Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-19

Report OF the Secretary for the Year End
Ing september 80, 1888.

Inc laSu years WOTk III Une Home LOT
Destitute Children has differed in no way
from those gone before, except in the
various circumstances attending indvid-
ual cases
At the time OF the last annual report, It
will be remembered that piazza was
being erected, and other extensive repairs
were being made, expressly for the benefit
of the infant department. These repairs
were made with a portion OF the residuum
which came to the Home last year by the
terms OF the will of the late John p. How
ard Besides the piazza an infants bath
room was constructed especially for that
department, AID combining every needed
convenience ana improvement for the
sanitary benefit of the department. This
bath room is quite a little room of itself.
The piazza was finished, and the children
had the benefit Of 1t for u time, before the
extreme cold weather came, as well rs
many mild days during the winter But
the inside repairs and overhauling the
| plumbing was much more serious mat
ter. This work was necessarily so pro
tracted, and the house in so much dlsor.
der in various parts, that the managers
were unable to give reception to the
friends of the home, which they had con
templated doing, until the weather was
| too Indictment to make it practicable,
The health of the children has generally
been very good but during the winter
there were two mild cases of typhoid
| fever, which kept the victims a long time
prisoners in the hospital, but fortunately
both recovered. In the month o. August
there were two cases of diphtheria, both
of which proved fatal. These cases of
contagious disease have made 1t prudent
to keep the children from church many
Sundays during the past year, for fear of
spreading disease; but the well ones have
been gathered in their Sunday school in
the Home, so that we hope the time was
not wholly lost to them, 50 far as religious
| instruction is concerned.
! We are grateful to members Of the Y.
NJ. G. A, and to the ladies who have aided
them, for the service they have given to
the Home Sunday school. We trust that
this charitable work of all who have at
any time helped in it, may be rewarded
by the purer, bettered lives of those to
whom they have minlstered of holy
| things.
On April 80 of the present year, bap-
tismal service was held in the Home the
| Rev. DIR. Halves, pastor OF the WinoCskt
avenue Congregational church, officiating
Twenty-seven children were baptised
| Several of the managers were present at
| the service, and assisted in presenting the
candidates for baptism. The service was
very interesting one, and will long be
| remembered by those who witnessed IL,
and especially by those who took part in
it. Three of these childaen have already
been removed from this world OF sin and
sorrow, and sheltered In the fold Of the
| baptismal covenant.
We wish to return especial thanks to all
who contributed articles for Christmas
gifts to the children. The matron allowed
them to hang up their stockings, pleas
ure not entirely forgotten by those of US
who were Young once; and they were
| L.. y ha g.
for them, and much doubt If the larger
gifts, distrib uted later gave a 1.-THE of the
pleasure which delving into'the mysteries
of those well hlled stockings did. No
small addition to those mysteries were the
oranges sent by Mr.. A. +. Styles Of Jack
sonville, Florida, to swell the Christmas
treat. May the Father Of the fatherless re-
member him and his, and preserve them
| from the sc0urge recently fallen upon the
city of their Southern home.
With their usual generosity, W. H. Lane
Il Son gave the children their annual
sleigh ride, and Mr.. Beach, whose memory
never yet failed the children ON these oc-
casions, contributed enough good things
to keep their digestive organs in working
order during the ride.
| BY the courtesy OF Mr. Walker manager
of the Howard Opera House, and Prot.
! Bristol, the children were treated to the
exhibition of trained horses in the opera
house in the spring of the present year, as
well as the last. This year also they went
to the State fair on children's day.
Forty.tWo children have been admitted
during the past year. These added to the
o. in the Home at the beginning of the
year. make LOG provided for in the last II
months, OF this numb Essex Danvllle,
Salisbury, Middlebury and Underhiil con-
tributed one each ST. Adams, Nergennes,
and Winooski two EACH; N!lilston, f0ur,
Barre five, and Burlington Is. Six had
been in the Home before as boarders, and
were returned Twenty-slX children have
| been sent out in the same time. Thirteen
were 6uarders and have been returned TO
their friends. Two have been legally
adopted, one has become OF age, one mas
been sent to the Reform school, and four
have died. Eight have been indentured,
and some are still out on trial.
The Home has sustained loss in the
resignation of the intermediate teacher
and assistant matrOn She has nled the
position very acceptably Tor over SIX years,
and her loss is serious one, but her healt
would not allow her to continue logger.
The vacancy we trust will soon be filled.
The standing committees on supplies, on
clothing and the schools, as well as the
committees on the nursery ami the baby
rooms have discharged their several duties
with fidelity as heretofore.
The Home is to be congratulated on be
ing able to retain the services of the same
efficient matron, who has presided oVe'
the institution Tor the last five years. Hel
great executive ability and experience
. make her a host in herself The board o
! managers regret the loss of two eficien
; members during the year, one by remova
} to the Pacific coast and the other by resig
! nation. We trnst that their places ma
! he filled to-day by equally valuable per
sons.
We are grateful to friends in differen
parts of the State for donations of cloth
ing for the children and for bedding, ever
article of which has been mosI acceptable
and we desire especially TO thank tn
e doners 1t Is help past computation t
have clothing sent in ready for use.
= We wish to impress upon the minds @
J., the public in different parts of the Stat
4 the Importance OF applying in writing 70
T the admission of Il child before bringin!
q it, A few days correspondence may saw
i the applicant disappointment, and tn
managers much perpleNity. What W
E want is an application IN writing, givin
: the circumstances of the case. and tn
' reasons for the application. Few case
! are so urgent that the delay of weei
. cannot be borne. Too many children ar
y m tho HOma Inv Dannla who PV