Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-16
HOME FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN.
Annual Report of the Board OF managers
totbe Corporation and Subscribers.

Annual Report of the Board of Managers
to the Corporation and Subscribers
To the Corporation md Subscribers to
the Home for Destitute Chtdreh;
In presenting to you the annual report
of the board of managers of the Home
for Destitute children, we have to &C
knowledge the same fatherly care which
has so signally followed it from its first
INCEPTION to the present time. Each year
brings its own peculiar trials and perpleX-
tiles, AS well as It's encOuragements and
successes, ana the last has been no eX-
ception to the rule. Indeed, in some re-
spects the past year has been an eXcep-
tionally trying one.
Owing to the severity of the last winter,
the waler-ppe conveying water to the
building, was frozen up in the street. at
some distance from the Home, and for
twelve weeks, the abundant supply to
which the inmates had been accustomed,
and which is so essential in so large fam
lily, was entirely cut off This necessita-
ted the melting of snow for all household
purposes, save for cooking and drinking,
for u family averaging from seventy-five
to eighty persons, beside the watering OF
the stock. After the failure OF snow, the
entire supply had TO be drawn in casks
from the premises of generous netghbor
and the many cups of cold water literally
given, will we trust add emphasis to the
plaudit, "Inasmuch As We did 1t unto these
little ones, ye did it unto Me" Both
these sources of supply, involved an inn
mense amount of labor and expense, as
well as exposure, and weighed heavily
upon the working force in the Home.
After this experience, the managers feel
that there should be more reliable
source of water supply, wholly independ-
ent of the city water works.
simultaneously with the return of wa
ter, measles broke out in the Home
There were forty two cases in all. thirty
seven of them being in the month of June
The children were nursed by the resident
force in the Home. with very little out
side help. This is equivalent to saying
that the disease was comparatively light
in most cases still they needed careful
watching and tender care and caused
weeks of weary days and sleepless nights.
One death occurred in consequence of
measles, a child one year old. All Others
recovered satisfactorily, partly owing
without doubt to the favorable season of
the year
The Home sustained a loss last spring,
in the retirement of a very successful
teacher i'll the primary department of the
school. She combined many rare traits,
which fitted her to fill the very difficult
and arduous position which she held
The children both loved and respected
her, and her loss was sincerely mourned
by the children, as well as by the mana
gers. Failing health demanded IA release
from the burden of the position. Her
end of the school year.
At the opening of the school in Septem.
Der. new teacher was secured, who came
to us we'll recommended, and we trust
that the existing arrangement, will be a
satisfactory one.
The children in the schools have made
commendable progress, considering the
frequent changes, and the diversity of ac-
quirements. Many of the children are
bright and learn easily, but others are
1,tll md hn1 u ard md trHt ha nj
the teachers. One boy of twelve years Of
age, who came from poor house in the
State, did not know his letters, and girl
of ten years of age, recently admitted
from Burlington, had never been to school
until she came to the Home. These are
extreme cases, of course, but they will
serve to show with what materials the
teachers in the Home have to work
The managers have failed thus far, tC
secure cane-seating, and consequently
this department has been further diScOn
tinued.
The standing committees on supplies
on clothing and the school have been in
defatigable in the discharge of the dutie.
of their several departments
The committee on repairs has been more
than usually burdened the past year.
sewer of fifty rods in length had to be
taken up and entirely reconstructed, ant
much OF The plumbing to be overhauleC
and repaired, and in connection with this
it became necessary to lay new floors il
several rooms, and altogether the Home
has been very busy place for many week!
of the past year. A new range in thu
kitchen and II new furnace in place of on,
50 burned out that it was not safe, hav
added much To the expense of the repair.
necessarily incurred. But as a result o
all this activity and expenditure, TIN
Home presents renovated appearance
aud we feel assured that its sanitary con
dition, always matter of vital import
ance, where so many children are togeth
err, fully justifies both labor and expense
But amidst all of these trials and labors
the essential work of the Home has bee
carried on. During the prevalence o
measles, children were neither sent on
or admitted, but within the year thirty
nine have been admitted, making in al
ninety-nine children who have receive
the sheitering care of The Home With
the last twelve months. OF these child
rem, Jericho, Putney, Cambridge, Nom
gomery, Salisbury, Dan lille, Montpelier
Starksboro, Brldport and SaXton's River
sent one each Ferrsburgh, Hinesburgt
Stockbridge, Westminster and johnson
two each Underhill three, Wlnooski fou
and Burlington nine. Some of thes
children are here as boarders but most {
them are surrendered to the Home.
Forty children have been sent out with
in the year. Several of these have bee
indentured, some have been returned, an
some are still out on trial
Four children have died. and two hav
been sent to the Reform School. Tw
have gone ont Of age, and to day Their
are seventy-two children in the Home
The Sunday school has been regularl
conducted with gratifying results. An
the managers wish in this public name
to acknowledge their Indebtedness t
members of the Y. NJ. c. a. and otht
persons in town, for valuable assistant
in this department of the work. The
NJ. G. A. provided IA Christmas tree las
year, as for two or three years previous
for the Home Sunday school, and tn
children enjoyed great treat.
The Home is under great obligations
the managers of the Central Vernon
railroad for the courtesy of an eXcursio
to Mssisquo park in the summer. o,
cUrling AS it did, just after the chlldre
had been shut up in the mouse for week
with measles, the change and recreatio
were of inestimable valuable to them, {
well as To the ladies of the family.
Mithln the pnst few months the HON