History of the Formation of the Nineteenth-street Gang--Our Efforts to Reform it--Mr. Slater's Labors--Improvement of Vagabond Boys--Reform of Petty Thieves--Good Fortune of a Homeless Lad--Warning, in 1854, from the Danger of these Lads--Their Extraordinary Crimes--Murder of Mr. Swanton--Murder of Mr. Rogers--Failure at that time of our Reformatory Efforts--Renewed In 1865--Lodging-house Founded in Eighteenth Street--The Superintendent--His Characteristics--The Assistance of a Benevolent Gentleman--His Influence over the Boys--Mr. Gourley's Economy--A Test of his Patience--The Ingratitude of Two Boys--Their Improvement--The Reformatory Effects of the Lodging-house--Its Tabular Statement...................................................pp. 316-329 CHAPTER XXVII. THE MINISTRY OF FLOWERS--THE LITTLE VAGABONDS OF CORLEAR'S HOOK. The Rookeries of the "Hook"--The "Gavroches" and "Topsies" of the Quarter--Great Number of Homeless Children--A School-building turned into a Lodging-house--The Superintendent--His Artistic Faculty--Flowers--A Novel Reward for the Children--Distribution of Flowers among the Poor--An Aquarium and Green-house--The Industrial School--An Earnest Teacher--The Children Like Little Indians--The Night-school and Free Reading-room--Sunday-evening Meetings--Assistance by various Gentlemen--A Young Army Officer and others--The Effect of these Meetings--The Purchase of the House--Begging Money for Charities--A Disagreeable Duty--Liberality of New York Merchants--Labors of Two of the Trustees--Gift of a Beautiful Conservatory to the Lodging-house--The Attractions of the School-room--Mothers' Meetings--Statistics of the Lodging-house--ELEVENTH-WARD LODGING-HOUSE--The Little Copper-stealers--Difficulties of the Superintendent in this House--Final Success--The Night-school, Day-school, and Bank--Sunday-evening Meetings--Labors of One Trustee--Our Hopes to Secure Better Lodging-house--Statistics...................................pp. 330-338 CHAPTER XXVIII. THE CHILD VAGRANT.