VISITS TO A WORKHOUSE NURSERY.

A CERTAIN amount of gloom seems always to hang over a workhouse; the heavy iron gates, the bare walls, and long dreary stone passages, all tend to invest it with a prison-like look. Certainly the one I am in the habit of visiting is no exception to this rule. Still, like other gloomy places, it has its bright spot; and it is a great comfort to turn away from all the sin, misery, and hopelessness which one sees in the rest of the house, to enter the infant nursery; yet even here, there are many things to make one feel sad.

The nursery is a large airy room, with bare whitewashed walls, at present without a single picture to brighten them up. Round the room are placed the children's cribs, which, with a few low benches and a table, constitute the whole of the furniture; a door at one end opens into a large court, of about an eighth of an acre in size; in the centre of which is a grass-plot; round the walls is a good flower-border; the space between it and the grass being paved with large flag-stones; so that the children have a nice dry place to run about in, even in damp weather. The ages of the children vary from a few months to three years old; for the most part they look very healthy, and are, I believe, well looked after. The nurse is, I think, very fond of them. She used to quarrel and fight so dreadfully with the other women in the house, that the mistress was glad to place her in a position in which she sees hardly anyone; trusting that her love for children would keep her from venting her temper on them. I think her affection for them is the one soft place in her heart; perhaps, too, she remembers the time when she was a little deserted child in the same workhouse, and that makes her kind to these poor little ones; many of whom have been deserted in the same way by their parents. Of course, however, many of the mothers are in the house, and we often come in and find them playing with their children. When the children are between three and four years old, they are sent to the infant school, and then the mothers are only allowed to see them once a week, for half an hour. The absence of all shyness in these children is quite wonderful; even when we were quite strangers to them, they used to run up to us directly we got into the room, and were delighted at being kissed and played with. We used to try and teach them to kiss, but unfortunately they did not learn very quickly.

It is very dreadful to see the state to which some of these poor children are reduced, when first they enter the house; many have been picked up in B- in a half-starved condition, their eyes starting out of their heads, and their little bodies nothing but skin and bone. When they are found in this state they rarely recover, but die at the end of a few weeks.

Of course there are exceptions to this rule; thus, the healthiest looking

child now in the nursery was the youngest of five who were found almost dying of starvation in an empty room in one of the worst parts of BTheir father and mother had sailed for America, and left these poor children behind.

One day when I was there, the nurse told me that they had a new little girl who could dance and sing. She was a nice, bright looking child, of about three years old. On being told by the nurse to dance, she began to shuffle her feet backwards and forwards, and at the same time to sing, 'Slap-bang, here we are again;' frowning and squinting most dreadfully; it seemed as if she were repeating a lesson which had been acquired with great difficulty. A policeman found her in B-,' said the nurse, in answer to my inquiries, and her mother's dead.' 'Where is her father?' I asked. The child, looking up quickly, answered, 'He's took off to the station-house.' What an insight did that give to the life the child had been leading!

A short time ago the Bishop visited the workhouse, and while there, went to see the nursery; one poor little blind child especially attracted his notice; she had been brought to that state through the ill-treatment she had received from her mother. The Bishop, on hearing this, most kindly offered either to allow the Guardians a sum of money to provide her with additional comforts in the workhouse, or else to place her in a Home for children and provide altogether for her; but his kind intentions in regard to her were not destined to be carried out; for that very evening she died, and all her troubles were ended for ever.

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A short time ago, I went into the nursery, about twelve o'clock ; that hour the room wore quite a different aspect. The children were stretched in rows on the floor, having their mid-day nap; while, in the further corner of the room, the nurse had just laid out a little baby, who was sleeping its last sleep; its pure white face contrasting strangely with the flushed healthy faces of the children on the ground. In a few minutes, I felt that all those children would be awake, and romping about the room; and that little quiet body would still be lying there disregarded by all: they would doubtless eat and drink in that room; laugh and play in it just the same as usual; and then the next day, when the child's body was placed under the ground, they would most probably eat their dinner off the table on which the body was then lying. How can we expect these children, when they grow up, to have right feelings about death, when they have seen the dead treated with such irreverence? If they could be placed under the care of educated and religious women, how different would the future of most of them be!

Is it too much to hope that some day workhouses, as well as hospitals, may be placed under the superintendence of Sisters? What a bright day that would be to the workhouse children!

CORRESPONDENCE.

M. S. is afraid that clergymen's families may feel hurt at Mrs. Marvin representing herself as unable to visit the Salterne family on equal terms. Of course it is not meant that, as a clergyman's wife, she would not be on a footing with the squire's wife and daughters, but that her individual circumstances would make it impossible. It is not always that the clergy or their wives are the high-born personages M. S. represents them; and the footing of the female portion of the household in society necessarily depends on their position, their breeding, and their circumstances. Nothing would be a more unfortunate error than for the wife and daughters of a struggling 'poor incumbent' to expect to share all the parties at the great house; the endeavour to be as fashionable as the young ladies, by their own contrivance or that of the village dress-maker, would make them vulgar and ridiculous, take up valuable time and thought, and in the end prove costly-for muslins are not always clean, and bows of ribbon cannot be had for nothing.

HINTS ON FRENCH READING.

BY MADAME DE WITT, NÉE GUIZOT.

Manuel d'Histoire Ancienne de l'Orient Jusqu'aux Guerres Médiques, by M. François Lenormant, Under Librarian to the Institut. (A. Lévy fils, 29, Rue de Seine, Paris.) The first volume of this interesting work, gives the history of the Israelites, the Egyptians, and the Assyrians; the second contains that of the Babylonians, the Medes, Persians, Phœnicians, and Carthaginians. The author, still young, but truly learned and wise, a philologist and archeologist, is the son of M. Charles Lenormant, whose works made France take an important step in the sciences of archeology and numismatics, and who died in a last voyage to Greece, a victim to his love of science, and to the cause of the freedom of the Greeks. A steadfast and fervent Catholic, M. Charles Lenormant belonged to the party of Liberal Catholics, at the head of which were le Père Lacordaire and M. de Montalembert. He left his opinions, as well as his tastes, to his son, as the following extract from the preface to the first volume bears witness:-'I am a Christian, and I proclaim it loudly, but my faith is not frightened by any of the discoveries of critics, even when true; and therefore, as I am a Christian, I consider myself to be more completely in the sense and spirit of science than those who have the misfortune to possess no faith.

'In history, I am of the school of Bossuet. I see in the annals of mankind the development of a providential plan, which continues through all ages and through all the vicissitudes of society. In this I recognize the designs of God, respecting the liberty of man, invariably doing His work by his free hands, nearly always unknown to him, and often in spite of him. To me, as to all Christians, the whole of ancient history is the preparation for, modern history the consequence of, the Divine Sacrifice at Golgotha.'

The discoveries of science during the last forty years have so extended and modified the old notions of Eastern history, the field open to conjecture is now so vast, and the facts gained are so numerous, that a new book, written by a learned man, and within the reach of the ignorant, is really a piece of good fortune, for making them sharers of which, our readers will know how to thank us.

Deux aus au Lycée, by Madame de Pressensé. (Meyrueis, 168, Rue de Rivoli, Paris.) Some of the readers of The Monthly Packet perhaps know already 'La Maison Blanche,' (the White House at S. Real,) by Madame de Pressensé. 'Deux aus au Lycée,' is also a book certainly for boys, written by a mother who knows her sons well; the tone is elevated and delicate, the conversation lively, sometimes a little mixed with college jargon; and the Doctrine of Sacrifice is well comprehended, and set forth in all its beauty. The little girl who puts her hand forward to receive the punishment intended for her companion, whose fingers are covered with chilblains, is a true disciple of Him Who carried our sorrows and took upon Himself our infirmities. But Madame de Pressensé has not exclusively given up her pen to young boys; 'Rosa,' and 'Le Journal de Thérèse,' are books for girls. 'Rosa' especially is a charming narrative. 'Le Journal de Thérèse' is sometimes tinged with a slightly morbid sentiment.

Scènes d'Histoire et de Famille, by Madame de Witt, née Guizot. (Didier, 35, Quai des Augustins, Paris.)-The author has wished to shew how private life is mixed up with public, and with history, more than is generally known; and how, in the most humble, as well as in the most brilliant stations, the description of times and events helps one to understand the history of persons. The six historical scenes, which compose the volume, cover many centuries; beginning at the First Crusade, 'Raymond de S. Gilles à la Croisade,' (1095–1099,) then we arrive at Bayard, 'le bon chevalier, sans peur et sans reproche,' (1489-1524,) then, leaving France, we arrive in Holland at the most glorious epoch of the beautiful history of this little country, struggling heroically against an overwhelming power: 'Leyde et le Zélandais sauvages.' (1574.) The beginning of the sixteenth century takes us into Scotland, the last part of Europe where superstition burnt witches, 'une héritière Ecossaise sous le règne de Jacques VI.' (1613-1617;) then following the French abroad, Madame de Witt gives a description of the first missions of the Jesuits in Canada, ‘un village de la nouvelle France,' (1638–1649,) to finish in India, an account of the heroic enterprises of Dupleix, of his predecessors and successors, always baffled by the weakness of their government, les Français dans l'Inde.' (1746-1784.)

Un Intérieur, by Mademoiselle Couriard. (La Société des écoles de Dimanche, 16, Rue de l'Abbaye, Paris.)—It is certainly a picture of a home circle that Mademoiselle Couriard has wished to draw; a father, young girls, and a precise governess, charming and excellent, but a little too eloquent on the beauties of nature, and the feelings of the heart. We must not quarrel with her, for she exercises her influences beneficially on her pupil, who was at first rebellious, but perhaps all young girls might not have been won by so much enthusiasm. The book is, however, interesting, and conceived in the best spirit.

La Duchesse d'Ayen, by Madame de la Fayette; Madame de la Fayette, by Madame de Lasteyrie. (Techer, Rue St. André des Orts, Paris.)-Those who have read the 'Mémoires de la Marquise de Montagu' of the French Revolution, were left anxious for details of the mother of the 'five sisters de Noailles' and of the strong woman who stands above them all in her heroic simplicity, Madame la Marquise de la Fayette. It was known that there was a life of Madame la Duchesse d'Ayen in existence, written in prison at Olmütz, by her daughter, Madame de la Fayette, on the margins of a work by Buffon the naturalist; some privileged persons had also seen the life of Madame de la Fayette, by her daughter Madame de Lasteyrie. M. de Remisat, of the French Academy, son-in-law to Madame de Lasteyrie, moved by the publication of some fragments of these family treasures, consented at last to give to the public what had been for a long while requested.

'La vie de la Duchesse d'Ayen' is short; feelings are condensed, and facts restrained -it is visible that space was limited, and that the heart of the daughter dared not expand for want of paper. This produces rather a severe sketch; religious ardour, thus restrained, becomes austere, but the simple grandeur of virtue triumphs over all these obstacles; and one can understand the vivid impression such a mother must have left on the hearts of daughters whom she had brought up with passionate devotedness. Paper was not wanting with Madame de Lasteyrie; she did not write in the midst of trials, such as had burdened her mother's life; and her biography of Madame de la Fayette, written for her children, is one of the most touching monuments of affection and respect that a daughter could possibly raise to her mother. This young woman, married at fourteen, loving her husband passionately, first saw him start for America to serve under Washington; then among the first to bear the trials of the French Revolution-in the beginning ardent amongst the Liberals, then trying to restrain the popular torrent, and to protect the throne against its rage; at last, in leaving France, he was arrested, through a misunderstanding, and kept in an Austrian prison for several long years. During this time Madame de la Fayette received deputations from the National Guard, in order that she might conceal the departure of her husband, and give him time to leave the country where his life was in danger; then, on ascertaining his arrest, she set herself to settle his affairs immediately, and pay his debts. At last, free from all care, leaving behind her a ruined fortune and a decreased family, she took the road to Olmütz with her children, the end of all her desires; and when she saw in the distance the towers of the fortress, where she was going to be buried, she began to sing the Magnificat in a transport of joy and gratitude, an admirable example of conjugal love and religious faith, of courage and simplicity. The 'Mémoires' of her sister, Madame de Montagu, had already made us acquainted with some features of her character; the biography of Madame de Lasteyrie shews us the whole, firm and great, tender and faithful, a true example of a Christian woman. "The Life of the Marquise de Montagu' was an extract from her journal, first made under the superintendence of members of her family, and afterwards published by the Duc de Noailles, her great-nephew. The Life of Madame de la Fayette,' as also that of the 'Duchesse d'Ayen,' are printed word for word; though M. de Remisat did wish to modify the original, he has published these two biographies, which were inspired by such tender recollections, in their noble simplicity. This beautiful collection contains also the letter of the Abbé Carrichon, the priest who helped the Maréchale de Noailles, la Duchesse d'Ayen, and la Vicomtesse de Noailles, on their way to the scaffold; and also some other very touching pieces. With the remembrance of these very hard times, it is well to measure the heights to which torture carried some of the victims.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

No MS. can be returned unless the Author's name and address be written on it, and stamps be sent with it.

Contributions must often be delayed for want of space, but their writers may be assured that when room can be found they shall appear.

D. M.-Not seeing any answer in the June Number to the inquiry for some Institution in England where girls can be trained as Teachers free of expense, SALF believes that this is done entirely free, excepting clothing and travelling expenses, at Lincoln-Principal, the