Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-10-20

~ ts loporaors and .frieads eftts Home
Although the year Just closing has been,
in some respects. the most trying through
which the Home has passed, We would
gratefully acnOwl1dge the mercies with
which 1t has been crowned.
We cannot report. a. We had hoped to
do. that the Home Is free from debt and
ready TO enter upon the larger work wait
ing 90 be done. The financial condition Of
the country, the depression in business and
consequent loss Of employment for many.
has seriously affected all charitable in
situations, and the Home has not been
exempt While our income has been less
the demand for assistance has largely IN
creased Within the past four months there
have been more than twenty applications
for admission which We have been
Obliged 10 refuse for lack Of funds.
We have now about eighty children to
feed. clothe and instruct. Inc unavoidable
expense of such family Is not trlflng and
we have felt that we could not assume great
er responsibility. Yet the question Is some
times presented ia another aspect, and TO
tins we ask the thoughtful attention of our
friends Can we-ousht wc-dare We
assume the responsibility Of refusing to
feed the hungry, clOthe the naked, and
teach the ignolant who come to our very
doors " no Will save them, If we DO not,
from the misery and wee which dog their
steps. and threaten their lives with ruin?
To one branch OF the work, very I'M
portant branch. "a it seems 10 u. We would
call special attention. During the year We
have had repeated applications to receive
infants. We have had small number
(nine in alb under our care. but owing to
tic great expense incident to the work,
comparatively little has been done in this
direction Still 1t Is a work which needs
and ought to be done. and one the Home
seems called upon TO do. \ single instance
will serve TO show how impossible it
Is for the Home to ignore or refuse
these constant calls Two chldren-one
thirteen months and the other less than
week old-were leit motherless. The father
a poor man. n day labOrer-had no way OF
caring for them. lie had no friends to
helm him. ANA W hat could be done with the
children. There seemed no place but the
Home. Should we refuse utterly to help
IN such a case? The many Instances which
have come to our notice prove not cnly That
there is imperative need Of some place
where helpless, homeless infants can be
taken and properly cared for, but that the
Home Is expected to be such place.
Whether 1t shall answer these expectations
Is for lis friends to say.
There have been thirty nine admissions
during the year, from the following towns,
viz. Barton. Bristol. Berlin. Burlington,
Dummerston. Enosburgh. Fsirhaven, Fer
risburgh. Ilighgate, Jericho, Leicester
Manchester. Milton, Rutland. South Bur
lipgton, Wallingiord, Winooski and Willis
ton.
Fifteen children have been provided with
coed homes. three have died, one from. con-
sumption and two from cholera intAhtum
and several have been returned to relatives
or friends Cheering reports from many of
the former inmates of the Home encourage
our hearts and make US look iJrEard hope
fully into the future.
We wish to express our appreciation Of
the faithiulness and skill of DR.. IL. 4.
Crandall, who has. this year as heretofore,
gratuItously attended the children; and also
10 thank those gentlemen who have so cheer
fully given Us valuable legal and other ad-
vice. To our friend. Miss Louisa ii. How
ard. we are indebted for beautiful bell,
which is only another proof OF the interest
| felt by herself and family in the Home. The
Gift Of $500 from DR.. J,seph Gray, o!
| Taftsyiile. came most opportunely. and
| called for our warmest thanks. We cannot
specify farther, but beg our friends, one and
| ali. to rest assured of our heaty apprecia-
tion of any and every service rendered the
| Home.
In the midst of orr thankfulness oui
| hearts are saddened as we miss another
| face ard remember that our faithful co
worker, Mrs E. B. Whiting, will meet and
work with US no more. How faithful anc
devoted was her service those best know
who had the privilege of working side by
side with her. Almost the last hour OF hel
earth-life was spent in talking OF and plan
ming for the Home. Surely the blessing o
God must fall on the labors OF such ones a.
Mrs. Whiting, Mrs. Hinckley, Mrs Davis
Mrs LOOMS, and Miss Wheeler, and thu
Wome Increase in power and usefulness
| Respectfully submitted,
KArEW. MORTON, Secretary.