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NOVEL SCENES.

I was naturally desirous to know the result of the first night at the Home, and on making inquiry the next morning, was not a little amused to find that the eleven boys who lodged there had occupied the whole twenty-five beds. Unused to such a luxury, they thought they would make the most of it by going from bed to bed. Much to the discomfort of the Superintendent, who occupied a room below, a portion of the night was spent in testing the rolling qualities of the bedsteads, which were mounted on castors. There was, as a matter of course, a battle with the pillows, but they were new, and of good material, and stood the storm well. Ellard had the first choice of a bed, and retained it all the time he was with us.

Religious services were held at the Home the day after it was opened, Sunday. In the midst of a prayer, I had to separate two boys who were fighting under one of the tables.

Bath tubs had been provided for the boys, who made good use of them. On going to the Home early one Sunday afternoon, I found a lad had formed such an attachment for them, that he had been "in four times," and would, doubtless, have doubled the number before the close of the day, had I not prevented it. The water was dripping from him while he pleaded for permission to take another "to get clean." Deprived of this luxury, he tendered six cents for a bed, to which he then wanted to retire, but the regulations forbade the use of beds at such an hour, except in cases of sickness.

One of the managers visited the Home on the evening of the 27th of September, 1858, and saw a little fellow who had just made his appearance, and who was in a most filthy condition. To allow him to retire in that state was quite out of the question. The youngster had evidently not been trained in the art of washing, and as no one seemed willing to undertake so arduous a task, my brother manager took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and scrubbed him from head to foot. The supply of soap was exhausted before the work was fully accomplished. Ellard, and some of the other boys, I am told, looked on in perfect amazement, and contributed two cents each for his breakfast the following morning. The poor child had given all his earnings to his mother, who would get what she could from him, to spend in liquor.

In more than one instance, intemperate mothers have followed their children to the Home, where they sought shelter, and given them much trouble and sorrow. The honest and tenderhearted lads have wept at the mortification thus brought upon them. One of them was forced away from the Home by his unnatural mother, in the hope that she would thereby secure more of his earnings, but he ran away from her, and slept in the street, rather than under her roof. The Superintendent was once obliged to awake a child, nine years of age, and send him to the room where his mother was waiting for him. She took all his money, and then allowed him to return to his bed, and to get his breakfast the following morning as he best could. Measures were taken to prevent a recurrence of these sad abuses, and no little difficulty was experienced in making the poor follows feel that they were secure under our protection.

Swearing was at first very common among the boys, but an oath is scarcely ever heard now. Soon after the Home was opened, the Superintendent heard a disturbance in the sleeping room one night, and hastened to see what was the matter. One of the boys had been chastised by Ellard, whose excuse was, "He swore three times, and I was giving him his nine punches." The boys had agreed among themselves, that three punches should be given for every oath, but I very much doubt whether Master Ellard, in imposing this penalty, paid proper attention to the multiplication table. It is much more than likely that three times three made fifteen or twenty in that instance.

On the 20th of October, 1858, the Rev. Mr. Bringhurst exhibited his Magic Lantern at the Home. Eighty boys were present, and enjoyed it exceedingly. Several exclamations, such as "That's del-atious!" were heard during the evening, and at the close, "three cheers for Bringhurst" were shouted for the reverend gentleman, much to his amusement. Since then there have been two similar exhibitions, and no boys, in any class of society, could have behaved better. There was, of course, many a hearty laugh at the pictures calculated to amuse, while, at other times, "That's serious," would be heard in a faint whisper, expressive of reverence.

Much of the good accomplished at the lodging rooms in Pear street was counterbalanced by the evil influences under which the boys were brought at some of the places frequented by them during the day for their meals, and it was found indispensably necessary that a building should be provided where they could have their meals as well as lodging, and thus be more under our care. All seemed highly pleased at the prospect of having a residence of their own, and for this purpose a building was engaged in Spruce street. A day or two after, I met Ellard, and, supposing he knew which house had been selected, I asked him how he liked the idea of moving, when he replied, "I like the idea, but don't like the house," meaning the magnificent structure in Chestnut street, erected by the Pennsylvania Bank, at that time for sale, and which some of the boys had chosen for their home.