St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-12-25

In one family there is q mother,
father and six children; three of
these are away from home anu three
are at home. One girl ] L years of age
takes care of the household wnIle
the mother is away at work most o.
the time earning money to provide
food for the family. One girl 10
years old who boards at home is
working out. The father, previous
to Miss Batchelder's visiting the
nome, was drunk most of the time
and did not earn any money. The
conditions in the home were very
poor, the roof leaked, the plaster
was down, in many places, around
the home were tin cans. bones,
broken wagons. buggies and sleighs.
Everything was in dilapidated con-
dition. When Miss BatcheIder came
90 the home she asked the woman
whether she had any objections if
she were TO get some people to fix
up the house. Miss Batchelder, with
the consent of the mother in the
home got funds to single the house
and engage some one to plaster the
ceiling where the plaster was gone.
She also helped clean up the house
and raked up the yard. They haul
ed away three cart-loads of rubbish.
When the father saw what was be-
ing done he stopped drinking and
began to help clean up. He has been
sober ever since. He has not taken
drop for nearly two months, has
found employment and has built a
new shed. The whole family was al
SO provided with warm winter I'M
derclothes. In showing these to
Miss Batchelder the mother held
them up and said aren't they
'grand?" During this call she went
several times and put her hand on
an outing flannel night robe and said
'My, won't that feel good this win
ter?" She has never had one before
Tears were in her eyes when she said
to u.s." The mother said no one
had ever helped them before except
in SO far as to give them work. What
this family needed was a little
friendly help.
In nearby village there are three
churches struggling for existence.
But these churches were so busy
with themselves that they did not
see these conditions and did not lend
a friendly hand. They had their eyes
shut. o! for single community
church with an efficient community
In another home there is
a mother and father and six child
rem, one having recently died with
In this home there was
much filth, there were tubercular
germs over everything, so much so
that one man remarked that he
would not go into this home to
clean it up for a hundred thousand
dollars. Miss Batchelder went into
this home and got the family to
clean up the home and disinfected
everything. The mother and the old
er girl are really beginning to
take pride in the way things look.
TIE children in this home have been
going to a nearby school carrying
the tubercular germs with them. This
danger is now eliminated. Through 4
social service the Bennington County
Vermont Improvement Association
hopes to reach every needy home in
the entire county as time advances
and funds are available for this
purpose.
Village Improvement Associations
The Bennington County Vermont
Association has been !
in organizing Village |
improved associations in practically |
all the villages that have not had !
such organizations before, ana many |
have been enliVened by the impetus
given them by the county organiza-
ton. These associations have edu-
committees that get the !
parents organized and interested in |
The schools. Several parents clubs |
have been formed. They also have |
play and recreation committees, en-
committees and social
service committees. All these work |
together with the workers of the |
Bennington County Vermont I'm
Association. A county
yceum has been formed where en-
are brought to the
for a series of nights, thus
almost cutting the price in TWO. Such
men as Ernest Harold Baynes are
brought to the schools to talk to the
school children relative to nature
studies.
Publicity
We average more than a column a
lay for our papers and thus far
lbout four meetings a week. The
also has an immense cor
and plans to keep ever
astingly at it until every person in
he county shall not only know that
he association IS in existence but
hall take hold and help along with
he work.
Religion
The association will do all it pos
IDLY can by way of getting churches
o back it and of enlisting their help
n the campaign for improvement in
very phase of the work. The Ben
lington County Vermont Improve
nent Association is also in sympathy
With law enforcement and the en-
.ctmept of good laws. 1t will pul
orth every effort to improve condi-