happy as boys can look; and just so with the little shoemakers. They
work only four hours, and then another set take their place. The
room was large and airy, and perfectly comfortable. I saw the
clothes they had made, all nicely pressed and put away in their
storerooms, ready for wear. So with the shoes; they mended their old
shoes and their old clothes themselves.

I saw those of the children who were not at work, at play; for the
school hours were past. I saw their happy faces, their clean, tidy
clothes, and their long rows of nice, clean beds, for I went into
every part of the house, and a beautiful sight it all was. In the
kitchen some girls were making up the bread, and most excellent
bread it was, and a good, large, thick slice there was for every
one. I saw the dining hall, and all that belonged to that part of
the concern, and all was just what it ought to be.

Now, you must know that these are, all, the children of paupers--
children who have no earthly parents, children that the public must
take care of, or they would live or die in the streets. All the
different parishes have erected this building, and put in the best
teachers, and furnished it as I have related to you, and there
placed these poor children, who were growing up in vice and misery.
Here they are taught habits of order, industry, and obedience, and
learn a way of supporting themselves honestly, and are kept till
they are old enough to be put apprentice to some good person who
will treat them well. So, instead of six hundred and fifty ignorant,
reckless vagrants, the community receives that number of well-
instructed, well-brought-up individuals, who can support themselves
decently and respectably.