The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-13
piled on the expense of laying out the
grounds around the home.
OTHER GOOD pEEDS

Church of the Good Shepherd were sent,
while at this last lunch was furnished;
one woman gave two days work and
another two days sewing, at the men,
tion of which good deeds there Is but
one thought, which Is also u memory:
"Shc hath done what she could" once
more came II donation from the same two
boys who sent one last year "because
they were so good to us at the Home
when we WIRE there Never were mcr-
chants kinder than those of Scranton.
our clergy, physicians, corporations. the
press. individuals. "a great multitude
which no man could number"
In the spring the utterly neglected con-
dillon of the grounds at the Home
weighed heavily upon the souls of the
managers, but as there was no money in
the treasury to expend on them nothing
could be done. Finally 1t was arranged
that they should be graded and laid out
as far as possible. which was done. and
the expense was generously borne oy
Mcsdames Kennedy, ID. T.. Taylor, Thom-
as Dickson, j. B. Dimmick, Thomas
Moore. j. y. Robertson, Il. NJ. Winton,
the Entire Nous club and Messrs. c.
Schlagcr and +. B. Sturges. A number
of trees were given In the autumn by
Mr.. w. W. Watson, which will be set out
next spring. There is still some grad
ing to be done. but We have no funds.
Could this be finished we could accept
much shrubbery, etc, that has been OF
fcred. and give the noble building an
appropriate setting. An excellent side
walk has been laid by Carter & Kennedy
from Washington avenue in front of the
Homo up tn its grounds and although it
Is on the property of these gentlemen
the Home and its visitors at present reap
more benefit from it than does any one
else.
The October Donaticr Day was more
literally remembered than any previous
one in the Homes history, and the same
must be recorded of Thanksgiving Day.
with it's cloud of turkeys ana its bount-
ful benCfactions of all kinds. The chill
dren from schools Nos. 2s and SO came
with four wagon loads of groceries and
provisions. including eighty cans of fruit.
and also brought S6.SJ in money. The
little people of Miss Coemans Kinder.
rarten sent n large basket of beautiful
fruit. How delirhtful it would be could
everything be mentioned as 1t is. we feel
like the Queen of Cheba-the half has
not boon told.
HIGH TIDE OF THE YEAR.
Christmas was as ever a gala day, "the
high tide of the year" and the earnest
wish was heard that every one could see
what pleasure their presents gave; it
would be SO gratifying. The scene at
the Christmas tree is always Il memord-
BILE one. The rows of eager little expect
ant faces; the passive enjoyment of the
elders, ready alike for the last trump or
u Christmas box: the soft lights. the
glttering tree laden with astonishing
fruit: the enthusiastic reception of the
gifts, the unalloyed happiness of those
who, from having had nothing now find
themselves dn a measure) possessing all
things. 1t is II sight worth seeing. To
some of the children this year 1t was n
revelation MY father used to come
home with n bottle of whiskey, Christ
mas" said one little maiden, land say
Santa Claus gave it to him, and then
he would get drunk, but we never had
anything. and ! thought Santa Claus
| must be a wicked man. ! never knew he
| brought anything good" Ibid you never
have anything Christmas?' inquired our
moralist ,aged @. "Well, you must have
been bad
| Among the many offerings was one that
| brought q hush and an awcd feeling. The
children looked and softly stole away,
saying nothing; the elders also looked,
| but could not see so clearly as usual;
| something dmmed their vision, and
| when they would have spoken some
| thing impeded uttcrance. doll house
perfect in all its appointments, stood
against the wall, fitted up with every
| thing necessary to the comfort of Il doll
| family. just a month before 1t had
been priced possession in happy home
in this city, dear beyond expression to
| the heart of its young owner. whose
! special pride 1t was and who left 1t the
afternoon before Thanksgiving to spend
| the holiday elsewhere. Very carefully
| had she arranged everything before she
SET forth, that all might be we'll in hel
| absence, and then, leaving her treasures
! had gonc-to her death! a crash on the
| railroad at PatcrSOn-a cruel Wreck-ant
| the little mistress of the house came
| back 10 more. The valued doll house
was sent to the Home. where 1t will al
ways be an unconscious reminder of 'thC
shortncss and uncertainty of human
| life." and n memorial Of a dear littl,
girl now received into the joys of hel
heavenly habitation.
ENCOURAGING REPORTS.
We hear very encouraging accounts OF
some of the children we have placed II
homes. one little boy was recently com
mended by a neighbor for being 50 very
! respectful to the old lady of the family
| who had taken him that the neighbol
| thought II the Home had amy more boy:
| like that he would come and get one
Many gratifying bits of intelligence thus
come to US, causing us more than evel
|
make in their behalf. This is the only
real home many of them have evel
known, the only place where they have
ever received any training or instruction
whatever but the soil is good and th'
seed sinks in bringing forth fruit in al
incredibly short space of time when th'
previous conditions of neglect and abso
lutte ignorance are considered. OF lovc
too, IL is the first experience for man.
| In Irs Fl1 oh lr,At
do not lack for that, and they respond a
flowers to sunshine. Il always sa!
thank YOU to Mrs. Walker for every
thing she gives me- piously remarked
one of the irrcpressible sprites of tn
family. "If she gave you Il whipping
would you?" inquired the Moralist befor
referred to, but III" suggestion wa
apparently deemed too far out of tn
question to be considered. At Easter on
small boy was dis ,overed carefully eras
ing the face of Pontius PLATE from
picture in one Of his books, and I'm rcpl
to an inquiry as to why he was doing s.
replied, very solemnly, "Because he kille
Jesus. Now he won't see any more. h
won't hear any more; he's worser than
Spaniard!' Let MS hope that coming
years will turn to good account thi
quaint little persons zeal for the Master
Throughout the year our committee
have worked faithfully, the finance com
mittee having had the heaviest burden
but scoring excellent results, as the II
ccipts from the minstrel show. the nowe
show and the annual excursion plainl
demonstrate. The work of the commit
tee on religious services brings grea
comfort to our elderly inmates who ca
seldom attend church and all prof
thereby.
TREASURY WAS EMPTY.
In July the management was confront