The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-20


They have milk in some form three times
per day. Oatmeal and fruit is q staple
breakfast ali round, and bread and milk
Is for supper. Once in a while a new
conner will rebel at this simple diet for
supper, but in that case he can wait until
he finds his appetite, which he generally
does by the next day.
Butter, tea and coffee are "luxuries"
they can we'll dispense with. There are
eight old colored "aunties" who find
comfortable refuge in their old age and
friendlessness in the Home. They have
large, airy, warm rooms, with two single
beds in it, and are made as plainly COM
Portable as possible. So long as their
health is good, they are allowed to do
pretty much as they please, only they
must, If they go out, be in before dark,
the only one invariable rule applying
to them. They knit, sew, tend chickens
in the poultry yard, or sit and idly gossip
away the hours.
The Nursery
had twenty-seven new little poplar bed
steads in it, with blue counterpanes on
each. The small, white bed gowns hung on
hooks at one end of the ro, 9TH
er were closets, and bath; pictures suit
able to the needs and pleasure OF the child
ish minds adorned the walls. There was
no carpet on the floors, and windows
north and south gave plenty Of light and
air. In this room one little child, itself
not much more than baby, was waiting
on little sick comrade who was suffering
from heart disease. 1t was quite notice.
able how much more self-reliant and help
full such children are than those in
home where the mother anticipates all
the wants of her little ones. Here, mere
babies tied on their own bibs at dinner.
Our next call was at
The Well-stooked Linen Room,
where boxes with each child's name la
beled on, told whose clothes it contained.
Great shelves were full of blankets and
bedding done up IN covers from ravages
OF moth and dust. Other shelves we're
full of boys hats, and boxes of shoes stood
handy. Shelves groaned under their
weight of muslin, hapnels, ginghams. etc,
to be made up, and the matron's cutting
table was well covered with work in prep
| aration.
The Boys Dormitory
came next, and the beds were all neatly
made and the room as clean and nice as
need be; its only occupant at this hour an
immense black cat, the boys favorite, who
Us permitted to sleep there whenever his
catship chooses. He was appropriately
named "Jim Crowp
On Sunday seventy Of these children,
all dressed in their best, attend, under the
guidance of the assistant matron or other
teachers, the Lutheran mission, which is
close at hand. They formerly attended a
colored school, known as Lincoln mis-
sion, established by some jealous friends
during the days of "refuging." The
Industrial School Room,
under Miss Slossup, colored lady very
competent in her vocation, is attached to
the institution; as is also day school,
under the management OF the trustees of
public schools, taught by Miss Bartlett,
an experienced teacher, who gives great
satisfaction under peculiar circum-
Gto fOr oh hao 49, nh,
during the day. Miss Plummer teaches
the infant classes, or first grade, and has
kindergarten for an hour and half
each morning. An Estey organ, donated
by that manufactory, is in the Industrial
room and the old organ is in the kinder
gartep.
How fortunate the very foTlornest of
babies of these days, when knowledge is
impaired through pretty plays and songs,
| and when "mud pies" turn out to- be
fairy cups, balls. bowls, baskets, and so
many nice things. Learning to sew is
making pretty stitches just alike on
pretty paper. And childish questions
find answers that satisfy and develop
childish minds, and pretty stories, aud
prettier play songs-where they march
and dance and clap hands, oh, "such
funP' ell in school! It is enough to make
a dead old pedogogue turn over in his
narrow bed and sigh, "What is the world
coming to? And of what further use is
my birchen rod?"
The School Room Proper
had seats and desks for about fifty,
and blackboards, maps and pictures of
Charles Sumner, Whittier, Longtellow,
Emerson, the homes Of the cliff dwell
ers, and many others, adorned the walls
and were COLLECTS" of instruction and
| pleasure to the pupils. Others were
pleasing more than aught else; one for
instance, little girl in mob cap and
black mitts, every inch sweet and win
some child; another little girl with a
pug-dog; there we're drawings OF Raph-
aePs cherubs, cups, pitchers, heads and
other 'objeets' by an accomplished els
ter of the matron, who teaches these arts
in private school of her own near Phil
adelphia. Lucretia Motifs sweet face
smiles down benignantly from the sitting
room walls and Miss Anthony no doubt
teaches self-reliance and advanced
| ideas" to those who have given her
photograph, life size, conspicuous
place of honorl There are maLY photo-