Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-03-24
TIE ORPHANS HOME.
a pleasant Hour wien .Ae ohllaren.

A Pleasant Hour With the Children.
EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-Friday is
visitors day at the Orphans Home"
and on yesterday the writer stumbled
upon very pretty scene there. The
children, about forty in number, were
gathered in the play-room, which also
answers the purpose OF an assembly
room on Sundays and other occasions
when they are brought together for
general exercises. and is provided
with an organ for accompanying the
singing. They were singing when we
entered, Miss Sawyer, the assistant
matron, playing the accompaniment,
and happier, brighter, cleaner assem-.
bly, Of children it would be difficult to
find anywhere. After two or three
hymns had been sung, Miss Losee, who
has done so much earnest missionary
work in Los Angeles, both among adults
and children, especially in the temper.
ance cause, addressed the little ones,
explaining to them the significance Of
"Good Friday" and also Of Easter" SO
near at hand, all in very pleasing
manner, thoroughly adapted to their
understanding as shown by their bright.
ening eyes and generally animated
faces which fairly beamed moment
later when tiny aower-girl, little Let
tie Thorn. daughter of our popular
Mayor, made disappearance ON the scene,
looking like veritable sylvan sprite
with her red poke bonnet, garlanded
with flowers. and bearing on her arm a
basket almost as large as herself, loaded
with bouquets which had been prepared
by Mrs. Langdon and other ladies, one
for each little orphan.
After she had distributed the flowers
among the children, another surprise
awaited them. A great nest Of Easter
eggs of every imaginable hue, each one
adorned with an embossed picture Of
fruit, flower or animals, was brought to
light, causing wide-eyed establishment
among the expectant benefciaries. many
Of whom had never before seen any such
curious freaks OF Nature and failed to
comprehend that the cunning band Of
Art had interviewed. With O due re-
gard to the preservation Of the unities
only bird OF Paradise or Juno's gor.
geous favorite should lay such eggs.
Certainly no vulgar hen could have any
part in their production. So at least
thought the Thorn children, in whose
home the eggs were prepared without
their knowledge. for they attributed
their production to the rabbits.
The same tiny elf who distributed the
flowers carefully apportioned the eggs
which the children were cautioned to
keep for Easter morning.
A large cake and box of candy were
left by Mrs. Merriam, Of Spring street,
for the same happy occasion, and the
children rose en- masse and thanked the
ladies for their kindness, and then broke
up into delighted little groups to look
over and compare their treasures.
The visitors then took look through
the establishment which, from cellar to
garnet, was as clean and orderly as the
finest home in the city, everything be-
ing reduced to the perfection of system.
The kitchen is under the supervision Of
Miss Mentry, who is assisted by gen.
tleman from China, and both the kitchen
and pantries are as clean and bright
with shining utensils as those of the
most particular Dutch housewives
would be.
Miss Potter is the seamstress who aids
the assistant matron in keeping the
children's clothes in order. The two
also teach class of the elder girls how
to sew. Miss Sawyer also takes charge
of the nursery, where the younger
children sleep. Think of taking care Of
dozen babies at night, we mothers who
groan over the care Of one. The young.
est, however, is a year and half old.
Mrs. Ransom is the matron and major
domo, supervising the entire establish
ment and taking charge of the manage
ment of the children themselves, and
the universal decorum and order among
them is flattering compliment on the
wisdom of her discipline.
After looking at the dormitories, with
their clean, white single beds, consisting
Of woven-wire spring cots and wool mat
tresses, the model clothes-room and the
bathrooms, we entered the dining room
just in time to see the little ones file in
for supper. They all took their places
behind their chairs. At the tap of
bell each one became seated; at another
r 800 A s.~'p.u
- i'o' An NJ 'h's An A'Aou . dressing III
'v"'e Anen oo'"",e"'eu 'ne supper
" 'ae ' anu e"p'oyes Vi 'ne
establishment assisting in waiting on the
children. Plates of boiled rice, oatmeal
mush, bread and biscuit were on the
taoie' ana gravy was also provided for
all out the very youngest ones, who are