Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-02-08

ORrnAxs HoxE.-We left Toledo January
18th with three children for the Orphans
Home, in Davenport, which place We reached
on the morning Of the 18th; the children,
cheerful and happy, enjoyed their trip very
much. They were made TO feel at home at
once by the kind manner in which they were
received.
The Superintendent, DR.. Cochran, was ab-
sent. His duties were performed admirably
by Mrs. Whittenmire, who has the ability and
politcncss OF perfect lady, the gentleness Of
a kind mother so that the !iale ooes are home
at once.
Those children were soon sent to cottage.
surrounded by all the comforts of neat and
we'll ordered home, where . kind, christian
lady. who is called a manager, awaits them
This lady acts in the capacity of mother to
twenty-five or thirty children under her care.
found at the Home some AT children to
families, each family separate cottage, with
sitting room, bedroom and closet the sits
ting room is carpeted, and have large coal
stoves. Their dormintory is long room
with ten or twelve little beds on iron bed
stcads, covered with white spreads checked
with rcd. Several Of these cottages arc fur
nished by subscription; The ladies Of Davcn-
port, Muscatinc, and Cedar Rapids. furnish
one each; the Sabbath School children Of
Iowa City, another. observed several me-
lodians in the ladies rooms. They were all
very comfortably furnished, but some looked
much neater than others. The ladies seemed
all very kind and pleasant to the children,
and as good evidence that this was fact,
the children locked happy and contented.-
The most Of the children were employed, the
larger ones, with states and books the small
err ones, with their dishes and dolls. All able
to work hard had some useful occupation
which was for the general good Of oil con.
cerned. Some Of them are detailed for vari-
GUS duties each day to assist in the kitchen,
dining room, laundry, or At the sewing and
knitting machine or finishing up this work
saw large quantity Of stockings to be
finished of. They have in operation broom
and cap factory, carpenters shop, bakery and
three laundry's, where the clothes are washed
and dried BY steam. We have visited all
these places and have been delighted with
the industry and good order prevailing in
each department..
Supper being rcady,..we hear the little fee,
tramp, tramp, tramping to the dining hall, and
it really sounds like train Of cars rs they
pass over the long platforms leading to this
building. and oil are seated at once. Their
food was most excellent, and an abundance Of
it; l had the pleasure Of taking supper with
them. As soon as they we're seated, those
four hundred little heads were bowed while q
blessing was being asked by Mrs. witten.
miro. It was beautiful sight. never to be
forgotten. Soon the forks began to rattle aa
we'll ~ hundreds Of little tongues, for the
children are allowed to talk while eating
Each table has monitor, girl or boy, who
stand and sees that each is helped. When the
half-hour was up--the time allowed for eating
-cvcry arm was folded, hymn sung by the
children, prayer offered by Mrs. w., then
all repeated the Lords Prayer in concert
The boil then rang and they commenced leav-
ing the hall, ono class 1t time and by the
time the last were out, the first end Of the
room was in perfect order; some were carry
ing away dishes, some sweeping, others arr
ranging chairs-each knowing their duty and
performed it without any confusion.
Those children have their Christmas Trees
and each one present; they cost 500 and
were donated. Davenport 50 noted for ita
good works, gave $500; Muscatine, Iowa
City and Montana, the rest. These presents
were great pleasure to the children.
1t is thought before the winter closes Iowa
win have thousand srphen children to care
for; and il those are instructed - ct pres
emit, with six teachers, . music teacher and
prayer meetings every night, where from
two to three hundred ara trying to reach the
Savior now in their youth. Shall not bless.
ing rest npon our beloved State2 II mot he,
future safe, il We but do our duty to these or.
phan's who are Gods special care?
Mas. s. G. rcasRs.