The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-11-25
THANKSGIVING
At Welcome Hall Kindergarten--An In
teresting Occasion Yesterday.


AT Welcome Hall Kindergarten--AnI In
teresting Occasion Yesterday.
The Thanksgiving exercises of one of
the schools supported by the Elm City
Free Kindergarten association We're
held yesterday morning at Welcome
hall on Oak street. At O'clock the
little ones were assembled, sixty in
number, in the bright room made
CHEEKY by singing birds and flowers,
and were each given morning hand
shake of greeting by Miss Rachel King,
the principal. These children all come
from poor homes of the Oak street
neighborhood, but We're surprisingly
neat and clean and most smilingly
happy.
An interesting program had been ar
ranged, and it was beautifully carried
out. As befitted the occasion, the les
son of thankfulness to the Giver of all
good was infused throughout, from the
opening, going to church." through
the songs. recitations and prayer.
Making an atmosphere of it's own, the
kindergarten had snow for Thanksgiv-
ing, and went off in sleighs, by the jing-
ling bells, to "Grandma's." Then the
dear old lady had to be told all about
their school and hear the songs and
recitations and watch the pretty plays.
While all the summer flowers" were
put to sleep after having been nipped
by Jack Frost, and all the leaves
blown from the trees by the wind"
the chairs We're spirited away into an
other room, and when a good fairy
brought to life again the weary sleep
ers, each boy escorted little girl to
the banquet. Here was one of the
prettiest and most instructive parts Of
the exercises, for it showed the training
of the children. Long tables were
tastefully arranged each child having
a place set with bright bordered nap
kin. and the feast consisted of cup of
milk, cracker, half an apple, q half
| banana, standing sentinel on four
wooden legs, and paper box (made
by the child) filled with candy and
nuts. The mothers and friends were
served with coffee and cake. The quiet
manners of the children We're lesson
| to those of greater advantages, and 1t
| was hard to realize that these were
mostly taken into the school last fall.
and some only little over two years
| of age.
After the feast d game and song OF
popcorn followed, and then in came a
large pumpkin (borne by two small
boys) filled with popcorn, and was
passed around for each child to take a
handful There was no grabbing, as
might perhaps have been expected, but
each waited his turn patiently, and
helped himself in the usual well-bred
/ manner.
A toast was given by a small boy,
"Thanksgiving day with it's hearty
cheer
All the good family gathered here
The exercises closed by the singing
of America" and a parting happy
surprise was given the children by the
gift Of a bundle of clothing for each,
which other loving hearts had supplied.
| No one can estimate the influence OF
this training over those children and
/ over their homes. or the good the kin
dergarten is doing for our city now and
for all time
The exercises at the other school sup
ported by the association, on Lloyd
street. Fair Haven, for their fifty chill
dren, will take place this morning at
nine o'clock, and visitors will be well
come.