of this kind have taken place on Sundays in
lonely churches to which the various members
of the little congregations have repaired from
great distances. Some of the girls now married
have chosen old companions thus encountered
for their bridesmaids, and in their
letters have described their delight very pathetically.

A considerable part of the needle-work
done in the Home is necessary to its own
internal neatness, and the preparation of outfits
for the emigrants; especially as many of
the inmates know little or nothing of such
work, and have it all to learn. But, as they
become more dexterous, plain work is taken
in, and the proceeds are applied as a fund to
defray the cost of outfits. The outfits are
always of the simplest kind. Nothing is
allowed to be wasted or thrown away in the
Home. From the bones, and remnants of
food, the girls are taught to make soup for
the poor and sick. This at once extends their
domestic knowledge, and preserves their
sympathy for the distressed.

Some of the experiences, not already mentioned,
that have been acquired in the
management of the Home are curious, and
perhaps deserving of consideration in prisons
and other institutions. It has been observed,
in taking the histories—especially of the
more artful cases—that nothing is so likely
to elicit the truth as a perfectly imperturbable
face, and an avoidance of any leading
question or expression of opinion. Give the
narrator the least idea what tone will make
her an object of interest, and she will take it
directly. Give her none, and she will be
driven on the truth, and in most cases will
tell it. For similar reasons it is found desirable
always to repress stock religious professions
and religious phrases; to discourage
shows of sentiment, and to make their lives
practical and active. " Don't talk about it
—do it! " is the motto of the place. The
inmates find everywhere about them the same
kind discriminating firmness, and the same
determination to have no favorite subjects, or
favorite objects, of interest. Girls from
Ragged Schools are not generally so impressible
as reduced girls who have failed to
support themselves by hard work, or as women
from the streets—probably, because they
have suffered less. The poorest of the Ragged
School condition, who are odious to approach
when first picked up, invariably affect afterwards
that their friends are " well off." This
psychological curiosity is considered inexplicable.
Most of the inmates are depressed at
first. At holiday times the more doubtful
part of them usually become restless and
uncertain; there would also appear to be,
usually, a time of considerable restlessness after
six or eight months. In any little difficulty,
the general feeling is invariably with the
establishment and never with the offender.
When a girl is discharged for misconduct,
fihe is generally in deep distress, and goes
away miserably. The rest will sometimes
intercede for her with tears; but it is found
that firmness on this and every point, when a
decision is once taken, is the most humane
course as having a wholesome influence on
the greatest number. For this reason, a
mere threat of discharge is never on any
account resorted to. Two points of management
are extremely important; the first, to
refer very sparingly to the past; the second,
never to treat the inmates as children. They
must never be allowed to suppose it possible
that they can get the better of the management.
Judicious commendation, when it
is deserved, has a very salutary influence.
It is also found that a serious and urgent
entreaty to a girl, to exercise her self-restraint
on some point (generally temper) oil
which her mark-table shews her to be deficient,
often has an excellent effect when it
is accompanied with such encouragement as,
"You know how changed you are since you
have been here; you know we have begun to
entertain great hopes of you. For God's sake
consider! Do not throw away this great
chance of your life, by making yourself and
everybody around you unhappy—which will
oblige us to send you away—but conquer this.
Now, try hard for a month, and pray let us
have no fault to find with you at the end of
that time." Many will make great and successful
efforts to control themselves, after
such remonstrance. In all cases, the fewest
and plainest words are the best. When new
to the place, they are found to break and
spoil through great carelessness. Patience,
and the strictest attention to order and
punctuality, will in most cases overcome
these discouragements. Nothing else will.
They are often rather disposed to quarrel
among themselves, particularly in bad weather
when their lives are necessarily monotonous
and confined; but, on the whole, allowing for
their different breeding, they perhaps quarrel
less than the average of passengers in the
state cabin on a voyage out to India.

As some of the inmates of the Home
have to be saved and guarded from themselves
more than from any other people,
they can scarcely be defended by too many
precautions. These precautions are not obtruded
upon them, but are strictly observed.
Keys are never left about. The garden gate
is always kept locked; but the girls take it
in turn to act as porteress, overlooked by the
second superintendent. They are proud of
this trust. Any inmate missing from her
usual place for ten minutes would be looked
after. Any suspicious circumstance would
be quickly and quietly investigated. As no
girl makes her own bed, no girl has the opportunity
of safely hiding any secret correspondence,
or anything else, in it. Each inmate has
a separate bed, but there are several beds in a
room. The occupants of each room are always
arranged with a reference to their several
characters and counteracting influences. A