The girls' sewing classes are also in progress. A circle of benches
under the copper beech tree accommodates the hand sewers, while the big
girls take turns at our three machines. Just as soon as they gain
some proficiency we will begin the glorious work of redressing the
institution. I know you think I'm slow, but it's really a task to
accomplish one hundred and eighty new frocks. And the girls will
appreciate them so much more if they do the work themselves.
I may also report that our hygiene system has risen to a high level. Dr.
MacRae has introduced morning and evening exercises, and a glass of milk
and a game of tag in the middle of school hours. He has instituted a
physiology class, and has separated the children into small groups, so
that they may come to his house, where he has a manikin that comes apart
and shows all its messy insides. They can now rattle off scientific
truths about their little digestions as fluently as Mother Goose rhymes.
We are really becoming too intelligent for recognition. You would never
guess that we were orphans to hear us talk; we are quite like Boston
children.
2 P.M.
O Judy, such a calamity! Do you remember several weeks ago I told you
about placing out a nice little girl in a nice family home where I
hoped she would be adopted? It was a kind Christian family living in
a pleasant country village, the foster-father a deacon in the church.
Hattie was a sweet, obedient, housewifely little body, and it looked
as though we had exactly fitted them to each other. My dear, she was
returned this morning for STEALING. Scandal piled on scandal: SHE HAD
STOLEN A COMMUNION CUP FROM CHURCH!
Between her sobs and their accusations it took me half an hour to gather
the truth. It seems that the church they attend is very modern and
hygienic, like our doctor, and has introduced individual communion cups.
Poor little Hattie had never heard of communion in her life. In fact,
she wasn't very used to church, Sunday-school having always sufficed for
her simple religious needs. But in her new home she attended both, and
one day, to her pleased surprise, they served refreshments. But they
skipped her. She made no comment, however; she is used to being skipped.
But as they were starting home she saw that the little silver cup had
been casually left in the seat, and supposing that it was a souvenir
that you could take if you wished, she put it into her pocket.
It came to light two days later as the most treasured ornament of her
doll's-house. It seems that Hattie long ago saw a set of doll's dishes
in a toy shop window, and has ever since dreamed of possessing a set of
her own. The communion cup was not quite the same, but it answered.
Now, if our family had only had a little less religion and a little more
sense, they would have returned the cup, perfectly unharmed, and have
marched Hattie to the nearest toy shop and bought her some dishes. But
instead, they bundled the child and her belongings into the first train
they could catch, and shoved her in at our front door, proclaiming
loudly that she was a thief.