dear enemy-第44章
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and laid him in the wagon that brought the ladders and started him home。
And the rest of us； left behind； kept right on with the work as though nothing had happened。 The queer thing about a calamity like this is that there is so much to be done on every side that you don't have a moment to think； and you don't get any of your values straightened out until afterward。 The doctor； without a moment's hesitation； had risked his life to save Allegra。 It was the bravest thing I ever saw； and yet the whole business occupied only fifteen minutes out of that dreadful night。 At the time； it was just an incident。
And he saved Allegra。 She came out of that blanket with rumpled hair and a look of pleased surprise at the new game of peek…a…boo。 She was smiling！ The child's escape was little short of a miracle。 The fire had started within three feet of her wall； but owing to the direction of the wind； it had worked away from her。 If Miss Snaith had believed a little more in fresh air and had left the window open； the fire would have eaten back。 But fortunately Miss Snaith does not believe in fresh air； and no such thing happened。 If Allegra had gone； I never should have forgiven myself for not letting the Bretlands take her； and I know that Sandy wouldn't。
Despite all the loss； I can't be anything but happy when I think of the two horrible tragedies that have been averted。 For seven minutes； while the doctor was penned in that blazing third floor； I lived through the agony of believing them both gone； and I start awake in the night trembling with horror。
But I'll try to tell you the rest。 The firemen and the volunteersparticularly the chauffeur and stablemen from Knowltopworked all night in an absolute frenzy。 Our newest negro cook； who is a heroine in her own right； went out and started the laundry fire and made up a boilerful of coffee。 It was her own idea。 The non…combatants served it to the firemen when they relieved one another for a few minutes' rest； and it helped。
We got the remainder of the children off to various hospitable houses； except the older boys； who worked all night as well as any one。 It was absolutely inspiring to see the way this entire township turned out and helped。 People who haven't appeared to know that the asylum existed came in the middle of the night and put their whole houses at our disposal。 They took the children in； gave them hot baths and hot soup； and tucked them into bed。 And so far as I can make out； not one of my one hundred and seven chicks is any the worse for hopping about on drenched floors in their bare feet； not even the whooping cough cases。
It was broad daylight before the fire was sufficiently under control to let us know just what we had saved。 I will report that my wing is entirely intact； though a little smoky； and the main corridor is pretty nearly all right up to the center staircase； after that everything is charred and drenched。 The east wing is a blackened； roofless shell。 Your hated Ward F； dear Judy； is gone forever。 I wish that you could obliterate it from your mind as absolutely as it is obliterated from the earth。 Both in substance and in spirit the old John Grier is done for。
I must tell you something funny。 I never saw so many funny things in my life as happened through that night。 When everybody there was in extreme negligee； most of the men in pajamas and ulsters； and all of them without collars； the Hon。 Cyrus Wykoff put in a tardy appearance； arrayed as for an afternoon tea。 He wore a pearl scarf pin and white spats！ But he really was extremely helpful。 He put his entire house at our disposal； and I turned over to him Miss Snaith in a state of hysterics； and her nerves so fully occupied him that he didn't get in our way the whole night through。
I can't write any more details now； I've never been so rushed in the whole of my life。 I'll just assure you that there's no slightest reason for you to cut your trip short。 Five trustees were on the spot early Saturday morning； and we are all working like mad to get affairs into some semblance of order。 Our asylum at the present moment is scattered over the entire township； but don't be unduly anxious。 We know where all the children are。 None of them is permanently mislaid。 I didn't know that perfect strangers could be so kind。 My opinion of the human race has gone up。
I haven't seen the doctor。 They telegraphed to New York for a surgeon； who set his leg。 The break was pretty bad； and will take time。 They don't think there are any internal injuries； though he is awfully battered up。 As soon as we are allowed to see him I will send more detailed particulars。 I really must stop if I am to catch tomorrow's steamer。
Good…by。 Don't worry。 There are a dozen silver linings to this cloud that I'll write about tomorrow。
SALLIE。
Good heavens！ here comes an automobile with J。 F。 Bretland in it！
THE JOHN GRIER HOME；
January 14。 Dear Judy：
Listen to this！ J。 F。 Bretland read about our fire in a New York paper （I will say that the metropolitan press made the most of details）； and he posted up here in a twitter of anxiety。 His first question as he tumbled across our blackened threshold was；
〃Is Allegra safe？〃
〃Yes；〃 said I。
〃Thank God！〃 he cried； and dropped into a chair。 〃This is no place for children；〃 he said severely； 〃and I have come to take her home。 I want the boys； too；〃 he added hastily before I had a chance to speak。 〃My wife and I have talked it over； and we have decided that since we are going to the trouble of starting a nursery； we might as well run it for three as for one。〃
I led him up to my library； where our little family has been domiciled since the fire； and ten minutes later； when I was called down to confer with the trustees； I left J。 F。 Bretland with his new daughter on his knee and a son leaning against each arm； the proudest father in the United States。
So； you see； our fire has accomplished one thing： those three children are settled for life。 It is almost worth the loss。
But I don't believe I told you how the fire started。 There are so many things I haven't told you that my arm aches at the thought of writing them all。 Sterry； we have since discovered； was spending the week end as our guest。 After a bibulous evening passed at 〃Jack's Place；〃 he returned to our carriage house； climbed in through a window； lighted a candle； made himself comfortable； and dropped asleep。 He must have forgotten to put out the candle； anyway； the fire happened； and Sterry just escaped with his life。 He is now in the town hospital； bathed in sweet oil； and painfully regretting his share in our troubles。
I am pleased to learn that our insurance was pretty adequate； so the money loss won't be so tremendous； after all。 As for other kinds of loss； there aren't any！ Actually； nothing but gain so far as I can make out； barring； of course； our poor smashed…up doctor。 Everybody has been wonderful； I didn't know that so much charity and kindness existed in the human race。 Did I ever say anything against trustees？ I take it back。 Four of them posted up from New York the morning after the fire； and all of the local people have been wonderful。 Even the Hon。 Cy has been so occupied in remaking the morals of the five orphans quartered upon him that he hasn't caused any trouble at all。
The fire occurred early Saturday morning； and Sunday the ministers in all the churches called for volunteers to accept in their houses one or two children as guests for three weeks； until the asylum could get its plant into working order again。
It was inspiring to see the response。 Every child was disposed of within half an hour。 And consider what that means for the future： every one of those families is going to take a personal interest in this asylum from now on。 Also； consider what it means for the children。 They are finding out how a real family lives； and this is the first time that dozens of them have ever crossed the threshold of a private house。
As for more permanent plans to take us through the winte
