I have thought that
perhaps a letter from me, giving my experience, might not be out of
place.
"Fully eleven years ago I first heard of your intention to bring out
some young emigrants to Canada, and as I heard that they were of the
degraded, vicious, and criminal class, I did not look with favour
upon the effort. Being in England shortly after the first lot came
out, without making my object known, I went down to the East End of
London repeatedly, and personally inquired into the working of the
scheme, saw the gathering in from the widows' families, the orphans,
the destitute, and those worse than orphans. I saw the cleaning, the
fresh clothing, the training in work and discipline, and, above all,
the schooling in religious teaching from God's Book, and singing
sweet Gospel hymns. I was satisfied that this part of the work was
being well done in England, and great care exercised in selecting
only suitable cases and giving lengthened training; so that the girls
and boys from the youngest to those of thirteen and fourteen years of
age, when drafted to Canada in fifties and hundreds, looked likely
youngsters for workers in this land of plenty.
"After my return to Canada, having got thoroughly interested in the
work, seeing at least that it was doing a good work for London in
relieving the over-population there, I decided, if in my judgment the
work was as well cared for in Canada, and as much care exercised in
placing them out in homes as in gathering in and training, then it
would prove a good work for Canada also.
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