New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-17

Forty-four boys and girls went to
the country yesterday. They made up
the first Tribune Fresh Air Party of
the summer.
There was not a hale and hearty
child in the crowd And small wonder
Every one Of them had just come from
sick bed at home or in the hospital.
One boy in the party hob6led his
way aboard the train at the Erie sta
ton with the aid Of a new pair OF
crutches, made necessary by an injury
10 one of his legs which has kept him
in a hospital ward for weeks. Two or
three others gave evidence by their
limping gait of more or less recent In
juries.
Most Of the rest dragged listless
feet. Even the knowledge that they
were bound for Fresh Air land to re-
gain health and strength failed to put
life into their step.
Nature Anticipated Them.
Last night they slept amid the hills
of Orange County at the Tribune
Funds Home for Convalescents, neal
Middletown, \. Y. To-day they begin
a two weeks romp on those same hills
This morning, if they chance to look
out Of the windows of the dormltory
toward the east when the sun calls
them from their dreams, they will dis
cover that their coming must have been
anticipated months ago.
Just q short shone's throw from
those windows they will see a garden
sprouting with all sorts of things de-
signed to tempt jaded appetites-pea
and beans, corn and tomatoes, straw,
berries and biackcaps. Not all oil
them ready just yet for consumption,
to be sure, but, as the gardener said
yesterday as he cast a reflective eye
over his demesne, Comm po-o-oty
good"
And over 20 the west of the house,
if the Youngsters happen to look that
way, thew will see a brood of fifty
motherly Plymouth Rocks, upon whom
the COOK is depending for the supply
of fresh eggs needed to put layers of
flesh on the puny frames that arrived
yesterday.
Just to help along the eggs, this
morning an Orange County farmer will
leave fifty quarts of Orange County
milk-famed far and wide Tor its rich
ness-at the back door of the home.
Tomorrow he'll leave the same, and
the next day more--if the children can
be persuaded to drink it.
Cheating the Robins.
Truth to tell. it would seem as though
the coming of these little lads and
lasses-one of them is only four years
old-must have been anticipated years
and years ago, for down at the foot OF
the hill, back of the house, are three
cherry trees. They are loaded with
spoils, too. The robins have been
watching with jealous eyes until the
time-and the cherries-should be ripe
for attack. but they will have to do
their sly pecking elsewhere now.
There are the shade trees in the hol-
low. too, ana the brook that dances
through the ravine across the road, the
spring that bubbles from the rocks and
the daisies that bloom in the meadows
all evidences that, long years ago,
Nature must have known that some
day the Fresh Airs" we're coming 70
Orange County and set about getting
things ready for them.
And yet one little miss was bit
dubious yesterday as she took her seat
in the train. Said a passerby to her,
wnen he learned the children were on
their way to the country, DO you think
YOU will have a good time"
The answer was prompt and to the
point:
"I'm afraid not, cause I en- only stay
two weeks"