Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-02
CITY AND COUNTY.
The Children,s Friend soc,e

|
afternoon, in the vestry of the Park street
church We give an abstract of the
REPORT OF THE MANAGERS.
Mrs. knOwlton, the secretary, in behalf of
the managers, reported that as time passes on
and each successive year of service in the So
ciety expires, we gain increasing evidence of
the utility and Importance of this work. When
we look upon the forlorn little creatures shv-
erng with cold and pinched with hunger who
sometimes present themselves at our doors
| asking for 'cold victuals and old clothes
and think of their degraded moral as well as
| physical condition, we bless God that there
is in Worcester an Orphans Home, and that
few such young immortals are saved from
all the temptations and evils to which those
| less fortunate ones are exposed. tits grave
| question what is our present duty towards
these neglected ones; but the experience of
the past has convinced us that the Orphans
Home, so far as its influence extends, will do
much, and the managers are satisfied that
there is no other method by which the few
hundreds required annually for its support can
so etfectually accomplish such important
purposes. Sustained by a knowledge of
great good being accomplished, and fully
believing that the good people of Worcester
will not long permit the institution to remain
| incumbered with debt, they will 90 forward
with renewed confidence and hope in their
mission of love and mercy to the lonely or
phan and the destitute child. Friends and
helpers had come to their relief from unex-
pected sources. Packages of clothing, ac-
companied by words of cheer, have been sent
by persons whose names were unknown to
them except by their contributions. While
our people are Taught, as they should be, les.
sons of self-denial, for the sake of sending
contributions to the destitute portions of our
own country and to distant lands would it
not be well to direct their attention OCCASION
ally to those who, within the sound of our
church-going bells and in sight of our numer-
GUS schools, are starving for the lack of
| knowledge.
box of new and very valuable clothing
sent some months ago to the home BY la
dies then boarding at the Bay State House. is
acknowledged, also the donation of S25
from an infant school of this city. They ac-
knowledge the gratuitouS services of hack
owners on funeral and other occasions, free
passes from railroad corporations given to the
matron, free labor on the part of individuals
and sewing circles connected with the several
churches in making up garments for the chill
dren, gifts of clothing, donations of barrels of
flour, pictures, substantials for Thanksgiving
and christmas dinners andholiday presents, veg
etables of various kinds, apples in abundance,
three boxes Of clothing from the Employment
Society, the accustomed supply of ice, so re-
freshng in the summer months, and so regu-
larly received from year to year. the New
York Independent, New York Advocate, and
the Daily Spy, without charge; dentistry free
ly performed on several occasions with many
other friendly services and ct ceteras which
might be mentioned showing that the wants
OF the institution are remembered and pro.
yided for in many instances by its numerous
oil nft rhi oh IL
encouraging to the managers to notice, but
which can only be acknowledged in general
way. They take it for granted that those who
are in the habit of constantly bestowing some
of these little everyday kindnesses, almost
as matters of course, pleasant as they are, to-
kens of good will and friendship neither ex-
pect nor desire to see their names and deeds
repeated every year in these reports. Some
have entered their decided protest against any
such use of their names in connection with
their doings and for aught we know, such a
| repetition may be distasteful to others.
They do not feel quite so much dismayed
, as formerly, when, after settling up accounts
at the close of some nauspicious years, like
the present, we find an empty treasury with
expenditures exceeding our receipts, and
helpless family of children on our hands.
They would gladly, if it were possible by any
word of theirs, enlist more and more the SYM
pathy of all classes in cause so well worthy
their attention, but the rich remembrance
that where much is given much will be re-
CURED at the hands of its possessor and 9TH
ers according to their several abilities, do
what they can, we do not forget that it is the
numerous small, but never failing tributary
streams, that swell the larger fountains of
btnevolence, and keep lhem full aud flowing
for the relief of human misery in all direc-
tions.
The managers feel that much is due to the
judiciouS matron and her faithful assistant,
for the manner in which they have performed
their difficult and laborious duties. To their
united efforts and good management the in
stitutiOn is indebted for the reputation it en-
joys for neatness and evonomy in all its inter-
nal arrangements. They have succeeded in
making 1t what the managers have ever de-
sired 1t should become-a pleasant and at
tractive place in all its aspects to those who
never, before coming there, had any correct
ideas of well-regulated family, or anything
that deserved the name of home. To auch
an extent has this ideal of the managers been
realized, that the remark is often made by Wis
itors IL do not see but the children here
seem just as happy and contented AS any
others" They certainly have as much liber-
ty as is desirable, while they are subject to the
same wholesome laws which govern the mem
bers of other well trained families in the COM
munity. Though they are not bound together
by the endearing ties of parent and child of
brother and sister, yet it is still true, with
regard to the greater number, they find here
friends the dearest, and home the best they
ever knew.
The managers state that, notwithstanding
the war, which has made so many orphans,
1 the number of applicants for admission has
been no greater than in former years. There
has been but little sickness, and only single
death. The matron, whose special businessit
is to secure homes for children as they
leave the institution. is generally quite
cessful in prosecuting her inquiries and search
for this purpose, though the task assigned her
is by no means free from perplexities and
trials. 1t often happens that the same child
leaves and returns several times before it be-
comes permanently settled. Owing to some dis
satisfaction on the part of those who consent
70 take them, the poor things are sent from
place to place. much to their own disadvan-
'age ana the matrons encouragement
since the formation of the society not less
than four hundred have shared to some ex-