St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-12-04
Clothing the Naked.
MCINDOEs FALLS, Nov. 26, 1868.


18th inst, and it may amuse some Of
your readers to hear how it succeeded.
The attendance was large. considering
that none of the neighboring towns, ex-
cept Monroe and Bath, were represented.
From each of these places we received
very handsome contributions to our en-
tertainment, and we hereby acknowledge
the same with many thanks. The Bar
net Band sang some old songs and fugues,
and an ancient couple personated and
sang ''John Anderson my 10 john"
The comedy Of Box and Cox was played
with great spirit, and prepared the way
for good time at the supper table. Old
costumes, manners and conversation were
the order Of the evening. Among the
invited guests, the real cid folks were
not forgotten. There were six ladies and
one gentleman present who were over
seventy-tive years old, and two ladies
over eighty. After these elders and the
band were seated at the tables they were
filled by other guests, and supper was
served. Tie bill of fare provided ''bean
porridge hot" baked beans, brown bread,
Indian pudding, hulled corn, honiny,
miracles, cheese, cider apple sauce, all
sorts of pies, cake, tea and coffee. One
monster custard pie deserves especial
notice. 1t was baked on the largest sized
dinner platter, by a loyal woman, in
fulfillment OF pledge. She said during
the war that if ever the rebellion was
crushed she would bake the biggest pie
she ever made. Since Grants election
she considered the rebellion crushed, and
here was her pie The history of the
pic was read aloud, and received with
cheers, and fifty persons partook of it
After this the whole company Joined in
Aud Lang Syne, and then made room
for the succeeding tables full.
When the evening was nearly spent,
and the old folks thought it time tn go
home, the irrepressible young folks ad-
journed to hotel in Monroe, and finished
the night in dancing. BY the proceeds
of this party, We can continue our work
another year for our school in Alabama.
In September last we forwarded a guam
tity of clothing, made from the receipts
of n similar party a year ago. Our
teacher writes that the clothing was the
best he has ever received In order TO
make the wisest possible distribution OF
it, notice OF its arrival was given out in
two churches for colored people, and a
committee of three men was chosen TO
receive applications for it. The COM
mittec visited the houses of the applicants,
and if their wants were genuine, tickets
were given, upon the presentation Of
which TO the teacher, the clothing was
issued. His only assistant at present in
the school is youth seventeen years old,
who barely knew his letters one year ago
Now he is good reader, has been
through Monteith's geography and is in
sums of interest in Rays arithmetic.
These facts need no comment but are
convincing arguments, as far as they 90,
in favor of the capacity for education Of
this long oppressed race. While TO us
who need no such proofs, they give the
strongest encouragement to work and
perSerere.
by the last report Of the condition of
the colored people whose children attend
our school, we learn that the sickness
and suffering are very great. Relief was
sought from government, but there was
no provision for such cases. Some help
was granted by the city, but not enough
to reach nearly all the cases. 1t is to
clothe fifty for school, the children of
such destitute families that our work is
designed, and thus far our efforts have
been crowned with unlocked Ter success.
We have received very valuable contri-
buttons Of second hand garments from
those who do not belong to our society,
and hereby desire to thank them in
behalf of the distant objects of their
charity. JANE WHITING BARKER.
\ MOTHER AND Two CHILDREN