Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-25
ROCK NOOK HOME ACQUIRES CARPENTER PROPERTY.
Purchase Made Possible Through In.
 come from Pierce Legacy.


 The annual report of the Rock Nook | home committee, of which Louisa G. Lane is secretary, and which was pre- United Workers, shows the average number in the family at the home to be about 25.
 | The report is as follows: A happy Christian Home. This was the ideal in the mind of Mir. Moses Pierce when he gave his former dwelling house for the Rock Nook : Chiidren's Home.
 | And such 1t really seemed to the small company of parents and friends who gathered to witness the last Christmas celebration.
 A short program of songs and reel 1 tations learned at school was present. | ed by the children. assembled under l the tall tree which they had had the pleasure of decorating themselves, and which was surrounded by multi l tude of gifts presented by generous | friends.
 The simple exercises were conducted l by one of the older girls and the pre- formance was -Sied but not disturbe ed by the growing of the babies in the Through the liberality of generous friends there was an abundant supply of gifts which had been carefully se- lected with reference to each indi- vidual taste in the matter of hair rib
 
 proved so satisfactory that there was not a murmur of discomfort or rivalry | among the happy groups seated on the floor at the foot of the tree. The pleasure of the holiday season continued through the week. Several of the children were allowed to visit their relatives, and extra good things were provided for dinners at Christ mas as had also been done at Thanks giving.
 It need not be supposed that such festivals are of every day occurrence. but the loving way in which all such occasions are observed is an indication of the underlying apirit always pre- yailing at the Home.
 But even a happy Christian home is not exempt from cares and difficulties. when humps and chicken pox begin their course in large household the daily routine must be modified. even if no grave results >ensue and the re- sources Of the entire household are taxed to meet the emergency. The Wm. W. Backus Hospital has always freely opened it's doors for serious cases not suitably cared for in the Home, and the skilled professional care given there has been followed with beneficial results in almost every case.
 Dr. Agnew's frequent visits and careful inspection of the children have been very helpful and he has shown remarkable kindness in advising about specially perplexing cases. and in us
 
 from the Hospital. At his request Mr. Don Houghton made an X-ray pie ture of one subject, which revealed the true nature of the trouble. and for which no charge was made. The gen erosity of both these gentlemen is gratefully appreciated.
 The special case referred to was that of beautiful boy four years old who under cruel step-father. Some of the members of our committee. after much delicate persuasion, emphasized by a hint of possible legal proceed ings, succeeded in gaining the con- sent of the relatives to his admission to the Rock Nook Home.
 It appeared that he was unable to walk without braces, and after some weeks of care at the Home and at the Hospital the X-ray revealed the presence of spinal tuberculosis.
 At the Hospital, as elsewhere he won all hearts by his sweet and hap py disposition, but evidently he could not be permanently retained there. A suited in his transfer Gin the private car of one of our good friends) Ito the Home for Incurable Children at Newington, under the care of the several similar cases have been suc- cessfuily treated there, it is hoped that after few years he may be restored to health. In the mean time the Rock d. of the necessary expense.
 About the same time another spe- cia1 case proved very perplexing. An orphan boy about seven years old was ed signs of troublesome disease which at first seemed to be ivy pois- oning. but as it re-appeared at fre- quent intervals hs too was sent to the hospital and treated in an isolated room. Such an arrangement could only be temporary, and happily a home was found for him in the country where he can have a nurses care if necessary. and where he is doing well without exposing other children. As he has no friends able to pay for him, the Rock Nook Home assumed the cost of ter tells of the happy Christmas he enjoyed among his new friends.
 By these two specimen cases it may be seen that the work Of the Home is not confined to the limits of one house, and that the ordinary items of mands upon our treasury. We are grateful to the generous benefactors who have put enlarged means at our disposal and we hope to do a much larger work in the future without des- troying the family aspect of the Home
 The large bequests of MT. Eccles which aroused so much attention, ha> been decided in favor of the Rock Nook Home, but the interest of the funds has hardly yet come into our treasury.
 We have however, begun to receive the income of Mir. Pieree's latest leg acies, and have been able to meet the unusual legal expenses and the pur- chase of the Carpenter property ad- Joining the Home.
 No important changes will be made without the careful advice of the wise body of sympathetic men composing our Advisory Committee.
 The average number in the family is about twenty-five, but this is not child is admitted apparently with good and sufficient reason and after a few days or weeks some relatives appear and relieve us Of the responsibility.