The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-06-23
A Dreadful Good Time" Mt Rose
mary Cottage.

Rosemary Cottage at Eliot, Maine,
is the paradise of tired mothers and the
children of the poor in the summer
heat. The two weeks vacation under
its green trees, provided by the Fresh
Air Fund, Boston, to which the public
has 80 generously contributed for
eighteen years, means new lie and
hope, fresh strength and rosy cheeks, a
love for simple pleasures and store OF
happy memories laid up for months to
come, for those who are fortunate
enough to share its hospitality.
"We spent very happy two weeks"
writes a mother. 1t was the first
holiday l have had for eleven years. |
feel like a new person altogether and
the children have a different appear
ance. They had such dreadful good
time every minute they were there"
The adjective may provoke smile,
but the sincerity of the pleasure who
can doubt? 1t is worth something to
have made so much happiness available
for the first time in life to this mother
and her little children.
Rosemary is a homelike place, man
aged with a motherly tact and under
standing which win the hearts of the
children. eve are all in the country
except papa" writes little girl. "This
place is 80 beautiful that mamma calls
it heaven on earth, with great big
hills. The hotel we live in is on big
hill, and it has lovely rooms. We love
it very much"
"My sister and I are getting rosy
cheeks" writes girl of eleven. {" We
have good times in the grass and
swings; and we get all the cows milk
we want to drink, and plenty to eat.
The matron is a lovely lady. She reads
us stories and sings with us. Two
weeks have gone 30 fast we wish it was
just at the beginning"
In these good times the boys have
their full share. 81 had fine time"
writes one. "We played ball and went
picking berries. l went to church both
Sundays. like the matron very much,
and ought to, for she does great deal
for US so that we can have good time.
She plays games with US every night in
the parlor. She let four of us boys go to
Greenacre. She gave US lunches, and
we had fine time. We didn't come
home until it was quite late. They
gave US our supper in the kitchen, and
we told them that all us boys would
like to eat our supper in the kitchen
every night. All US children went up
on the hill Saturday night. We had a
fine time. We rolled down the hill
and went picking berries. We saw the
White Mountains and great many
other things. We had to 60 through a
lady's yard, and we saw some pigs and
ducks and cows, and great many
other animals"
All this is not charity, in the invidi-
GUS and condescending sense of that
beautiful word. 1t is hospitality. The
needy, chosen with discrimination, are
invited and treated With the courtesy
and attention due to honored guests.
1t is not possible for many of us to in
vite strangers to our homes, which per-
haps are far away, but most of us would
be glad TO feel that there is 80 easy and
delightful an outlet for the hospitable
spirit as the Fresh Air Fund affords.
Any sum will help, and 81 will provide
Rosemary Cottage.
The visits to Rosemary are not, how
ever, the only form of ospitality pro
vided by this charity. Ten dollars will
give two hundred people long ride on
the street cars; 1924, party of fifty
children day at the beach with a fish
dinner; $35, hundred people days
outing at Franklin Park.
This is a widespread and flexible
charity. Its work is done by the help
of many gifts both large and small, and
letters of renewed cooperation year by
year show that those who give take
genuine pleasure in thus entertaining
strangers and making the pleasures of
the summer time available to the poor.
To give this opportunity to wider cir
Gle of generous souls, and to remind
former helpers of the recurring need of
their liberality, is the purpose of this
article. Contributions should be sent
to Rev. ID. W. Waldron, IA Beacon
Street, Room 10, Boston, Mass, and
will be promptly acknowledged.