Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Page 42 - 44)
Settling up the proceeds of the fair
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 42 - 44
I will now take you to the room where the general committee who had charge of this fair are gathered to "settle up" the accounts of the fair. At the time agreed on they come to the home of one of their number as being central for all of them.
Let me picture for you, dear friends, the proceedings of this little company who the week before managed the fair with no fixed rule of procedure, but governed only by precedent. If you stand looking into the room where they have met, you recognize every one of the individuals who sit around a large table on which are placed writing materials, various parcels of money, books of accounts, and a large sheet of paper across the top of which are written names of various benevolent institutions. The party informally agree on a division of the work to be done. From the pile of "small change" sent in from the auction and other tables, two make piles of each denomination ready to be counted, another smooths out and counts the paper money, Deacon J. P. Clark (do you remember him better as Col. John P. Clark?) has the auction clerk's book before him and reads. from it aloud designations and prices received, of the articles sold. Mrs. Obear sets these down on the large sheet before her, mentioned as one of the equipment of the table around which they sit. When all are set down under their respective heads the sums are counted.
Mr. Clark runs up the line, Mrs. Obear down, to save time. Ile is a quick and accurate accountant, her figures agree with his, and the rest of the company pause to listen to the amount, and express their pleasure or regret, generally the former, for we know that the sums raised do not come from homes of wealth, but from plain working people who earn their money. The members of the committee resume their work.
Meanwhile another two have reckoned the expenses of the fair. The expenditures are small, the friends of the institution contribute nearly all that is needed-the posters, expense of sending the proceeds away through the post-office, etc. This last has been done by Mrs. C. H. Obear, and succeeding her, by Mrs. Charles (Nellie) Wheeler for these fifty years. As you stand looking into this room and see that they are all friends of many years of the past, as they finish their work it is pleasant to you as to me to look again on the faces of your co-partners in this Christian labor, as my touch brings them from their slumber in your memory. Oh, no! we never lose the Past! Its scenes are never blotted out or wholly effaced, but in some minds so deeply imprinted, a light touch of the key opens the place from whence they wait to be called !
151st Fair
James Roger diary entry
7th August 1913
Thunder during night but little rain; cloudy and warm day; wind variable but mostly northerly. David whitewashing at Myron Taylor’s and him [sic] cultivated the potatoes and cabbage in field and garden. I went for load of wood to Walkers’ Mill; also tidied some lots in cemetery. Mrs. Knowlton washing today. Sale of work at Academy Hall today to raise funds for a piano for Academy. Isham Aldrich brought insane man to cooler today. Miss Palmer caught in the trap set for rabbit. W. Thayer’s horse ran away from his house but fell before going far. Got postcard that County Club dance was also to be on 22nd.
Upcoming Event
163rd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2024
New Ipswich Congregational Church
150 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH
10 AM - 3 PM