ries written on
every wrinkle of their faces; old women, with straggling and
unkempt white hair falling over their shoulders; young men, some
with eyes that hastily dropped at your gaze; young women, some with
never-mind-let's-enjoy-life-while-we're-here expressions on their faces;
some with stories of misery and degradation plainly lined upon their
features--boys and girls; and little ones! Tiny little ones!

Still, look at the walls; at the ceiling. It is the time of Christmas.
Garlands of paper chains are stretched across; holly and evergreens are
in abundance, and even the bunch of mistletoe is not missing. But, the
little ones rivet my attention. Some are a few weeks old, others two,
three, four, and five years old. Women are nursing them. Where are their
mothers? I am told that they are out--and this and that girl is
receiving twopence or threepence for minding baby until mother comes
home once more. The whole thing is too terribly real; and now, now I
begin to understand a little about Dr. Barnardo's work and the urgent
necessity for it. "Save the children," he cries, "at any cost from
becoming such as the men and women are whom we see here!"

That night I visited some dozen, perhaps twenty, of these
lodging-houses. The same men and women were everywhere, the same fire,
the same eatables cooking--even the chains of coloured papers, the holly
and the bunch of mistletoe--and the wretched children as well.

Hurrying away from these scenes of the nowadays downfall of man and
woman, I returned home. I lit my pipe and my memory went away to the
months of song and sunshine--one day last summer!

I had got my parcel of toys--balls and steam-engines, dolls, and funny
little wooden men that jump about when you pull the string, and
what-not. But, I had forgotten the sweets. Samuel Huggins, however, who
is licensed to sell tobacco and snuff at Hawkhurst, was the friend in
need. He filled my pockets--for a consideration. And, the fine red-brick
edifice, with clinging ivy about its walls, and known as "Babies'
Castle," came in view.

Here they are--just on their way to dinner. Look at this little fellow!
He is leading on either side a little girl and boy. The little girl is a
blind idiot, the other youngster is also blind; yet he knows every child
in the place by touch. He knew what a railway engine was. And the poor
little girl got the biggest rubber ball in the pack, and for five hours
she sat in a corner bouncing it ag