The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-23

Report Of the Manadgfs of the Female
Orphan Asylum.
At the close of the 47th year of the life of
our beloved asylum we again present our
annual Report. We come as your almoners
to tell our story and make our appeal for con-
| tinued and increased help.
To the pious and faithful spirit and labors of
our predecessors in Office the present pros
perity of this Asylum is largely due. A COM
| Portable and we'll ordered home, with ncreas-
| ing numbers and means, and hopeful future
move US to new zeal and greater earnestness
| and love for our work.
The object of our institution is indicated by
| the mare it bears-Female Orphan Asylum
| a sanctuary refuge for orphan girls. We
| shelter, clothe, feed educate and reform the
| orphan and the more pitiable than orphan,
| the neglected and abused child of unworthy
| parents.
cases for years. but ordinarily, we consider the
sooner they are taken into good, kind, religious
| families the better. If at any time we shrink
| from the responsibility of providing suitably
| and wisely for these helpless little ones, and
tremble lest, with all our care. We fail to do
| what is best for them, we are encouraged and
| comiorted by the reports of success and happi.
| ness which come to US from those already
| adopted We have many such. We often
see that family to whom the Lord has given
NO children is made happy by adopting one of
our little girls She takes her place in their
arms and in their hearts "and is unto them as
| a daughter"
No child Is given away without months no.
| tice and by vote of regular meeting Of the
Board of Managers. These meetings are held
| the first Tuesday in every month.
1t may not be known how entirely the man
agement of the house, in its details, comes un-
| der the personal supervision of the members of
| the Board. Each manager, with the exception
OF the committee on work, has the personal
| oversight of the housekeeping and school for
| one month. She makes all the purchases, pays
| all the bills, and visits almost daily the Asy-
lum. She is thus in constant communication
with the Matron and assistants, ready to give
advice or make any suggestion needed in regard
| to the household or children. Faithfulness In
those employed. cleanliness and order in the
house, and economy in the administration of
its affairs thus, as far as possible, secured.
The children are taught four hours every
morning in their pleasant school room, by
young lady who comes for this purpose. In
the afternoon they are taught sewing
We cannot speak too strongly of the aid Civ
en- by three of the Managers-committee on
work-who for the entire year take charge Of
the sewing, buy the materials and direct the
making of garments. To this labor they have
given much time, patience, and strength. This
committee employ a sempstress from time to
time as needed
By far the larger number of children placed
out are adopted. At present there are at the
Asylum 81 children, seven Of whom are under
five years of age. 1t is readily seen that the
younger the children the more care and labor
are required. Last winter was in this respect
very hard. there being eight children under
four years of age.
On the morning of the day after Thanks
of the door bell On going down she found
baby lying on the stone step. (God forgive the
inhuman) mOtherl Itwas well and even warmly
clothed but not sufficiently SO for the piercing
air Of that cold November morning. Whether
the cough she always had afterward came
from this exposure, we cannot say. She was
dear, bright, little creature about seven months
old and became Notwithstanding the extra la
Dor attending her advent. precious pet to all.
In March, while several of the children were
suffering from colds or the epidemic which then
prevailed, our little Daisy sickened and on
Easter morning. died.
We are much indebted to Mrs. Dresser, our
natron. and to Miss Buxton our assistant at
that time, for their attention, patience and ten
derness'tO our sick children.
The managers desire to express their sense of
the value of the professional services, gratu.
itously given, of DR.. Herson, especially SO, in
several cases of severe and chronic catarrh, re-
quiring constant treatment. One OF the cases
was that of girl eight years old, adopted into
a farmers family about four years ago. When
this disease developed itself and her guardians
were unable to pay for medical treatment, we
took her back and resumed the entire
charge of her. These children are all improv-
ing, and there is reason to believe will be cured
of this difficult, and in these cases, inherited
disease.
During the year twents-two children have
been received and thirteen have left Two of
these were taken into the Home only to relieve
the mother, a very worthy woman, who had
earned money enough to carry her through
surgical operation 10 the Maine Gen. Hospital
As soon a. she was sufficiently recovered she
took her children away
Permission is always given to return any child
after trial of three months, but to avoid these
| returns if possible injurious to all concerned,
great care is taken and good references required
Persons unaccustomed to young people, often
times expect too much, and make too little al
lowancs for faults and weaknesses common to
all. We bespeak for our children. charity,
kindness and Justice
Early in January last, the Board of Manag-
ers sent a petition to the Legislature, asking
| some compensation for the support Of soldiers
children, like that given for several years to
the orphan asylum in Bangor.
During the war, and since, we received such
children as we received others, and with no
thought of compensation. If our means were
larger we should still prefer this. We did not
| ask for the same sum given to the Institution
| just mentioned, though it is believed as many
| daughters of soldiers and for as long time
| have been supported in our asylum as in the
| other.
The Legislature generously gave us $30O0
This has been very great help, enabling us to
make desirable changes in the house and to
employ more help. A sempstresS for ten weeks
| gave great relief to the sewing
Hearty thanks are returned to all who have
done us good: To the physician,-to the apoth-
ecary, whose receipted bills for medicines have
more than once been sent us,-to the publish
ers Of the Daily PRESS, to the publishers of
the Christian Mirror,-to Mr.. Clark for ice,-to
Mr.. G. B. Saunders for a plentiful supply Of ice
cream on Fourth of July,-to all who have Civ
en- us fruits and vegetables,-to the friend who
has supplied us with salt fish.-to Mr.. - for
the comfortable lounge made expressly for lit
tie Cora Ia delicate child suffering from curva-
ture of the spine ito those who have given the
children excursions both by sea and by land
to the friends who made our Christmas tree to
'bear all manner of fruits, TO the city for lot
their money, their sympathy. their prayers
Surely He who promises to remember the cup
of cold water given in His name will not fail to
send His blessing upon those who remember
the orphan. SARAH s. s. Moe Obj.
TREAsURER's REPORT.
Female Orphan Asylum of Portland in account
with Mary E. Barrett, Treasurer, from October /,
1874, to October 1, 1875:
To cash received from balances Of last years account,
of which 50, O402 then de-
posted on interest. .....$ 213J GA
From interest on Clapp
Trust Fund. ....$ 4S0 90
From interest on
bonds. 814 70
From bank divi-
dends. .......... 619 46
From P. s. & P.
Railroad divi-
dends. .......... IS 90
--$ 1889 IS
For q. s. 500
bonds. ..........$ 1923 rs
For city of Cleve-
land bonds due. 5000 90
IS 1928 rs
From the state,
appropriated on
account of care of
soldiers children. 5000 90
From annual subscribers, 4S7 80
From donations ......... 90 20
From board of Children. PIG 90
From all other sources. 1877 II
$11,7Os SO
CIR.