News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-12-09
ThanI .Sgiving at the State Primary
School at Monsnn Mass

ThanI sgiving at the State Primary
School at nj onson, Mass.
If all children of the State are
treated as kindly as the children at
the State Primary School at Monson,
it would require no vivid imagination
to fancy a far worse fate for boy or
girl. A kindly chance led me to visit
this school on Thanksgiving Day. I
looked in upon the children in the
dining hall. This is a long room
filled with tables, each seating eigh-
teen. Guides, or monitors, sit at the
foot and head of each table. These
guides are distinguished from the
other children by their badges. The
boys are further distinguished by their
suits of blue, the other boys wearing
grey. 1t is the duty Of the guides in
the dining hall to lead the children in
and out and to wait upon the tables.
The honor of being guide is reward
for good behavior. Before eating,
the children bow their heads and re-
peat the following grace: "Our Heav-
emily Father, for this gift of food we
give Thee grateful thanks. Bless it
to our use and feed our souls with the
bread of eternal life. This we ask for
Jesus sake. Amen"
[ regret to say that one big boy,
with lack of reverence in his soul,
was once seen to repeat this grace
with one eye wide open and steadily
fixed upon tempting piece of bread,
which he seized the moment grace was
finished.
On Thanksgiving morning the chill
dren were given rare treat in the
shape of mince pie. Ninety-eight
pies were required for this one break
fast. The boys had been looking for
ward to this treat for long time, and
big colored boy had bought several
pieces of pie of his mates, so that he
had three to eat that morning. He
paid for these on theinstallment plan,
making the last payment Thanksgiv-
ing morning. Each piece, except the
one to which lie was entitled, cost five
cents. This money he earned wash
ing windows for his teacher. This
boy is a character. He has many
good qualities. When he does any
thing he says he wishes to have his
work satisfactory. He invariably
thanks an officer for word of praise.
He once thanked some one for saying,
"You must not lean out of the win
dow too far when you wash it. don't
want to have you break your neck. J"
AS the children passed out of the din
ing hall each child received Thanks
giving card, some of which were
comical and some pretty. One of the
boys presented me with his. On it is
picture of a turkey which is repre-
sented as saying =
"a merry Thanksgiving to you.
| It's fun to you, but death to me,
| And that's why Pm cast down, you see.
| Although you're kind can't forget
That you with sauce may serve me yet
| And yet bear message true,
| And hope may agree with you.
Alasi when comes Thanksgiving glee,
| gObbled gObbler shall be-"
For dinner, the bills of fare consist
ed of stewed chicken, potatoes, tur-
nips, onions, apples and bread, which
is, of course part of every meal.
The bread is put upon the tables in
baskets, and the meat in large tin
dishes with covers, which keep it hot.
This makes the meal more attractive
than if a certain amount were placed
at each plate. 1t may interest some
to learn the amount of food required
for the Thanksgiving din ner. There
were two hundred pounds of chickens,
one and half barrels of turnips, one
and half barrels of squashes, one
barrel Of potatoes and barrel of
onions. A gentleman with whom
many of the readers of the Neays and
Citizen are well acquainted, is the
principal supervisor of this school,
Mr.. Charles Bradley. He has Won
derful success in disciplining the boys.
They all like him and yet obey him,
and evidently not through fear. lie
has many interesting and delightful
devices for their profit and amusement.
An unruly boy thinks his teacher is
giving him hard punishment when
she tells Mr.. Bradley of his naughty
behavior. A good boy thinks himself
greatly rewarded for well written
exercise if he is allowed to show it to
Mr.. Bradley. Mrs. Bradley is equal
ly popular with the girls, and both
are greatly liked by the teachers and
officers of the school, to whom they
are ever willing to lend helping
| hand.
Although evil tendencies are pain
fully apparent in the children, it is
refreshing to notice, now and then,
their generous impulses. Many of
the Thanksgiving cards were sent
away the next daya to the friends of
the children. That morning l looked
in upon Miss Fullington, the princi-
pal, and found her busily making en-
velopes for this purpose, which was
another of the many proofs Of her
kindness and faithfulness to her charge.
Thanksgiving afternoon the boys had
fine game of football. 1t grew so
exciting that one boy was seen crying
because he was playing on the losing
side. The day ended with a short
service in the chapel, in which the
Superintendent, Mr.. Andrews, who is
one of the kindest and wisest of men,
gave the boys good Thanksgiving
talk, and prayed that the Heavenly
Entbar r,iuht haln thann tn ho yvorthu