Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-10-21
Home for Destitute Children.
THE ANNUAL REPORT.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.
To the Corporators and Friends of the
Home.
Another year has passed and we come
to present our report to you.
1t may not be Improbable to give a
passing glance at what has been accom-
plshed in the nine years since the organ
ization of the Home. 1t went into opera
ton with seven children. The number
now averages fifty. Seventy-ope names
were upon our list last year. The cor
poration then rented small house; it
now owns brick building aud ten acres
Of lard. This building, which at the
time Of its purchase, was considered large
has become entirely too small to accom-
modate the increasing family, and au ad-
ditiou Of 70x45 feet has been begun
Plans for this addition were matured in
July and ground brok en- the first day Of
August. This enlargement has been a
source Of great solicitude TO the Board
Ii was felt to be necessity. This Home
was the ouly Protestant one in the State,
and it proposed to provide for the desti-
tute children of the State. None under
two years Of age we're admitted, and still
it was unable to meet the demands upon
it. The claims of the little ones.-the
infants of whom larger number had
sought admission during the year-couId
not be longer ignored. The disadvantages
under which the work was carried on
were great. Too much praise can hardly
be given to the matrou and other Chris
tian ladies who have worked SO faithfully
and seltdeuyingy In the face Of so many
difficulties.
These considerations, with others, COM
PEELED the Board to take some decided
action in the matter, aud the addition was
determined upon. Some gentlemen Of
well.kuown liberality had promised assls-
lance, and subscriptions are now being
solicited iu all parts Of the State. John
p. Howard, Esq, of New Yo:k whose
previous gifts to the Home, its friends
will remember. has kindly promised to de-
fray one tenth Of the expense Of the
building. We trust that before winter,
the walls, at least. will be up, covered
and paid for.
We have great cause for thankfuness
in the general good health which has pre-
vailed among the children-there having
been no serious case of illness during the
year This has seemed the more remark
able, as scarlet fever was very prevalent
last winter in Burlington, and more or
less throughout the county.
During the year 81 children have been
received and II have been provided with
good, Christian homes.
Perhaps it might add to the interest
should some special cases BIO cited. One
little boy of American parentage was so
abused by his father and step-mother, that
the authorities of the town were obliged
to interfere. A guardian was appointed
and the boy brought to the Home. Upon
being asked'hy lacy if he liked living
at the Home, he replied with much ear
nestncss: Il guess | do" The poor lit.
Tie fellow was fearfully bruised when he
ame and seemed terrified 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 little blind girl
Blindness seems burden enough, but blind
ness and poverty combined are almost too
much for frail child TO bear. Admis-