Never had a home : a very commonplace history / by T.J. Barnardo.

  • Thomas John Barnardo
Date:
[1890?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Never had a home : a very commonplace history / by T.J. Barnardo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “You must come,” ran his message, “and see a case now in the hall ! ” On reaching the spot, my eye immediately rested upon a group which stirred my heart with deep commiseration. A woman, who might be perhaps forty years of age, stood there with three little girls near her. The eldest of these appeared to be a trifle over thirteen, the youngest about six, the one between the two probably nine years of age. But what a rebuke was the very appear¬ ance of the four to the Laodiceans who are always prophesying smooth things, and who seem to believe that everything happens for the best, in this best of possible worlds ! Here were four veritable outcasts; it did not need a second glance to assure me of that fact. Seldom, even in my peculiar ex¬ perience, had I seen man or woman or child on whose faces and garments were more unmistakably written “Destitute and out¬ cast.” Both in person and in raiment the four were filthy beyond description, their frames were emaciated to the last degree, their faces were sunken, and of a deathly pallor, which threw into prominence the unnatural brilli¬ ancy of the eyes, and lent a weird expression to their whole appearance. As to clothing, it would have been difficult