New-York tribune., 1893-08-27
on AA ABINDONED FIRM
A CITY MISSION rorND FINE USE FOR IT
GREAT Fun FOR rON~.

4 CITY MISSION NEY fOrND FINE USE FOR IT.
GREAT FI-N FOR rpYS.
The tenemen, houses are always crowH'd' inc
stairs sidewalks and hre-escapeS are PoPu'"''''
The faces and forms of people become oppressive
by means of their number Every day the mis-
sonary sees moving. running Scr'atlhs' l"us"-
ing weeping fighting men. women and children
In vain he seeks the more unfrequ"nted streets
no finds the surging multitude everywhere. II
fire breaks ont or a drunken woman l. draStei
off TO the station. il seems as II 10y m"'.c every
brick leaps from the wall and every H'o1r SprlhSS
from the pavement and becomes instinct with me-
and nerfect Niagara of ncsh and blood surges up
and down the streets. Such are IN" missionary
surroundings. To get a little room TO breathe H.
To find a place where human life is not 80 OPP
pressivcly common through It's abundance WAS Ms
desire He invited company OF young men ana
boys too old to go with the regular fresh-Alr eA-
cursions to camp out with him in place where
he might see something besides brick walls. stone
pavements and that everlasting. restless moving
crowd on the East side which never takes Naca-
,ion His partv was composed Of thirteen some
of the bovs said II would he an unuckN TRIP put
they never had "A better time In their nNeS' ana
thirteen will henceforth with the members oi the
party be a number OF good omen.
Three days before the expedition s'ar'eh 'h' ms
sionary called the members together ana ieP"'S'''
every man To supply blanket. Illo"slr WASH
basIn. towel SOAP knife fork. spoon. plate ana
much howl he VAS delighted that som" oi the
bovs Of their own accord, brought Bibles. The
members OF the party were requ'st"' 7" meet ~
the City Mission Church and bc prcpai'l 10 carry
mart of the household utensils 7" III" i"it"'i S''
ton an the morning Of departure. The brigade ar
rived AT the Grand Central station. carrying IRON
pots tin kettles. pans. wash-basinS ana "o'"'"
nsus Three of the boys were each loaded down
with ham. $1,000
Through tho Kindness Of the Rev willard Par
SONS the missionary obtained tickets for MS 'hl''
con,nanv a most mcrciful circum@tancc. consider
ing his present financial status. Ih" songs inc
constant ordinations of joyous surprise as the
train sped away from the great city III" inc'"H"nt
onen,nr Of lunch parcels-all th"s" were similar 70
what might De witnessed on an ordinary l's '"
excursion I'm its final destination this party H"'t'l
from, all others Generally the arrival "i ii''h-
air marty is expected. and all necessary pr"p"r"-
lions are made which warm hearted hos
,itail,v can devise The objective point
OF the missionary's party was not some
pleasantly situated cottag" or sanlthrl"h ''''''u
and supported by generous rich people whose '"""
try air Is all the swectcr because they soc inc I'"
I'm children Of tho city r"viv" under H. hnu'h'''
Tbls Marty WAS bound for abandoned farm IN
Non,orcv P.rkshire County. one of tnos" Ihcthr-
o,uo,,. beautiful spots In the Rcrkshrc li'ls. hut
inst far enough from the wealth ana iaSh"h "i
Great harrington. Stockbrifge and Len"N I" De "h-
noticed and unknown. friend of IN" missionary
had lust bought farm In this region ana HN'u"'
,ho marty 10 camp on his land. workinsn"n VINO
had the courage to exchange tho overcro"ded c''P
for life in the country had recently settled - ten
an, on tho farm which had not been occupied for
moro than ten years The party arrived too lat" I"
mitch the cnt ami Therefore spent the first night AT
,he farmhouse. The boys expected -" r"ufh ~
I'm, werc a little surprised 20 md holes In the roo
through which the stars were visihl" ih'ie WIS
rorrarkable absence Of window glass. and the coo"
n such a HDDl through tnt
.roLe, vindows that some OF the boys, who IN"
night before had sweltored In bedrooms without
windows and brcathed the sicNy' second mana AR
~ the shaft actually dreamed II was winter ana
felt cold although snuely wrapped in a blanket
In the morning the missionary selected brauti-
o., sno, near the banks Of a mountain stream in
= r,ro forcst and before noon the tent was pitched
and . camp0rc was lighted. Every member of the
canning party made an oficehod'r an" put
on some important committee The badges OF 'hc
Wood Committee were saw. axe ana brand-new
batchct The wood Committee soon brought an
abundant supply OF pine branches 10 the door OF
the tent thick bed Of lIuEhs was placed on the
ground and a load Of hay spread top and beds
III for kings were prepared for the entire com
pany The MIX Committee received tin pals ana
instruction to 20 to farmhouse mile distant.
morning and evening. for ten quarts OF milk. The
Berry Committee was composed OF the younger
bows To the members OF this committee pre-
sentcd muSh bowls. WIN INSTRUCTIONS hoi 10 pay
until twice daily the mush-bowls filled with
wild strawberries It was the unanimous tcsti-
mony Of the campers that such delicious straw
berries and cream could not be procured. even in
New York.
The principal recreation Of the camp consisted IN
eating In less than ten days two bushels of ro-
Ia toes. three hams. two large boxes Of crackers
ten pounds OF coffee. thirty pounds OF sugar a
vast quantity Of Quaker oats tapioca and rolled
wheat. nifty loavcs Of bread goodly portion o. a
calf and over 700 quarts Of milk were consumed
The missionary is great believer In oatmeal. al
though he does not believe with some rich people
that oatmeal can cure all the evils which anlict
the poor A cable stretched between two
trees. on this cable was hung an immense iron
pot, half-flled with water. and within II
placed a covered tin kettle In which oatmeal and
other cereals were steamed to perfection. II made
no difference how hot the campfire was by means
OF this double kettle there was danger of burn
ing the mush. The missionary waY sccpicaI of all
legends and protestations on the outside of the |
packages stating that a delicious breakfast dish
can be prepared in ten minutes and Invariably /
cooked the oatmeal three hours. and sometimes !
when the campfire was practically brilliant the /
oatmeal pot made "A merry noise through the
greater part Of the night The time was spent !
In eating bonting. fishing. swimming ball I-playine |
cooking and dish washing. An attempt was made
to have every man wash his own dishes, but the
saw this would be demoralizing to good |
table manners. and dish-washing committee was |
created.
The evenings were greatly enjoyed by all The
Iolly thirteen gathered around roaring camp
Are Singing speeches. recitations. stories and
riddles made the evenings only too short Before
retiring every member OF the camp recited a verse
II SCRIPTURE and the missionary offered a nrayer
Then every man found his place in the tent and
non ali were asleep and only the deep breathing
,f the sleepers and the mournful OF the whip
poorwili broke the silence Of the forest Wv ~
The missionary was generally the last to retire. !