Notes of the Week
The custom of giving treats is still maintained in Buntingford.
During the past week, two treats - one to the old folks and one to the young - gave untold pleasure.
On Saturday - New Year's Day - Mrs F.J. Robinson, with her customary kindness and thoughtfulness gave a sausage dinner to the inmates of the Poor Law Institution.
There was still a festive appearance about the place, the decorations for Xmas still adorning the large dining hall with its beautifully scrubbed floor. On spotless white table cloths, plates, knives and forks were laid ready for the annual sausage dinner.
Punctually at 1 p.m., the inamtes filed into the room, the women and children sitting at one table and the men at another. Large white enamelled pots of hot sausages and vegetables were carried in by attendants, and soon the inmates were enjoying a meal that is not on the official menu of the Institution.
Beer and minerals - a very generous helping too - were served during the meal, at the close of which the entire company stood up and drank to the health of Mrs Robinson.
The came the distribution of an ounce of tobacco to the men, who filled their pipes while one of the inmates sang a very old song about a "White Part-i-ridge." Another inmate, an old soldier, also sang, but it was difficult to catch words other than "The Ship that never returned." Most of the company seemed to know the chorus for they joined in heartily.
Then the women went back to their quarters and left the men to their pipes and "forty winks."
The other party was at the Ex-Service Men's Club on Monday last, where everything went jolly from 4 o'clock to 7.30.
A feature of the party seemed to be the excellent manner in which the children behaved. There was no snobishness as is sometimes seen when adults gather for tea and games, and but for one sturdy little fellow, who wanted Dad near him during tea, the entire company did justice to a very sumptuous tea.
After grace, led by Mr E.E. Dennis, had been sung, the long tables were cleared away, and community singing on a small scale started the evening's enjoyment. "This old man came rolling home" was taken up by everybody.
"Spinning the tray," "musical stick" (with Mr Dennis at the piano), "family coach" and "passing the pennies" were other games which all (including the adults) enjoyed.
The arrival of "Father Christmas" was the signal for more cheering, and the intimation that the gifts were about to be distributed from the huge Christmas tree.
Before toys were handed out, each child received a National Savings' Card bearing two sixpenny stamps - an excellent idea considering that last year's gift of a similar nature has led to a good deal of saving.
There was really an excellent assortment of toys &c., and a box of puzzles given to one little girl caused a good deal of perplexity amongst the grown-ups.
Before leaving, oranges, chocolate, weets and cakes were distributed, and one noticed that the National Anthem was sung none too lustily.
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