Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Continued)
Construction of the Fair (Continued Page 21 - 22)
Records and Reminiscences of Children’s Fair
“Seeking to make idle hours useful hours, I have written it in my old age Please accept my old RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES.” - C. H. Obear - July 8, 1911
Construction of the Fair - Page 21 - 22
Now, I'll return to my "specimens."
Mrs. McKown-" Mrs. Obear, can't you get up a few lines for a small boy whose mother is willing to have him speak at Children's Fair?" "It is rather late," I say. "I know, but four lines will do." "Four lines!" "Yes, he won't have time for more.".
"Why, it takes two lines to begin and two to leave off, and one wants to say something. If you will trust me, it will save. your time-send him over to me."
The little fellow comes. Perched on a high chair, feet on the round he gives attention. I have selected in my mind a practical lesson from the jingles of that old classic, Mother Goose's Melodies, known and loved by the little people of more than two centuries. I often have done this. I begin:
"Hickory, Dickery, Dock,"
Walter repeats.
"What time is it by the clock?
Time for me and time for you
To be finding something useful to do,
Time to play and time to work, But never a time to be a shirk,"
The jingle has caught his ear, and in a few minutes Walter Hardy goes home with his "piece" learned, I, giving him the injunction," say it just as you did to me" (accompanied by a jerk of his head on "never" to make it emphatic.)
A group of little girls were preparing to tell what they would be, or do when they were women.
A ring at the door-bell, I go to the door and find a little. girl standing on the step. "Mrs. Obear," she says, almost breathless with eagerness, "my little cousin, Josie Bennet, has come! Please can't she have a part in our piece?" I hesitate. "Come tomorrow and I will see, Abby." The crank of my machine is turned while I go about my work, and on the morrow she takes home the product. I thought I had exhausted all the trades and professions open to women, not then so numerous as now.
The poem created by the rhyming machine for Abby:
"I shall run a sewing machine, You will see how I make it go! I shall make it mend all my stockings You know how fast the holes grow! And I must do always my very best. To give my mother a chance to rest."
159th Children’s Fair - August 15, 2020
Modified because of COVID
James Roger diary entry
24th July 1913
Cloudy and warm. David at Barrett's teaming gravel etc. Mrs. Knowlton washing. I weeded garden in forenoon and sowed 5 rows of turnip seed. Also killed 6 fowls in afternoon and got Hall ready for Grange. There was a drama and auction of pies in Hall with coffee. Closed at 11:30 P.m. Got letter from Hamish.
Upcoming Event
163rd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2024
New Ipswich Congregational Church
150 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH
10 AM - 3 PM