Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Continued)
Construction of the Fair (Continued Page 22 - 23)
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
Songs and Poems ( Pages 22 - 23)
Another group comes on with texts about giving, from the Bible, such as "Give, and it shall be given to you," "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver," etc.
Our faithful, beloved Mamie Buckam Sargent, lamented by all who knew her, comes in to say, "They have put me on the committee for children's exercises, Mrs. Obear. Can you give me something for the first song? The children do not read music; it helps to have a tune familiar to them all," and this is the answer to her request:
The skies are bright, Our hearts are light, And all the world looks cheery. We throw away All grief today, And nothing shall be dreary. CHORUS. The Children of the Children's Fair, Are glad again to meet you, For all your labor, love and care, With grateful hearts they greet you. Our harvest store. We bring once more, And learn the joy of giving. CHо. The Children of the, etc. No feast so dear In all the year As this of bright October, Whence blessings flow To cheer man's woe And make his life less sober. CHо. The Children of the, etc.
Since coming to the year when it was voted to introduce. children's literary exercises as a part of the program, and consequently my using a few of those which were got up especially for the very little folks, it has been suggested to me that more, not confined to the earliest ages, would be acceptable. That parents of children, who, in this later day, take part on the stage," would like to recall their first efforts at speaking in public; and their boys and girls would like to learn "what kind of pieces they used to speak when papa and mama were young." As I have stated, necessity compelled us to use original matter. Most of that is nowhere else preserved, and I have decided that a portion may be copied from a mass in my possession for this little work which is to preserve the memory of the Children's Benevolent Fair..
A SECRET (LULA RICHARDSON) I've a secret to tell you, now and here, Which we children are learning from year to year. A secret the gracious Saviour did tell To the dear disciples he loved so well, But a secret the world is slow to believe It's more blessed to give than it is to receive,"
160th Children’s Fair - August 21, 2020
James Roger diary entry
25th July 1913
Cloudy, windy, and warmish northwest wind. David at Barretts’ mixing cement and teaming hard pan. I picked three fowls and went for wood to Walkers’ in forenoon. Alice and I took out settees and swept Hall for dance tonight. F. Cushing paid his hay today. Bought at Spoffords’ sale. Not very many at dance, which closed at 1 a.m. Orchestra from Fitchburg.
Upcoming Event
163rd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2024
New Ipswich Congregational Church
150 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH
10 AM - 3 PM