tingles the tambourine to the stepping of her feet; whilst
Annie is another disciple of the art, and sings a song with the strange
refrain of "Ta-ra-ra-Boom-de-ay!"

[Illustration: AT THE GATE. _From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry._]

Now, hurrah for play!--and off we go helter-skelter to the fields,
Laddie barking and jumping at the youngsters with unsuppressed delight.

[Illustration: IN THE PLAYING FIELDS. _From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry._]

If you can escape from joining in their games--but they are
irresistible--do, and walk quietly round and take stock of these rescued
little ones. Notice this small contingent just starting from the porch.
Babies' brougham only consists of a small covered cart, with a highly
respectable donkey--warranted not to proceed too fast--attached to it.
Look at this group at the gate. They can't quite understand what "the
genelman" with the cloth over his head and a big brown box on three
pieces of stick is going to do, but it is all right. They are taught to
smile here, and the photographer did not forget to put it down. And I
open the gate and let them down the steps, the little girl with the
golden locks all over her head sharply advising her smaller companions
to "Come along--come along!" Then young Christopher mounts the
rocking-horse of the establishment, the swinging-boats are quickly
crammed up with passengers, and twenty or thirty more little minds are
again set wondering as to why "the genelman" will wrap his head up in a
piece of black cloth and cover his eyes whenever he wants to _see_ them!
And the Castle perambulator! How pretty the occupants--how ready the
hands to give Susan and Willie a trip round. They shout, they jump,
they do all and more than most children, so wild and free is their
delight.

[Illustration: THE "CASTLE" PERAMBULATOR. _From a Photo. by Elliott &
Fry._]

The sun is shining upon these one-time waifs and strays, these children
of the East--the flowers seem to grow for them, and the grass keeps
green as though to atone for the dark days which ushered in their birth.
Let them sing to-day--they were made to sing--let them be _children_
indeed. Let them shout and tire their tiny limbs in play--they will
sleep all the better for it, and eat a bigger breakfast in the morning.
The nurses are beginning to gather in their charges. Laddie is leaping
and barking round the hedge-rows in search of any wanderers.

[Illustration: ON THE STEPS. _From a Photo. by Elliott