true that the most faithful private will make the most vigilant commander. "Faithful in that which is least, faithful also in that which is greatest." This is the Divine assertion. God forever blesses fidelity. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might," seems to have been the motto and the watchword of the Helping Hand Society, and thus have they become an angelhood of terrestrial service among the needy children of the byways and highways. Mrs. D. W. Folger, who first grouped together a few young ladies, formerly members of her Sabbath School class, to sew for the children, is the President of this stirring organization. She has that rare knack of leadership which serves at once to rally and to inspire, which calls forth from each the very best of which each is capable. How true it is, that in proportion as we feel the value of any work we make others feel it. Who can estimate the power of one consecrated, devoted heart! That is what we call the power of personality. Our last year's Report chronicled the organization and establishment of the HELPING HAND KINDERGARTEN, supported entirely by this Society of workers. This year we have to record the adoption of the Kahler Kindergarten by this Society, and the changing of the name to the HELPING HAND KINDERGARTEN, No. 2. The Kahler fund having been exhausted, it seemed as if a good Providence had raised up these workers to meet the pressing exigency. The bright, sunny room was transformed into a "bower of beauty," by the deft and dainty handiwork of the Helping Hands, which, like an all-pervading presence, inspires pleasure and joy. THE PRISMETTE ENTERTAINMENT. In order to ensure the needed funds to carry on these two Kindergartens, the Society, under the direction of its indefatigable President, Mrs. Folger, planned one of the most unique and beautiful entertainments ever given in San Francisco. The following from the Bulletin is a fine description of the delightful and fanciful details of plan and arrangment: PRISMETTE - - AN ENTERTAINMENT OF A PLEASING AND NOVEL CHARACTER. A BAZAR WHERE ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW ARE MADE TO PRODUCE A SCENE OF BEAUTY-THE OBJECT OF THE HELPING HAND SOCIETY. The pouring rain did not dampen the ardor of the friends and workers of the Prismette entertainment, which opened auspiciously at Union-square Hall last evening under the auspices of the Helping Hand Society, auxiliary to the Golden Gate Kindergarten Association. On entering the brilliantly lighted hall the scene presented is one of unique and exquisitely refined beauty. Everything is arranged with reference to charming effects, under the laws of taste and harmony. The dominant idea is the rainbow, and every booth, stand, station and table is set to that keynote of coloring. The stage is transformed into a vast "Triumphal Arch," as if the outside storm had unrolled a fair rainbow with its beautiful "pinions of purple and gold," for the special benefit of Prismette. And when, later on in the programme of the evening, some forty beautiful children, dressed in all the colors of the rainbow, grouped themselves artistically under this vast arch, singing the old-fashioned songs in charming style, the audience gave way to unstinted applause, and called again and again on the little folks for a repetition of the old-time favorites. It was a beautiful tableau vivant, and the fairy sprites, disposed in groupings under the rainbow arch, recalled the poet's rhythmical lines to the rainbow: Thon seem'st, as to my childhood sight A midway station given For happy spirits to alight Betwixt the earth and heaven. The Tissue Paper Booth is a fairy spectacle. Miss Clara Fisher presides over it. Ten little girls, with five cents each, as original capital, managed to evolve from this amount a capital stock of $25, which, in turn, has developed this magical device of artistic beauty. The exclamations that fell from the lips of those who were grouped around this booth were a testimony to its original and charming effects. Pretty things for Christmas gifts are here sold at very low figures, as is the case also at the main Prismatic Booth, where fancy articles, wrought out in delicate patterns and fancies, exactly suited for holiday gifts, are labeled at prices that would barely cover the expense of material. Bureau sets of lovely workmanship were sold to admiring patrons, who declared that they never before got hold of such bargains. Mrs. McDonald and Misses Teller, Holden, Fisher, Childs and Pike, preside over this booth. The Floral Booth and miniature lake is the resort of the youthful visitors. It is rumored that many a grab has won for the fortunate "fisher" a prize well worth the fishing. Miss Runyon and Mrs. Runyon have the miniature lake in charge. The young folks had rare sport at this and the Candy Booth last evening. One young gentleman immortalized himself by the following guess at the conundrum, "Why is a lady like a ship?" "Because she needs to be well manned and well rigged." Misses Whipple and Fraser and Mrs. Watt have charge of this booth. A beautiful, large doll, a veritable princess of the blood in appearance, will be given to the one who is fortunate enough to guess the name which is contained in a sealed envelope. It is rumored that a test of mind-reading may be required to solve the hidden mystery. But one person knows the magic name of the lovely doll, who smiles serenely at the eager guessers. The Misses Forester, Latham, Macy and Bristol preside here. The refreshment table is liberally patronized, and "the cup that cheers but not inebriates" is said to be the most delicious coffee that ever came from household perfection in that line. The decorations of grain, fruit and vegetables are simply superb-the refinement of taste, as are those at the foot of the stage and in the galleries. Mesdames Carpenter, Whitman, McCoy, Jackson, Morton and Misses Bristol and Duncan are in charge. The Little Old Folks' Concert had for its director Freddie Barr, who was a great success. The soloists, Misses Laura Hutchins and Genevieve Marvin, and a petite little fairy, Lela Leonard, sang their songs with pleasing effect; the latter, in "Gaily the Troubador," won the enthusiastic plaudits of the audience by her infantile sweetness and naturalness, as well as the fidelity to her appointed part. The Prismette Minuet was the rainbow in human vesture-a pretty rhythmical and graceful panorama. This minuet was danced by pupils of Madame Mirasole: Misses Eugenia Brown, Dora Dewing, Gertrude Baldwin, Genevieve Marvin, Laura Ellis, Irma Green, Daisy Magary, Masters Ralston White, Howard Logan, August Drucker, Richard Hunt, George Shaw, Harvey Marvin, Joseph Marshall, Claude Meldrum. Both the concert and minuet will be repeated. This evening a concert will be given by the Bandurria Club and others, in addition to many other attractive features. The elaborately carved oak mantel donated to the President of the Asso. ciation by Colonel Francis A. Parker, of the Illinois Technical Training School, is being voted for with great ardor by the friends of the two competing charities, the Children's Hospital and the Boys and Girls' Aid Society. Mrs. Miller and Misses Williams and Luchsinger preside over this feature. It should be stated that the Helping Hand Society supports two Kindergartens under the Golden Gate Association, beside supplying the clothing in a large measure for the needy children of all the different kindergartens. The President of the Society is Mrs. D. W. Folger, at whose residence the weekly meetings are held all the year round. The Golden Gate Kindergarten Association now has seventeen kindergar tens under its charge, with a total annual enrollment of over fourteen hundred children. This evening a grand concert will be given, and to-morrow afternoon the programme of last evening will be repeated. This entertainment, in spite of three days of pouring rain, netted the Society over $600. Had the weather been even fairly pleasant, there is no doubt but twice that amount would have been realized. But the heroic workers, nothing daunted, are already planning still more delightful surprises for the future. The world belongs to earnest folks. As has been truly said, earnestness is the devotion of all the faculties. Earnestness is the cause of patience; it gives endurance, overcomes pain, strengthens weakness, braves dangers, sustains hope, makes light of difficulties, and lessens the sense of weariness in overcoming them. Such is the essential make-up of the earnest, enthusiastic members of the Helping Hand Society. To all such success comes as a natural heritage. OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF "HELPING HAND" SOCIETY. Miss Emily Britton, Miss Annie Forester, Miss Kittie Forester, Miss Edith Latham, Mrs. Wm. R. Morton, ANNUAL REPORT OF HELPING HAND, NO. 1. SAN FRANCISco, October 23, 1888. DEAR MRS. COOPER-It seems hardly possible that a year and more has passed since I first entered my dear little room. I remember so well the first morning of school, how delighted the children were with the pretty room and its beautiful decorations, and I am sure that the teacher was not far behind the scholars in appreciation of its loveliness. I do wish that every young lady belonging to the Helping Hand Society could have been there. I think they would have felt repaid for their work in fitting it up. The children sat with eyes and mouths wide open, gazing around in speechless admiration, until one of them broke the spell by saying: "Oh! teacher, it looks just like the church!" I must say that I did not think he was very far wrong, for I, too, felt that the place whereon I stood was holy ground! Never was I so deeply inpressed with the sacredness and responsibility of a Kindergartener's work as on that morning, when those little eyes looked up into mine, and seemed to be pleading for guidance in the right way. I wish to introduce you to my early work. After getting the children seated, and taking their names, I thought it would be well, while they were in that quiet mood, to teach them the words of a little morning prayer, that we have used a great deal in our own room ever since. We got along very nicely with it until we had nearly reached the end, when suddenly one of the boys jumped up. with the Declaration of Independence written all over his face, and stated that he was "the boss of his alley, and could lick any feller in it with one hand!" I was glad that he had given expression to his feelings even at that inopportune time, because it showed me what I had to deal with in him. All through the term he always insisted upon being the spokesman of the class, and often, in talking over things, when the children were trying to give me their views on the subject in question, he would wave his hand frantically, and say to the other children: "Now all yous keep still, and let me talk, for I'll tell you just how it is, 'cause I knows all about it." After the long vacation he entered the public school, and he often pays me flying visits at the noon hour. When he had been going to the public school for about two weeks, I asked him one day how he was getting along. His reply was characteristic. He said: "Oh, I'm doin' fine. I've been promoted already, and they give me the hardest things to do, because they know I'm smart. Soon as they saw me they knowed I come from the Kin dergarten." I used to call him my little philosopher; but I think Mrs. Folger or Mrs. Miller would recognize him as the boy without a handkerchief. And right here I should like to say a word to express my thanks to those little friends of the Helping Hand Society, who so kindly donated forty handkerchiefs, some of them "boughten" and some hemmed by their own hands. I don't suppose they have any conception of what a boon they conferred upon |