Of all the efforts made to relieve the sadness of the lot of the growing population around us none stands higher, or is more deserving of continued attention and support, than the hospitals for sick children.

A child's hospital is free from many of the saddest features to be found in hospitals for adults, and in the present case the tenderness and zeal of the attendants and managers is so imbued with a hopeful spirit of cheerfulness, that an inspection of its wards gives rise to many consoling thoughts.

After due permission and a very genial welcome from the Lady Superintendent, we entered the ward for boys, on the ground

floor. The first sound which reached us was a happy little voice singing away in a cot to the left. Every child looked snug in his scarlet Nightingale jacket; there was the usual bright display of fresh flowers on the central table, and the children who were well enough were in easy-chairs, lounging with the careless grace of childhood round the large central fireplaces. The most noticeable feature here was the number of endowed cots, each labelled as being partly or wholly supported by communities or individuals. Many of these bore pathetic records, being memorials to little. ones loved and lost.

In this severe weather it was

connect with the gas stoves, were in full operation; the little patients seemed free from pain; one had been saved from suffocation by tracheotomy, and the relieved, comfortable way in which the ward-sister told of their satisfactory improvement was very interesting.

Picture-books appeared in great favour in this ward, the boys being somewhat older than in the other divisions, and many able to read. There was, however, one most intelligent, bright-eyed little fellow, deaf and dumb, unable, alas! to benefit by the books, having had no instruction. His responsiveness to signs and his imitativeness are very unusual even in that imitative class; he writes a perfect fac-simile of any written words, but has no knowledge of their meaning.

In the large airy corridor there stood an ice-bin, everything everywhere being in excellent order and keeping. Looking out of the door which is the exit to the back of the hospital, the eye rests on a large open space well turfed over, and facing us rises the isolated building for infectious cases.

These are rarely any but measles, that being a disorder prone to develop itself several days after admission.

We went up to the second ward for girls, and there were some children here who looked as if they had been rescued from starvation. A few were crying somewhat querulously, tea-time being at hand, and the little things beginning to crave for their refreshment. There was one very satisfactory group in the middle of the ward. Four girls all dressed and ready to be transferred to a convalescent home in the country, whither one of the sisters was getting ready to escort them. I thought one or two of these seemed a little reluctant to go; but all were joyful and thankful, and fully alive to the benefit of their improved condition.

"Better

I am recalled by a little wailing cry to the remembrance that nothing has been said of one of the best features of the place-the ward for very young infants;some bright and rosy, all tiny, some weak and wizened still, but, thank God, almost all with the look of returning health. But here, again, the pressure from without tells heavily. There were

infants pronounced and well healthy, but still, alas, so feeble that one felt a terrible fear that the inevitable day of going out would with them be fraught with danger of immediate relapse; whereas if they could be given the extra month of good food, warmth, and care which they still needed, their prospects would indeed be assured, and they would not go out only to suffer.

It sometimes occurs that persons are mentioned who are believed not to know what to do with their money; and although I have never in my own experience met with any individual entirely destitute of original views in this important matter, I only hope that, if they do exist, their steps may happily chance to turn in the direction of this hospital. Assuredly a single visit would be sufficient, and no doubt would remain as to the best way of giving money in charity.

pitals in Europe in order to secure for it the best possible equipment. Although Mr. Robertson has himself given very generously to this institution, yet it is still in urgent need of further assistance. With its furnishings it is valued at $213,000. On this is a debt of $70,000, which greatly cripples its efficiency. A strenuous effort is being made to reduce this indebtedness.

Our large engravings show groups of patients, among whom may be recognized their kind benefactor, Mr. J. Ross Robertson. In helping the little ones in the Children's Hospital we shall assuredly inherit the Saviour's benediction, "Inasmuch as ye have

done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."

Few things appeal more strongly to our sympathy than the case of sick children. They often suffer through the fault of others. It is exceedingly pathetic to witness their patience under pain, their gratitude for gifts of flowers or pictures, and the gladsome games of the little convalescent cripples. Few things touch the heart more tenderly than Tennyson's beautiful poem on Little Emmie in the Children's Hospital, a few lines of which quote:

we

Our doctor had call'd in another, I never had seen him before,

But he sent a chill to my heart when I saw him come in at the door,

Fresh from the surgery-schools of France and of other lands

Harsh red hair, big voice, big chest, big merciless hands!

Wonderful cures he had done, O yes, but they said too of him

He was happier using the knife than in trying to save the limb, And that I can well believe, for he look'd so coarse and red,

I could think he was one of those who would break their jests on the dead, And mangle the living dog that had loved him and fawn'd at his kneeDrench'd with the hellish oorali-that ever such things should be!