like the feeling that I'm of use in the world.
There's something constructive and optimistic about working with
children; that is, if you look at it from my cheerful point of view,
and not from our Scotch doctor's. I've never seen anybody like that man;
he's always pessimistic and morbid and down. It's best not to be too
intelligent about insanity and dipsomania and all the other hereditary
details. I am just about ignorant enough to be light-hearted and
effective in a place like this.

The thought of all of these little lives expanding in every direction
eternally thrills me. There are so many possibilities in our
child garden for every kind of flower. It has been planted rather
promiscuously, to be sure, but though we undoubtedly shall gather
a number of weeds, we are also hoping for some rare and beautiful
blossoms. Am I not growing sentimental? It is due to hunger--and there
goes the dinner-gong! We are going to have a delicious meal: roast beef
and creamed carrots and beet greens, with rhubarb pie for dessert. Would
you not like to dine with me? I should love to have you.

Most cordially yours,

S. McB.

P.S. You should see the number of poor homeless cats that these children
want to adopt. We had four when I came, and they have all had kittens
since. I haven't taken an exact census, but I think the institution
possesses nineteen.

April 15. My dear Judy:

You'd like to make another slight donation to the J. G. H. out of
the excess of last month's allowance? BENE! Will you kindly have the
following inserted in all low-class metropolitan dailies:

Notice!
To Parents Planning to Abandon their Children:
Please do it before they have reached their third year.

I can't think of any action on the part of abandoning parents that would
help us more effectually. This having to root up evil before you begin
planting good is slow, discouraging work.

We have one child here who has almost floored me; but I WILL NOT
acknowledge myself beaten by a child of five. He alternates between
sullen moroseness, when he won't speak a word, and the most violent
outbursts of temper, when he smashes everything within reach. He has
been here only three months, and in that time he has destroyed nearly
every piece of bric-a-brac in the institution--not, by the way, a great
loss to art.

A month or so before I came he pulled the tablecloth from the officers'
table while the girl in charge was in the co