Or，inthecolonelofthatregimentwriting，’Wewantsixmoreboys；theyareexcellentlads’？Or，inoneoftheboyshavingrisentobeband-corporalinthesameregiment？Or，inemployersofallkindschorusing，’Giveusdrilledboys，fortheyareprompt，obedient，andpunctual’？OtherproofsIhavemyselfbeheldwiththeseUncommercialeyes，thoughIdonotregardmyselfashavingarighttorelateinwhatsocialpositionstheyhaveseenrespectedmenandwomenwhowereoncepauperchildrenoftheStepneyUnion。
Intowhatadmirablesoldiersothersoftheseboyshavethecapabilitiesforbeingturned，Ineednotpointout。Manyofthemarealwaysambitiousofmilitaryservice；andonceuponatimewhenanoldboycamebacktoseetheoldplace，acavalrysoldierallcomplete，WITHHISSPURSON，suchayearningbrokeouttogetintocavalryregimentsandwearthosesublimeappendages，thatitwasoneofthegreatestexcitementseverknownintheschool。Thegirlsmakeexcellentdomesticservants，andatcertainperiodscomeback，ascoreortwoatatime，toseetheoldbuilding，andtotaketeawiththeoldteachers，andtoheartheoldband，andtoseetheoldshipwithhermaststoweringupabovetheneighbouringroofsandchimneys。Astothephysicalhealthoftheseschools，itissoexceptionallyremarkablesimplybecausethesanitaryregulationsareasgoodastheothereducationalarrangements，thatwhenMr。TUFNELL，theInspector，firststateditinareport，hewassupposed，inspiteofhishighcharacter，tohavebeenbetrayedintosomeextraordinarymistakeorexaggeration。Inthemoralhealthoftheseschools-wherecorporalpunishmentisunknown-Truthfulnessstandshigh。Whentheshipwasfirsterected，theboyswereforbiddentogoaloft，untilthenets，whicharenowalwaysthere，werestretchedasaprecautionagainstaccidents。Certainboys，intheireagerness，disobeyedtheinjunction，gotoutofwindowintheearlydaylight，andclimbedtothemasthead。Oneboyunfortunatelyfell，andwaskilled。Therewasnocluetotheothers；butalltheboyswereassembled，andthechairmanoftheBoardaddressedthem。’Ipromisenothing；youseewhatadreadfulthinghashappened；youknowwhatagraveoffenceitisthathasledtosuchaconsequence；Icannotsaywhatwillbedonewiththeoffenders；but，boys，youhavebeentrainedhere，aboveallthings，torespectthetruth。Iwantthetruth。Whoarethedelinquents？’Instantly，thewholenumberofboysconcerned，separatedfromtherest，andstoodout。
Now，theheadandheartofthatgentlemanitisneedlesstosay，agoodheadandagoodhearthavebeendeeplyinterestedintheseschoolsformanyyears，andaresostill；andtheestablishmentisveryfortunateinamostadmirablemaster，andmoreovertheschoolsoftheStepneyUnioncannothavegottobewhattheyare，withouttheStepneyBoardofGuardianshavingbeenearnestandhumanemenstronglyimbuedwithasenseoftheirresponsibility。Butwhatonesetofmencandointhiswise，anothersetofmencando；andthisisanobleexampletoallotherBodiesandUnions，andanobleexampletotheState。Followed，andenlargeduponbyitsenforcementonbadparents，itwouldclearLondonstreetsofthemostterribleobjectstheysmitethesightwith-myriadsoflittlechildrenwhoawfullyreverseOurSaviour’swords，andarenotoftheKingdomofHeaven，butoftheKingdomofHell。
Clearthepublicstreetsofsuchshame，andthepublicconscienceofsuchreproach？Ah！Almostprophetic，surely，thechild’sjingle:
Whenwillthatbe，SaythebellsofStep-ney！