Lady Willacy's Protafgees ; or, Homes for the Homeless. By
Agnes Gray. (Oliphant.)—This is a story written to illustrate the benefits of the " boarding-out " system. The object has our heartiest sympathy, and as books written with an object are often laudable only for their intention, we are glad to be able to say that it is sufficiently well written and readable. The little "boarders out" are not brought too prominently forward. On the contrary, the greater part of the tale is occupied with the joys and sorrows of the ' grown-ups,' who make love and so forth, much as they do in tales without an object. What is said about the special subject is well said ; and the great advantage of the system, the effect produced upon the nature of children by the kindly and happy family life into which they are introduced, is illustrated in a practical and forcible way. Miss Gray can hardly, perhaps, expect to make converts by her little tale, but she may fairly hope to get people to consider the matter for themselves, and we cannot but think that there will be for such consideration one end only. Between the vast institutions where all things are indeed well managed—and they are not well managed everywhere—while the child is nothing but a number to be manipulated by the hands of skilful officials, and never gaining the least knowledge of any of the conditions under which her future life will have to be passed, and an even moderately good home, what choice can there be ?
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