# File lib/logging/repository.rb, line 131
    def children( key )
      # need to handle the root logger as a special case
      if 'root' == key.to_s
        ary = []
        @h.each_pair do |key,logger|
          key = key.to_s
          next if key == 'root'
          next if key.index(PATH_DELIMITER)
          ary << logger
        end
        return ary.sort
      end

      key = to_key(key)
      depth = key.split(PATH_DELIMITER).length
      rgxp = Regexp.new "^#{key}#{PATH_DELIMITER}"

      a = @h.keys.map do |k|
            if k =~ rgxp
              l = @h[k]
              d = l.parent.name.split(PATH_DELIMITER).length
              if d <= depth then l else nil end
            end
          end
      a.compact.sort
    end