New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-20
IN HOMES OF PLENTY.
| THE CHILDREN WITH THEIR ENTERTAINERS In
| GREENE COUNTY.

lPBoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
DURHAM, Greene County, N. Y, July .-"Well,
yes we are somewhat elevated; think the guide
books place us 200 feet above the Hudson River ;
but of your boys have gone up about five miles
further and after breakfast Will try to
find them" The TRIBUNE correspondent who ac-
companied the Fresh Air Fund party from Catskili
Yesterday received this invitation from the Rev j.
Ii. Champion pastor of the Methodist Church in the
village, who has assisted in finding homes for the
children. The ride from Catskill was much en-
loved by all the visitors, some of whom had been
over the road before girl returning for the third
time and to the same family.
After a breakfast at Catskill, provided by few
members of the Methodist Church, the gratifed
children were packed in four large wagons aud
started for Durham. The sandwiches and country
milk had refreshed the young travellers, and as
they were driven through Catskill before o'clock,
their songs woke the sleepy town. The
children who were making their first visit were full
of questions concerning everything they saw.
Several times in the journey some of the
children were taken out of the stages
and allowed to walk a short distance, but it was
always necessary for an older person to walk with
them, for the berries and flowers were too great
temptations for the city children to resist. At
Cairo the wagons were all emptied, the children
rest short time. Eight of the children
were missing when the reloadng beg N,
and it was finally discovered that
they had started back toward Catskill. and they
were found forty rods from the wagons picking
currants behind barn. the fruit having been dis
covered by one of the girls in passing.
At East Durham after passing toll-gate which
a boy described as {" going through house." three
girls left with the lady, who had invited one
of them and persuaded neghbor TO take the other
two. The next stop was short distance from
Durham, where, in front of large white farm
house. stood young woman waving paper which
contained the names of ten of the girls, who were
helped off the stage their names were called.
black smith shop stands the farm the house,
where the late Rev. DR.. Levi s. Weed, of Brooklyn,
learned the blacksmthing trade In front of the
Methodist parsonage the street was crowded with
farm wagons of various descriptions near which
stood their owners, mngling with the village peo-
ple 1t seemed as if all the villagers and half the
farmers within radius of five miles were present
TO share in the distribution of the fftyve children
intended for this village. There had been some
hesitancy about sending for boys when the invita-
lions were extended. and so only small number
was sent but now there was as
much eagerness to get the boys as there had been
reluctance in inviting them. A farmer who had re-
drove five miles yesterday to get two. and took
them before the committee had chance to inter
fere and il was to these boys and other chill
dren near them that Mr.. Champion suggested the
ride this morning.
At place where four girls were taken they were
half-nile from the house picking raspberrles
for their dinner. The bedroom where they
slept last night and which is devoted to their use
was darkened 10 keep il cool. 1t had two large double
beds and everything there and about the house was
neat and tidy as a careful housewife could make
It, Several other houses visited, at all oil
which the children were engaged in Smelling peas,
pIcb ing fruit, making lanp-mats or playing. One
farmers wife who had formerly entertained two or
three children. said that she declined doing tins
year, but repented her decision now, and was sorry
she had not taken her usual number Arriving at last
near Mount PIsgah the lOOKed-for bows were found,
helping their hostess, who was taking care OF the
mix. One boy was emptying the pans as fast
she skinned them, and the other was churnIng
Both seemed happy and satisfied and SAID they had
the best place of all the children.
The two girls who found q home together were
also visited, and were also found about happy
girls be,
The children at Durham with the following
families The Rev. j. ii. Champion, Miss A Munges
MIs +; Burhans, Fletcher Hurlburt, Mrs. ID. camp
peli, William seymour, Mrs. Cbi,tenden, jr., 1heo-
Sore Scutt, Monroe HsllOcS, Mis-. James Reed, Mrs.
Scout and N. Cough. In Preston Hollow there are
lonr families: X Dingman, NJ Dingman, W. Rock
e i and ID. Hubbard. Mrs. l.. Spencer and Mrs.
"oouard i've In East Durham.