Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-10-20
HOME FOR DEsT,TurE CHILDREN.
Thr sccrrinrN,s Report

s"t ScCFc&nTNS hcpOEt
TO the corporation and subscribers Of the
Home for Destitute Children;
presenting tn, annual report OF the Off
GERS and board Of managers for 1882, It is
with deep sense of gratitude that We nc.
knowledge officially the receipt of Mr.. John
=. Towards lat gift TO our Home
1t will not be necessary TO rchearse TO this
corporation the blessed relief from anxiety,
which the certainty of a regular and stated
income. ensures to the officers. who have
struggled through so many ycars--unccraln
of their income and obliged 10 trust TO the
thoughtfulness of their friends and the CHAR.
ty OF the community at large for the means
of subsistence for large aud growing iami-
ly. But even before thanks TO Mr.. Howard,
must come the acknowledgment uf deep
gratitude to those known aud unknown bene-
factors, who so faithfully remembered our
cause through all those days of doubt aud
uncertainty. Thanks 10 mn over-ruling Prov
idcnce the efforts of these constant souls
never failed of bringing relief, often when
the prospect seemed darkest. Now, that we
look forward, relieved in large measure of
apprehension concerning the means for de-
fraying our actual expenses, shall we be
deemed unreasonable il we beg those old and
tried friends not TO desert us-because in the
goodness of God it has been given to the
heart of Mr. Howard TO place us in secure
financial condition. II is said, that people
are not interested to any living vital degree
in u scheme or institution. which they do not
help support. Friends Throughout the
State, we must not loose the vital interest
which you have manifested for our work in
the past we need your help and sympathy
now as then and we assure you that should
you continue your gifts Of the past we could
easily appropriate every dollar, in addition
to the income now assured us, in a needed
enlargement Of our work.
The multiplication of institutions similar
to ours, either accomplished or prospective,
does not as yet relieve us of the great pres
sure for admttuncc, which constantly eX-
ceeds our capacity to shelter or provide for.
The number of children cared for during the
year has averaged the same as in years past
number varying for the most part from
seventy to eighty. There have been
th,rty-iive children admitted during the
year, viz: five from st. Adams, four
from johnson, four from Shorchlm, four
from Rutland, four from Burlington, three
from Stowe, three from WinUoslii, two
from Pownul and one each from the towns
of Fairfax, Bennington, ,Shelburnc, Fairlcc,
Danville. IIinesburgh. Some forty have
been sent out on trial; of these one has
found a home in Illinois, one in Wisconsin,
one in Massachusetts,, one in New York and
eight in Vermont. Several have been re-
turned to the Home, others are still on trial
and one child has been committed TO the Re
form school. There has been no death in
our family during the year. Our general
management has followed closely that of for
mer years, with, however, some enlargement in
thenumber of our assistants ,rcndcriugit posi-
bic for us TO secure higher order of service
by in some degree relieving our helpers of
the great pressure OF merely manual labor
We have also been gradually accepting
younger children. and within few months
have admitted Il small number Of infants. AT
the risk OF seeming impOrtunatc let me once
more appeal TO our people for an infant aSy-
lum. With our experience we are more than
justified in urging the necessity for some
provision for this utterly uuclrcd for clc-
mcnt Of our population. The better judy
mcnt of the 10Th century must certainly IA
vor the idea of Christian care and nurture for
these irresponsible creatures thrust upon the
charity OF an minimizing world, and often left
TO perish from want and misery.
Our Committees on Supplies, Clothing, the
school aud workshop have discharged their
duties without special change in their depart
ments. The moral effect of the time spent
cane-seating, is without doubt excellent and
the wisdom of the experiment, which was at
first seriously doubted by many members OF
the board is now unques,ioned-
The work in our school has been most
pleasantly diversified by lessons in vo-
cal music from Professor Thompson of
the city public schools who was sent to lis
the entire school year through the thought
full generosity of Mr.. Lawrence Barnes, Sr.
The interest of the children in these lessons
and the progress made, when one considers
the changes constantly going on in our iami-
ly and necessarily in our schools has been
very gratifying. The Committee on Build
ings and Repairs have done an acceptable
work in the connections and excellent barn,
which they have built during the pass
season ut an approximate cost of $1,000.
The thanks of this corporation are due Mr..
{. NJ. Spauldng and Mr.. ). C. Kimbal who
have SO kindly aided our committee Of ladies
in this undertaking
For the greater comfort o, our large fam
lily during the warm weather the institution
has been fully equipped with window aud
door screens, the expense being betrayed by
friends in Burlington and Winooski.
Early last Spring an opportunity 10
purchase ten acres Of valuable land
adjoining the original Home property
occurred and the purchase was effected
through the Kindness of gentleman
who ADVANCED The money TO MS Thus The
wear has been attended with growth, both
within md without. and finds ms nj its clo.c
in ali rcsnrcis in mare satisfactory condition
than ovrr hcfnrn The s,caIv incra,sn ~
10th orr r,n,i,,, and f,nd, ,,,,,s, ,aad ,n ,lo
inferorcn tL,, n I,ror doyrcn If succcss hos
iS , ~. ', .ut, ,''a, :" ,ni'',
and similar institutions should be spriurinp