old fish-bone wrapped in a piece of
cotton, which must have been at least a month old. Yet you must remember
that these 'purchases' are quite exceptional cases, as my children have,
for the most part, been obtained by legitimate means."

Yes, these little mites arrive at Stepney somewhat strangely at times. A
child was sent from Newcastle in a hamper. It bore a small tablet on the
wicker basket which read: "To Dr. Barnardo, London. With care." The
little girl arrived quite safe and perfectly sound. But the most
remarkable instance of all was that of little Frank. Few children reach
Dr. Barnardo whose antecedents cannot be traced and their history
recorded in the volumes kept for this purpose. But Frankie remains one
of the unknown. Some time ago a carrier delivered what was presumably a
box of Swiss milk at the Homes. The porter in charge received it, and
was about to place it amongst other packages, when the faintest possible
cry escaped through the cracks in the lid. The pliers were hastily
brought, the nails flew out, the lid came off, and there lay little
Frank in his diminutive baby's robe, peacefully sleeping, with the end
of the tube communicating with his bottle of milk still between his
lips!

[Illustration: "TO DR. BARNARDO, WITH CARE." _From a Photo._]

"That is one means of getting rid of children," said Dr. Barnardo, after
he had told me the story of Frank, "but there are others which might
almost amount to a respectable method. I have received offers of large
sums of money from persons who have been desirous of my receiving their
children into these Homes _without asking any questions_. Not so very
long ago a lady came to Stepney in her carriage. A child was in it. I
granted her an interview, and she laid down five L100 notes, saying they
were mine if I would take the child and ask no questions. I did not take
the child. Again. A well-known peer of the realm once sent his footman
here with L100, asking me to take the footman's son. No. The footman
could support his child. Gold and silver will never open my doors unless
there is real destitution. It is for the homeless, the actually
destitute, that we open our d