The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-07-01
A "Dreadful Good Time" at Rose
mary Cottage.

Rosemary Cottage at Eliot, Maine, is the
paradise of tired mothers and the children
of the poor in the summer heats. The
two weeks vacation under its green trees,
provided by the Fresh Air Fund, Boston,
to which the public has so generously con
tributed for eighteen years, means new
life and hope, fresh strength and rosy
cheeks, a love for simple pleasures and a
store of happy memories laid up for
months to come, for those who are fortu-
nate enough to share it's hospitality.
''We spent very happy two weeks, >"
writes mother. cit was the first holt
like new person altogether and the chill
dren have different appearance. They
had such dreadful good time every min
ute they were there" The adjective may
provoke a smile, but the sincerity of the
pleasure who can doubt? 1t is worth
something to have made so much hap
piness available for the first time in life to
this mother and her little children.
| Rosemary is homelke place, managed
with motherly tact and understanding
| are all in the country except papa writes
little girl. ''This place is so 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 ! are getting rosy
cheeks" writes a girl of eleven. ''We
have good times in the grass and swings;
and we get all the cow 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 so
fast that we wish it was Just at the be-
ginning
In these good times the boys have their
full share. II had a fine time,N writes
one. ''We played ball and went picking
| berries. | went to church both Sundays
l like the matron very much, and | ought
to, Tor she does great deal for us so that
we can have a good time. She plays
games with us every night in the parlor.
She let four of us boys 90 to Greenacre
She gave us lunches, and we had fine
time. We didn' t come home until it was
quite late. They gave us oul supper in
the kitchen, and we told them that all us
boys would like to eat our supper in the
kitchen every night All Of 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 a great many other
things. We had to go through a lady S
yard, and We saw some pigs and ducks aud
cows, and great many other animals
All this is not charity, in the invdious
ana condescending sense of that beautiful
word. 1t is hospitality The needy, chosen
nd
treated with the courtesy and attention due
to honored guests. 1t is not possible for
many of us to invite strangers to our
homes. which perhaps are far away, but
most OF us would be glad to feel that there
is 50 easy and delightful an outlet for the
hospltable spirit as the Fresh All Fund
affords. Any sum will help, and ST will
provide for mother or child two weeks
at Rosemary Cottage.
The visits to Rosemary are not, how
ever, the only form Of hospitality provid-
ed by this charity. Ten dollars will give
two hundred people long ride on the
street cars; S24, party of fifty children
a day at the beach with fish dinner; S35,
hundred people days outing at Frank
lin Park.
This is a widespread and flexible char
lty. 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 circle of generous souls and to re-
mind former helpers of the recurring need
of their liberality, is the purpose of
this article. Contributions should be
sent to Rev D. W. Waldron, IA Beacon
Street, Room 10, Boston, Mass, and will
be promptly acknowledged.