The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-07-08
THEGATE CITY
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 8.
Soldiers Orphans Home.

IAhAIAGIUNg 4UWAe 0uy ~ AOVv'
Editor Of the Gate Gty-Sr: 1t was duly
moved, put to yote and carried by the friends
at the Home, that l should inform the people,
through your columns, how the orphans cele-
brated the Fourth.
Through the kindness of Mrs. c. B. Oar
win, of Burlington, and Mrs. Judge Lowe, of
your city, it had been designed to give our
children an excursion to Keokuk, that they
might, en- nadsse. breathe another air than that
which surrounds the Home, believing it
would invigorate both body and mind; but
these ladies failed to find sufficient number
of equal energy and benevolence with them
selves to carry their design into effect. We
were not apprised of the failure until we had
only Monday left us to improvise a celebra-
ton for ourselves.
On consulting with Mr.. Schramm, of this
place. a member of the Visiting Committee
for the Home, he promised to sustain us in
any preparations we saw fit to make, express
ing at the same time regrets that he must me-
cessarily be absent, and could not take part
in the festivities of the occasion.
We accordingly set our hive in buzz of
preparation, and Judging from the happy IA
ces and gleeful voices we see and hear on ev-
cry hand this morning. we are inclined to
think we have less weary company, and Que
as well satisfied, as we should have had could
We have gone on our expected excursion.
About twelve o clock yesterday we repaired
TO grove near by, whittier tables and seats
had been carried, with the good things to
please the appetite, such as sandwiches,
crackers, ginger-snaps, jelly cakes, tarts, and
lemonade, not forgetting the crackers
which had been presented to the bows, and
which afforded a vast amount of fun, without
one attending accident
Our little band was called to order. and af.
ter the singing of my country. it's of thee
led by returned soldier who was here on
visit, In which all joined, Dir. f. NJ Tate,
physician tor the Home, who had generously
foregone the pleasure of am expected excur-
sion that he might make us all happy bv his
presence, read the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, giving, in his peculiarly felictous way.
short history of its origin. After singing
again, Mr.. Barnes, of Keokuk, who is at
present acting Steward here, gave us a neat
little speech, proving, by his ease of manner
and his power to fix the attention of our little
loiks, that 1t was no new position in which he
was placed.
Al the close of the exercises came dinner.
upon winch longing eyes had been for some
ume hxed, and IN the partal1ing of which our
immature men and women seemed inexpress-
Ioly heppy. linen came sports-three cheers
for the Inion-dscharge Of fre.crackers-
three cheers for Dir. Tate, who at parting an
nounced the sentiment. The loyal ladies' of
America; may they occupy d higher position
in the affairs of our country In the future than
they have done in the past, Three cheers
for Mr.. Barnes, led by the bows, who were
delighted with his efforts to please them.
three cheers for the ladies of the Home. and
general discharge Of FIRE crackers.
1here was 10 swinging, because we are mi
nus safe rope. Will some one furnish such
an article?
Toward night all repaired to the house.
where the children were served with cake and
canned peaches. and after the smaller ones
were In bed, the company were summoned to
the dining hall, which had been trimmed and
htted up with stage and Curtains, where we
were amused by tableaux, speeches, panto-
mines, German songs. sung by one of our
larger girls, dressed in the costume of that
people. dialogues. soliloquies. music. DC.
All our children babe us good night with
cheerful voices, and we were renaid for our
extra toll
We know the friends of the Home will be
happy to learn that our soldiers orphans
were not left TO spend the nations birth day
with nothing to mark ii as Joyous occasion.
MRs. f. G. PLA1T.
Matron Soldiers Orphan Home.