dear enemy-第40章
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t now lacks is a coat of paint and some doorknobs。
But； oh dear！ oh dear！ another bubble has burst！ Mrs Turnfelt； for all her comfortable figure and sunny smile； hates to have children messing about。 They make her nervous。 And as for Turnfelt himself； though industrious and methodical and an excellent gardener； still； his mental processes are not quite what I had hoped for。 When he first came； I made him free of the library。 He began at the case nearest the door； which contains thirty…seven volumes of Pansy's works。 Finally； after he had spent four months on Pansy； I suggested a change； and sent him home with 〃Huckleberry Finn。〃 But he brought it back in a few days； and shook his head。 He says that after reading Pansy； anything else seems tame。 I am afraid I shall have to look about for some one a little more up…and…coming。 But at least； compared with Sterry； Turnfelt is a scholard！
And speaking of Sterry； he paid us a social call a few days ago； in quite a chastened frame of mind。 It seems that the 〃rich city feller〃 whose estate he has been managing no longer needs his services； and Sterry has graciously consented to return to us and let the children have gardens if they wish。 I kindly； but convincingly； declined his offer。
Friday。
I came back from Pleasantville last night with a heart full of envy。 Please； Mr。 President； I want some gray stucco cottages； with Luca della Robbia figures baked into the front。 They have nearly 700 children there； and all sizable youngsters。 Of course that makes a very different problem from my hundred and seven； ranging from babyhood up。 But I borrowed from their superintendent several very fancy ideas。 I'm dividing my chicks into big and little sisters and brothers； each big one to have a little one to love and help and fight for。 Big sister Sadie Kate has to see that little sister Gladiola always has her hair neatly combed and her stockings pulled up and knows her lessons and gets a touch of petting and her share of candyvery pleasant for Gladiola； but especially developing for Sadie Kate。
Also I am going to start among our older children a limited form of self…government such as we had in college。 That will help fit them to go out into the world and govern themselves when they get there。 This shoving children into the world at the age of sixteen seems terribly merciless。 Five of my children are ready to be shoved； but I can't bring myself to do it。 I keep remembering my own irresponsible silly young self； and wondering what would have happened to me had I been turned out to work at the age of sixteen！
I must leave you now to write an interesting letter to my politician in Washington； and it's hard work。 What have I to say that will interest a politician？ I can't do anything any more but babble about babies； and he wouldn't care if every baby was swept from the face of the earth。 Oh； yes； he would； too！ I'm afraid I'm slandering him。 Babiesat least boy babiesgrow into voters。
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
