Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-11-13
gel|uws falls Zines,
BELLOWS FALLS, NOV. IS. 1874
Home for Destitute Children.
THE ANIMAL REPORT

to present our report to you.
1t may not be Improbable TO give
passing glance at what has been a
complished in the nine years since Il
organization of the Home. IL went I'M
operation with seven children. I'll
number now averages fifty. Sevent,
one names were upon our list last yea
The corporation then rented sma
house; it now owns brick building an
ten acres of land. This building, whic
at the time of its purchase was consider
ed large, has become entirely too smal
to accommodate the increasing family
and an addition of 70x45 feet has bee
begun. Plans for this addition wer
matured In July and ground broken tn
first day of August. This enlargement
has been scource of great solicitude t,
the Board. 1t was felt to be necessity
This Home was the only Protestant on,
in the State, and it proposed to provid,
for the destitute children of the State
None under two years of age we're ad.
mitted, and still 1T was unable to meet
the demands upon it. The claims of the
little ones--the iufants--of whom a
large number had sought admission dur
ing the year--could not be longer ig-
nored. The disadvantages under which
the work was carried on was great. Too
much praise can hardly be given to the
matrons and other Christian who b.v.
worked SO faithfully and selfdenyinely
In the face of so many difficulties.
These considerations, with Others, com
PEELED the board to take some decided
action in the matter, and the addition
was determined upon. Some gentlemen
Of well-known liberality bad promised
assistance, and subscriptions are now
being solicited in all parts of the State
John T. Howard, ESQ.,, of New York
whose previous gifts to the Home its
friends will remember, has kindly prom.
ised to defray one tenth of the expense
OF the building. We trust that before
winter the walls, at least, will be up. GOV.
cred, and paid for.
We have great cause for thankful
ness in the general good health which
has prevailed among the children, there
having been no serious case of illness
during the year. This has seemed the
more remarkable, as scarlet fever va,
very prevalent last winter in Burlington
and more or lees throughout the country
During the year twenty seven children
have been received and seventeen have
been provided with coed, Christian
homes.
Perhaps 1t might add to the interest
should some special csses be cited. One
little boy of American parentage wa, 40
abused by his father and step. mother
that the authorities of the town wer,
obliged to interfere. A guardian was
appointed and the boy brought to the
Home. Upon being asked by lady if !
ne liked living at the home, he replied
with much earnestness guess do"
The poor little fellow was fesrfullv
bruised when he came, and seemed terri.
ned when any one spoke to him. Going
TO bis teacher one day he said "You
won't let my papa get me will you ?"
Another case which has excited much
sympathy is that of blind girl. Blind
ness seems burden enough, but blindness
ana poverty combined are almost too
much for frail child to bear Admis.
sion to blind asylum has been secured
for her. where she can be properly taught
and if possible, fitted to care for her.
self.
Another case is that of two American |
children, whose parents were. at ono
time, we'll to-do-farmers. The motbor
died, the father unfortunate in bps;ns.s
lost his property-his health failed
and he was unable to provide FIR b;s
children. Utterly discouraged and dis.
heartened, he brought them to the Homa
saying as he gave them up: "Thev
have been ill-treated, and have actuaIlr
suffered for the necessaries of life in H.
places where / have been OBLIGED -
leave them" "
children have been received dur;,n
the year from the following towns. r.
re- Barton, Bristol, Burlington. Ferris
burg, Guilford, Hydepark. johnson
Middlebury, Montpelier, Plain6eld. Rn
pert, Rutland. Shorham. Swan,on 6,
Adams, Vergennes, Waterbury and Wi.
liston.
Reports from the children are enco,r
aging. One lady writes coneernino
child whom she has adopted any liz
tie Anna is very well, and a great NO,
IN The house. She is very loving &C
lectionate child, and as bright as can be
We don't know how we could %, .Ion~
without her" The best reports come
from the younger children sbow;na
most conclusively that our great bonas
he in the infants and very little ones
Wa ouQfa fron. - IL