September Journal
3rd. A very old friend has sent a pair of stockings. She says they are easily made in the hot weather. We have been given a bread cutter; this will be a great help, as we require about 1200 pieces of bread for tea and 500 for dinner.
4th. We have received a donation of £10 from an anonymous giver, for which we are most grateful. It will help the Building Fund so much.
6th. We have a nice present of rabbits, which we are so glad to have.
7th. Two little people have arrived, brother and sister. They are bright intelligent children. They have seen the dark side of the world. We will try to make their lives brighter and happier.
8th. We are re-joicing today. We have received a gift of £50 for the Lord Mount Stephen Wing - the fruits of self denial. We are so grateful. The donor and friends before her have for years helped us much, and may their reward be great.
9th. A kind neighbour has sent us a gift of hares. This means a treat for the children.
10th. We have gladly received a gift from one in Ross-shire who heard a sermon in our behalf. Funds are not coming in, and we may have to go out and beg again. The Warden has gone to-day to Braemar to preach for us, but we hear there are not so many visitors there as usual.
18th. Inquiry is made as to how we take children, the conditions, ages, & c. Every child needing a home is eligible, no matter where they live, to be received, but we are quite unable to take many scores who apply. We have no fixed ages but we do not care to take children after twelve years of age. The condition is simply good health, though, if we have two applicants, we take the most delicate, as our beautiful air generally does them good.
Our Museum
We have an interesting addition to our museum. A gentleman who was tiger hunting was seized by a large tiger, concealed in a short of ditch, by one of his feet. Fortunately, the buckle of his shoe broke and this released the foot. Before the beast could make another attack he was shot by a comrade. The tiger's skull, a very large one, has been sent to us with the bitten shoe.
Our New Dining Hall
This hall is progressing very fast, and promises to be a very fine building - a most noble gift of Mr. M'Corquodale. In about ten days or a fortnight, probably about the time this reaches our readers, the walls will be ready for the roof. We have good hope of eating our Christmas dinner in it. Mr. M'Corquodale will be pleased with the hall when he sees it.
Our Schools
We have alas! the first little hint given to us by the authorities that our school-rooms are too crowded. In the course of a few months we shall be told we must increase our accommodation. That means an outlay of some £800 to £900. It is only fair to say that we anticipated this, and included it in the £9000 we asked for to complete our whole block of buildings. When completed no one will be ashamed of them.
The Harvest
The harvest is now being gathered in, the crops are fairly good. The weather is not propitious. All are anxious. We, with others, as we have a good bit of corn on our farm.
We, as in the past years, make an urgent appeal on behalf of our Home. The harvest season seems especially a time when to think of those who are in need. The crowd is great now. So many asking help for children, and not without cause. Will our readers kindly remember us. In years gone by we used to get a good many harvest thanksgiving collections in churches, and we trust this may be renewed again. Our wants are great.
Our Knitting Guild
This guild is a great help in supplying us with stockings. Black 5-ply wool suits well. We thank all who have kindly sent stockings this month.
The Blind Stocking Guild
This excellent guild was started by Miss A. Varty-Smith, Nandana, Penrith. Each member of the Guild subscribes one shilling a year to buy wool for the blind to knit stockings. Two shillings pay for the wool and knitting. Miss Varty-Smith will be glad to enrol members. The following have kindly contributed this month:-
Mrs. Buckley Johnstone, 1s; Mr. and Miss Winter, 2s; Mrs. Sharp, 2s; Miss A. Sturrock, 2s; Miss E. C. Sturrock, 2s; Mrs. Graham, £1; Miss Bodley, £2.
Stockings - Miss Foster, 1 pair; "Mary" 7 1/2 pairs; Misses Carnegy, 2 1/2 pairs; Mrs. Whiteside and Miss Railton, 1 pair.
Mrs. Raw's Shirt Guild
This Guild is a great help to us. Mrs. Raw, 66 Rodney Street, Liverpool, will be very glad to enrol members. Payments quarterly - Adults 1s., Juveniles 6d. The money is spent on the purchase of shirts, which are sent to us from time to time.
Australian Cricketers - Mr. Noble and Aberlour Orphans
Continuing their motor tour through the North of Scotland, the Australian cricketers arrived at Craigellachie on Saturday and lunched in the Craigellachie Hotel. The Aberlour Orphanage boys and the members of the Aberlour Cricket Club accorded them a hearty welcome. Before leaving, Mr. Noble, the Captain, greatly delighted the boys by giving them some good advice. He said: -
"I have been asked by Mr. Dawson to say a few words to you. I hope that every one of you in your journey through life will always do your duty. When playing with your mates, if one of you should lose your temper do not quarrel with him but leave him alone, and do not fight, for fighting is a bad thing for boys as well as men. In cricket and every game the boy next to you is as good as yourself. Look upon each other as equals.