I woke by a gong at six this morning, and lay for a time listening to

the racket that twenty-five little girls made in the lavatory over my

head. It appears that they do not get baths,--just face-washes,--but

they make as much splashing as twenty-five puppies in a pool. I rose and

dressed and explored a bit. You were wise in not having me come to look

the place over before I engaged.

While my little charges were at breakfast, it seemed a happy time

to introduce myself; so I sought the dining room. Horror piled on

horror--those bare drab walls and oil-cloth-covered tables with tin

cups and plates and wooden benches, and, by way of decoration, that one

illuminated text, "The Lord Will Provide"! The trustee who added that

last touch must possess a grim sense of humor.

Really, Judy, I never knew there was any spot in the world so

entirely ugly; and when I saw those rows and rows of pale, listless,

blue-uniformed children, the whole dismal business suddenly struck

me with such a shock that I almost collapsed. It seemed like an

unachievable goal for one person to bring sunshine to one hundred little

faces when what they need is a mother apiece.

I plunged into this thing lightly enough, partly because you were too

persuasive, and mostly, I honestly think, because that scurrilous Gordon

Hallock laughed so uproariously at the idea of my being able to manage

an asylum. Between you all you hypnotized me. And then of course, after

I began reading up on the subject and visiting all those seventeen

institutions, I got excited over orphans, and wanted to put my own ideas

into practice. But now I'm aghast at finding myself here; it's such a

stupendous undertaking. The future health and happiness of a hundred

human beings lie in my hands, to say nothing of their three or four

hundred children and thousand grandchildren. The thing's geometrically

progressive. It's awful. Who am I to undertake this job? Look, oh, look

for another superintendent!

Jane says dinner's ready. Having eaten two of your institution meals,

the thought of another doesn't excite me.

LATER.

The staff had mutton hash and spinach, with tapioca pudding for dessert.

What the children had I hate to consider.

I started to tell you about my first official speech at breakfast this

morning. It dealt with all the wonderful new changes that are to come to

the John Grier Home through the generosity of Mr. Jervis Pendleton,

the president of our board of trustees, and of Mrs. Pendleton, the dear

"Aunt Judy" of every little boy and girl here.




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