As to the remnant of us that the fire left behind, it is
already boarded up and covered with tar-paper, and we are living
along quite comfortably in our portion of a house. It affords
sufficient room for the staff and the children's dining room and
kitchen, and more permanent plans can be made later.

Do you perceive what has happened to us? The good Lord has
heard my prayer, and the John Grier Home is a cottage
institution!


I am,

The busiest person north of the equator,

S. McBRIDE.


THE JOHN GRIER HOME,

January 16.
Dear Gordon:

Please, please behave yourself, and don't make things harder than
they are. It's absolutely out of the question for me to give up
the asylum this instant. You ought to realize that I can't
abandon my chicks just when they are so terribly in need of me.
Neither am I ready to drop this blasted philanthropy. (You can
see how your language looks in my handwriting!)