Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Page 41 - 42)
QUARTER CENTENNIAL, OCTOBER 1887
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
Pages 41 - 42
The most careful preparation was made for the guests who had been invited, and the lower rooms of the church made to put on their most attractive festive garments: even from the homes of citizens where there were no children came offers to entertain the returning friends; and abundant supplies of provisions for the dinner at the church, and showed more than their usual interest in efforts to aid in making the occasion a success in every way.
Among the guests were Rev. Calvin Cutler of Auburndale (Newton) and Elihu T. Quimby from Dartmouth College, Hanover. They had been the first to conceive the idea of trying to establish a harvest festival that should train the ris ing generation to share their good gifts with the needy ones less abundantly blessed. They were both joyfully welcomed, not alone because they were founders of our fair, nor because one was at the head of our academy for ten or more years, and the other our pastor during the nearly five years of the civil war, when for a time two of our three churches were closed and there was "one fold and one shepherd," but they came back as beloved fellow-citizens who had been incorporated with us as helpers through the vicissitudes of the war, and sharers in our joy over the outcome of the war. True and faithful friends in their fellowship and labor in all that promised to advance the prosperity of the town, as well as successful laborers in their chosen vocations as preacher and teacher.
When not very long after this visit, I learned that Professor Quimby had been called suddenly to lay down the armor he had so vigorously wielded, I was glad to recall his words as he left the door of our home after a brief call: "I have been treated royally at Mr. Ames'." "A carriage has been provided for me to drive over the familiar hills, always beautiful, and to stop at the doors of old friends." "Had it cost a thousand dollars, I should have been repaid!"
The beloved pastor ever retained his more quiet, but none the less sincere and hearty affection for the people of his first pastorate, and interest in the Children's Fair.
It was pleasant on this Twenty-fifth Anniversary to stand apart and look on the old familiar faces, as hand clasped hand long and cordially after many years, and to watch the faces of those who sat at the table, and witness the heart-felt pleasure that came into the eyes, some of them dimming with age, as they recalled the harvest festivals of the former years! No gladness and joy more pure than reunion with those with whom we were laborers in a good cause in the years of our youth!
When tidings came to us that Rev. Calvin Cutler had been called to come up higher, on the day of the harvest feast, during our dinner hour, a resolution was drawn up to give expression of our regret for our loss, and sympathy, and to forward our condolence to his children at Auburndale, and the audience gathered to listen to our customary after-dinner exercises, responded to the resolution by a rising vote. Others were at this twenty-fifth anniversary whom it was joy to meet; when Abby Clark stood with her friend, Miss , at the head of a line of the former children of the Children's Fair, to open the exercises after dinner, how thrilling was "Home, sweet home" as they sang it! and how pleasant was the sight of the considerable number of little folks who were introduced as "grand-children" of the Children's Fair, and each spoke a verse. The exercises of that day were from the past pro grams and had been written for their parents, most of them. May their children in the future years appear on like occasions as the "great-grand-children" of the institution!
Waiting for Rummage Sale
James Roger diary entry
6th August 1913
Cloudy and warm. David at tennis court in morning and took Alice and the two girls to Depot for noon time train to Ayer. He hoed the cabbage after and I cut some lots in forenoon and played golf in afternoon with John Cummings against P. Bliss and Phil Brown. We were 2 up on the 15 holes. Dave going to meet Alice, Eliz, and Janet at 7:10 train. 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
Incredible account of the history of the fair. Must have been great to watch kids actively recite and participate in its production.