The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-18
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

some failures. We asked, in every case,
for report from the entertainers, as a
guide for future work. The result was, no
case of viciousness or wanton mischief,
but four reported troublesome" and five
others homesick. One other, girl of
eighteen, was weakminded, for which
reason her hostess, who had meant to
keep her longer, sent her home at the end
of her week.
We found the children of the very lowest
class, although they may feel the heat and
privation as much as others, are not,
for two reasons, so safe to transport to the
country: LIST. Their uncouth manners
make them less agreeable to their enter
tainers, and therefore less likely to be in
vited another Summer. I'd. They are
used to the social excitement of life on
the street, and, missing that, are more in
danger of homesickness One of these
complained that country evenings were SO
dark and quiet. cat home they all got
together and played circus every night"
But there are plenty of children in Phila-
delphia equally needing the change,-many
whose health and perhaps life through the
year may turn upon that holiday, who
are not of this very lowest class. Our ex-
perience taught US that those who, however
their hosts, but much more likely to be con-
tented in their new surroundings.
Many pleasant relations were last year
established between the country and city
families; large number of the guests are
invited by the same hosts for the coming
Summer: in several cases girls of from 10
to IA staid on through the season as a
mutual accommodation.
Leaving out the homesick children who
left before their week was out, and the
children whose entertainers took a fancy
to them and kept them all Summer, the
average time was e'even days.
l will describe our plan of working,
which could doubtless be much improved
upon by experience.
1st. To find out, from teachers, mission
visitors, &C., children who need little
country air, and were known to be tolerably
wellbehaved. I'd. To find families in the
country willing to invite them, on condition
that the hosts should be put to no trouble
beyond sending for their guests to the
station on their return. Then to ask of
the Superintendent of the railroad free
transfer, which in our case was very cheer
fully given. Then to arrange for the COM
ing of certain number on a certain day
in the week, to meet them at the city
depot, travel with them, and drop them at
their respective stations along the line,
having previously arranged with the station
masters, if any children left at their sta
tions should not be called for, to return
them to us. This was the most nervous
part of the business, but the conductor,
station masters, and neighbors along tho
road were heartily in sympathy with us,
and the only mishap was in the case of one
boy, who was taken care of by the station
master and sent to me by the next train.
And if railway officers were SO kind on
our road, why not on other roads? And
if country people are SO generous in this
neighborhood, why not in other neigh
borhoods? Many of those who last year
engaged in this most Christian of all
Inequalities, were mothers of families;
many were farmers wives, with heavy
responsibilities resting upon them, espe.
cially in the season of harvest; and yet the
thought of little suffering children, whom
they might refresh and gladden., was
enough to open their hearts.
And it has seemed to me that there must
be many families, some, perhaps, not so
far from the city, who, if the matter were
clearly presented, would be willing to be
the same. Three or four ladies, in COM
b;nation, could secure to hundreds of
children, in any case a happy week, in most
cases a permanent advantage both to body
and mind.
In these days, when so much selfshness
is everywhere seen and felt. when SO much
vituperation and SANDER are poured upon
railroad officials, and people of means and
property, most of whom have obtained it
by their energy, economy and perseverance,
let this effort for the amelioration of the
condition of the poor class in one of our
cities not be lost sight of, and let this labor
of love be extended to our county in the
coming Summer, and let those of US whom
the Allwise has blessed with the means to
participate in this work, remember the
Gospel injunction, "Be not forgetful to
entertain strangers" and let us all remem-
Der, that Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto the least of these, We have done it
unto me-" GULF,