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Good…by；
SALLIE。
Dearest Judy：
If you expect a cheerful letter from me the day； don't read this。
The life of man is a wintry road。 Fog； snow； rain； slush； drizzle； coldsuch weather！ such weather！ And you in dear Jamaica with the sunshine and the orange blossoms！
We've got whooping cough； and you can hear us whoop when you get off the train two miles away。 We don't know how we got it just one of the pleasures of institution life。 Cook has left； in the night；what the Scotch call a 〃moonlight flitting。〃 I don't know how she got her trunk away； but it's gone。 The kitchen fire went with her。 The pipes are frozen。 The plumbers are here； and the kitchen floor is all ripped up。 One of our horses has the spavin。 And； to crown all； our cheery； resourceful Percy is down； down； down in the depths of despair。 We have not been quite certain for three days past whether we could keep him from suicide。 The girl in Detroit；I knew she was a heartless little minx；without so much as going through the formality of sending back his ring； has gone and married herself to a man and a couple of automobiles and a yacht。 It is the best thing that could ever have happened to Percy； but it will be a long； long time before he realizes it。
We have our twenty…four Indians back in the house with us。 I was sorry to have to bring them in； but the shacks were scarcely planned for winter quarters。 I have stowed them away very comfortably； however； thanks to the spacious iron verandas surrounding our new fire…escape。 It was a happy idea of Jervis's having them glassed in for sleeping porches。 The babies' sun parlor is a wonderful addition to our nursery。 We can fairly see the little tots bloom under the influence of that extra air and sunshine。
With the return of the Indians to civilized life； Percy's occupation was ended； and he was supposed to remove himself to the hotel。 But he didn't want to remove himself。 He has got used to orphans； he says； and he would miss not seeing them about。 I think the truth is that he is feeling so miserable over his wrecked engagement that he is afraid to be alone。 He needs something to occupy every waking moment out of banking hours。 And goodness knows we're glad enough to keep him！ He has been wonderful with those youngsters； and they need a man's influence。
But what on earth to do with the man？ As you discovered last summer； this spacious chateau does not contain a superabundance of guest rooms。 He has finally fitted himself into the doctor's laboratory； and the medicines have moved themselves to a closet down the hall。 He and the doctor fixed it up between them； and if they are willing to be mutually inconvenienced； I have no fault to find。
Mercy！ I've just looked at the calendar； and it's the eighteenth； with Christmas only a week away。 However shall we finish all our plans in a week？ The chicks are making presents for one another； and something like a thousand secrets have been whispered in my ear。
Snow last night。 The boys have spent the morning in the woods； gathering evergreens and drawing them home on sleds； and twenty girls are spending the afternoon in the laundry； winding wreaths for the windows。 I don't know how we are going to do our washing this week。 We were planning to keep the Christmas tree a secret； but fully fifty children have been boosted up to the carriage house window to take a peep at it； and I am afraid the news has spread among the remaining fifty。
At your insistence； we have sedulously fostered the Santa Claus myth； but it doesn't meet with much credence。 〃Why didn't he ever come before？〃 was Sadie Kate's skeptical question。 But Santa Claus is undoubtedly coming this time。 I asked the doctor； out of politeness； to play the chief role at our Christmas tree； and being certain ahead of time that he was going to refuse； I had already engaged Percy as an understudy。 But there is no counting on a Scotchman。 Sandy accepted with unprecedented graciousness； and I had privately to unengage Percy！
Tuesday。
Isn't it funny； the way some inconsequential people have of pouring out whatever happens to be churning about in their minds at the moment？ They seem to have no residue of small talk； and are never able to dismiss a crisis in order to discuss the weather。
This is apropos of a call I received today。 A woman had come to deliver her sister's childsister in a sanatorium for tuberculosis； we to keep the child until the mother is cured； though I fear； from what I hear； that will never be。 But； anyway； all the arrangements had been made； and the woman had merely to hand in the little girl and retire。 But having a couple of hours between trains； she intimated a desire to look about； so I showed her the kindergarten rooms and the little crib that Lily will occupy； and our yellow dining room； with its frieze of bunnies； in order that she might report as many cheerful details as possible to the poor mother。 After this； as she seemed tired； I socially asked her to walk into my parlor and have a cup of tea。 Doctor MacRae； being at hand and in a hungry mood （a rare state for him； he now condescends to a cup of tea with the officers of this institution about twice a month）； came； too； and we had a little party。
The woman seemed to feel that the burden of entertainment rested upon her； and by way of making conversation； she told us that her husband had fallen in love with the girl who sold tickets at a moving picture show （a painted； yellow…haired thing who chewed gum like a cow； was her description of the enchantress）； and he spent all of his money on the girl； and never came home except when he was drunk。 Then he smashed the furniture something awful。 An easel； with her mother's picture on it； that she had had since before she was married； he had thrown down just for the pleasure of hearing it crash。 And finally she had just got too tired to live； so she drank a bottle of swamp root because somebody had told her it was poison if you took it all at once。 But it didn't kill her； it only made her sick。 And he came back； and said he would choke her if she ever tried that on him again； so she guessed he must still care something for her。 All this quite casually while she stirred her tea。
I tried to think of something to say； but it was a social exigency that left me dumb。 But Sandy rose to the occasion like a gentleman。 He talked to her beautifully and sanely； and sent her away actually uplifted。 Our Sandy； when he tries； can be exceptionally nice； particularly to people who have no claim upon him。 I suppose it is a matter of professional etiquette part of a doctor's business to heal the spirit as well as the body。 Most spirits appear to need it in this world。 My caller has left me needing it。 I have been wondering ever since what I should do if I married a man who deserted me for a chewing gum girl； and who came home and smashed the bric…a…brac。 I suppose； judging from the theaters this winter； that it is a thing that might happen to any one； particularly in the best society。
You ought