The Republican journal., 1902-03-20
had done. In the rural districts it has

best pans and Improvements were SuS-
gested
The Woman's Reading Club promises
to be of much interest and is source
of general improvement to all who be-
come interested in it. We hope every
grange that can will organize one this
coming year, taking up different authors
and each one adding to the general in
formation about that certain author.
Forestry has been an interesting sub
ject the past year, and we find it easy,
if one is interested, to find many little
of interest in even the daily
papers on the subject. In this,
as in other things, we generally find
what we are looking for, if our hearts
are in Grange work. Many little drops
of information will come under our
notice, and to gather them in for flu
ture use is womans work in the Grange.
Open air work is another opportunity
to work through the Grange, but this
opportunity can more easily come to
those who live iE the country. There
is room there for children or invalids to
enjoy all out of doors. A tent put up
III some convenient place might serve
for room, and Oh farm where SO much
comes almost direct from the hand of
little loss to the owner How many,
many farmers could be benefited by
the presence of one or two or more
children for a few weeks during the
summer!
Mrs. Mary A. Mays of Michigan first,
in 1898. recommended this work, and
through her influence committee was
appointed and authorized to seek to pro-
O.
ing two weeks outing in country
homes for at least 50 children, working
girls ard women from The cities. A
really great task was laid upon the com
mittee; it was a new departure for the
Grange; there were no precedents at
hand to guide: it brought a new spirit
into the Grange work: it really was a
bold venture and besides many farm
ers' wives already feel their summer
work a burden, and it was not expected
there would be many volunteers to re-
ceive the children. There was no money
at anybody's disposal. but Mrs. Mays
faith and genius were equal to the occa-
sion; she made the plans and carried
them out. After the first year fedora
ton of associated charities was formed
in Detroit for the purpose OF managing
the city end of the work. The Detroit
Free Press took charge of subscriptions,
and each year several hundred dollars
have been raised and expended in this
work IN the city of Detroit. A paid
secretary and manager has attended to
the correspondence, found those who
needed an outing. taking them to the
trains and received them home. The
railroads running out of Detroit have
aided materially by granting free passes
and reduced fares.
In 1894, the first year, this Grange
gave u an outing; 1895, lis; i'll 1896, PA:
and so the good work still goes on. In
the first four years of its organization
T01 received an outing, and IS chill
dren from homes of poverty have
been adopted into homes of thrift and
comfort. This of itself is worth every
effort that the work has cost Some
say it will be hard for these children,
who have enjoyed the freedom and
benefit of an outing, to 90 back to the
squalid homes in the city, But few
days or weeks in the country, surround
ed by the delights of summer days on
the farm, among the flowers and enjoy
ing the fruit, and the companionship of
domestic animals, will have an impress
sion on the child that will 90 with it all
its life; and if it is only once
The tiny Warblers come and go,
ct who would bid them stay away,
Or shun the moonbeam's slvery glow,
Because it cannot always stay?
Who would forbid the flowers to bloom,
Because Sc soon their petals fall,
Or, yielding to night ayless gloom
Forbid the sun to shine at all?
Will Carleton has drawn beautiful
picture of the home where some of
these children were expected and being
waited for with very warm welcome
from these dear people, who, we
suppose, have seen their own children
take the places of men and women in
the world and left them alone
Go, set the table, Mary, an let the cloth be
The hungry city children are comm here
tonight.
The children from the city, with features
punched ana spare,
Are comm here to get a breath of God S I'M
tainted air.
They come from out the dungeons where
they 18th want are chained;
From places dark an dismal, by tears of
sorrow stained
From where a thousand shadows are
numbering all the light,
Set well the table, Mary, dear, an let the
cloth be white.
They ha' not seen the daisies made for the
hearts behoOf;
They never heard the raindrops upon a
cottage roof;
They do not know the kisses of zephyr an of
breeze;
They never rambled wild an free beneath
the forest trees.
The food that they ha' eaten was spoiled by
others greedS;
The very air their lungs breathed was full
O. poison seeds.
The very air their souls breathed was full
O. wrong an spite;
Go set the table, Mary, dear, an let the
cloth be white!
The fragrant water lilies ha' never smiled
at them;
They never picked wild flower from off its
dewy stem;
They never saw green Sward that thew
could safely pass
Unless they needed well the sign that saws
"keep off the grass"
God bless the men an women O. noble brain
an heart
Who go down iii the folk-Swamps an take
children's part
These hungry, CHEEKY children that keep us
IN their debt,
Ana never fail to give us more of pleasure
than they get.
Set well the table, Mary; let naught be
scant or small;
lie little ones are coming here, have plenty
for them ALL