oard　of　trustees；　kindly　supply　all　of　this　at　your　earliest　convenience。
  Here　follows　the　history　of　the　case：
  The　winter　season　still　being　with　us　when　I　arrived　and　farming　activities　at　a　low　ebb；　I　have　heretofore　paid　little　attention　to　Robert　Sterry　except　to　note　on　two　occasions　that　his　pigpens　needed　cleaning；　but　today　I　sent　for　him　to　come　and　consult　with　me　in　regard　to　spring　planting。
  Sterry　came；　as　requested；　and　seated　himself　at　ease　in　my　office　with　his　hat　upon　his　head。　　I　suggested　as　tactfully　as　might　be　that　he　remove　it；　an　entirely　necessary　request；　as　little　orphan　boys　were　in　and　out　on　errands；　and　〃hats　off　in　the　house〃　is　our　first　rule　in　masculine　deportment。
  Sterry　complied　with　my　request；　and　stiffened　himself　to　be　against　whatever　I　might　desire。
  I　proceeded　to　the　subject　in　hand；　namely；　that　the　diet　of　the　John　Grier　Home　in　the　year　to　come　is　to　consist　less　exclusively　of　potatoes。　　At　which　our　farmer　grunted　in　the　manner　of　the　Hon。　Cyrus　Wykoff；　only　it　was　a　less　ethereal　and　gentlemanly　grunt　than　a　trustee　permits　himself。　　I　enumerated　corn　and　beans　and　onions　and　peas　and　tomatoes　and　beets　and　carrots　and　turnips　as　desirable　substitutes。
  Sterry　observed　that　if　potatoes　and　cabbages　was　good　enough　for　him；　he　guessed　they　was　good　enough　for　charity　children。
  I　proceeded　imperturbably　to　say　that　the　two…acre　potato　field　was　to　be　plowed　and　fertilized；　and　laid　out　into　sixty　individual　gardens；　the　boys　assisting　in　the　work。
  At　that　Sterry　exploded。　　The　two…acre　field　was　the　most　fertile　and　valuable　piece　of　earth　on　the　whole　place。　　He　guessed　if　I　was　to　break　that　up　into　play　gardens　for　the　children　to　mess　about　in；　I'd　be　hearing　about　it　pretty　danged　quick　from　the　board　of　trustees。　　That　field　was　fitted　for　potatoes；　it　had　always　raised　potatoes；　and　it　was　going　to　continue　to　raise　them　just　as　long　as　he　had　anything　to　say　about　it。
  〃You　have　nothing　whatever　to　say　about　it；〃　I　amiably　replied。　　〃I　have　decided　that　the　two…acre　field　is　the　best　plot　to　use　for　the　children's　gardens；　and　you　and　the　potatoes　will　have　to　give　way。〃
  Whereupon　he　rose　in　a　storm　of　bucolic　wrath；　and　said　he'd　be　gol　darned　if　he'd　have　a　lot　of　these　danged　city　brats　interfering　with　his　work。
  I　explainedvery　calmly　for　a　red…haired　person　with　Irish　forebearsthat　this　place　was　run　for　the　exclusive　benefit　of　these　children；　that　the　children　were　not　here　to　be　exploited　for　the　benefit　of　the　place；　a　philosophy　which　he　did　not　grasp；　though　my　fancy　city　language　had　a　slightly　dampening　effect。　　I　added　that　what　I　required　in　a　farmer　was　the　ability　and　patience　to　instruct　the　boys　in　gardening　and　simple　outdoor　work；　that　I　wished　a　man　of　large　sympathies　whose　example　would　be　an　inspiring　influence　to　these　children　of　the　city　streets。
  Sterry；　pacing　about　like　a　caged　woodchuck；　launched　into　a　tirade　about　silly　Sunday…school　notions；　and；　by　a　transition　which　I　did　not　grasp；　passed　to　a　review　of　the　general　subject　of　woman's　suffrage。　　I　gathered　that　he　is　not　in　favor　of　the　movement。　　I　let　him　argue　himself　quiet；　then　I　handed　him　a　check　for　his　wages；　and　told　him　to　vacate　the　tenant　house　by　twelve　o'clock　next　Wednesday。
  Sterry　says　he'll　be　danged　if　he　will。　　（Excuse　so　many　DANGEDS。　　It　is　the　creature's　only　adjective。）　　He　was　engaged　to　work　for　this　institution　by　the　president　of　the　board　of　trustees；　and　he　will　not　move　from　that　house　until　the　president　of　the　board　of　trustees　tells　him　to　go。　　I　don't　think　poor　Sterry　realizes　that　since　his　arrival　a　new　president　has　come　to　the　throne。
  ALORS　you　have　the　story。　　I　make　no　threats；　but　Sterry　or　McBridetake　your　choice；　dear　sir。
  I　am　also　about　to　write　to　the　head　of　the　Massachusetts　Agricultural　College；　at　Amherst；　asking　him　to　recommend　a　good；　practical　man　with　a　nice；　efficient；　cheerful　wife；　who　will　take　the　entire　care　of　our　modest　domain　of　seventeen　acres；　and　who　will　be　a　man　with　the　right　personality　to　place　over　our　boys。
  If　we　get　the　farming　end　of　this　institution　into　running　shape；　it　ought　to　furnish　not　only　beans　and　onions　for　the　table；　but　education　for　our　hands　and　brains。
  I　remain；　sir；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours　most　truly；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　S。　　McBRIDE；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Superintendent　of　the　John　Grier　Home。
  P。S。　　I　think　that　Sterry　will　probably　come　back　some　night　and　throw　rocks　through　the　windows。　　Shall　I　have　them　insured？
  My　dear　Enemy：
  You　disappeared　so　quickly　this　afternoon　that　I　had　no　chance　to　thank　you；　but　the　echoes　of　that　discharge　penetrated　as　far　as　my　library。　　Also；　I　have　viewed　the　debris。　　What　on　earth　did　you　do　to　poor　Sterry？　　Watching　the　purposeful　set　of　your　shoulders　as　you　strode　toward　the　carriage　house；　I　was　filled　with　sudden　compunction。　　I　did　not　want　the　man　murdered；　merely　reasoned　with。　　I　am　afraid　you　were　a　little　harsh。
  However；　your　technic　seems　to　have　been　effective。　　Report　says　that　he　has　telephoned　for　a　moving　wagon　and　that　Mrs。　Sterry　is　even　now　on　her　hands　and　knees　ripping　up　the　parlor　carpet。
  For　this　relief　much　thanks。
  SALLIE　McBRIDE。
  April　26。　Dear　Jervis：
  Your　vigorous　telegram　was；　after　all；　not　needed。　　Dr。　Robin　MacRae；　who　is　a　grand　PAWKY　mon　when　it　comes　to　a　fight；　accomplished　the　business　with　beautiful　directness。　　I　was　so　bubbling　with　rage　that　immediately　after　writing　to　you　I　called　up　the　doctor　on　the　telephone；　and　rehearsed　the　whole　business　over　again。　　Now；　our　Sandy；　whatever　his　failings　（and　he　has　them）；　does　have　an　uncommon　supply　of　common　sense。　　He　knows　how　useful　those　gardens　are　going　to　be；　and　how　worse　than　useless　Sterry　was。　　Also　says　he；　〃The　superintendent's　authority　must　be　upheld。〃　　（That；　incidentally；　is　beautiful；　coming　from　him。）　　But　anyway；　those　were　his　words。　　And　he　hung　up　the　receiver；　cranked　up　his　car；　and　flew　up　here　at　lawless　speed。　　He　marched　straight　to　Sterry；　impelled　by　a　fine　Scotch　rage；　and　he　discharged　the　man　with　such　vigor　and　precision；　that　the　carriage　house　window　was　shattered　to　fragments。
  Since　this　morning　at　eleven；　when　Sterry's　wagonload　of　furniture　rumbled　out　of　the　gates；　a　sweet　peace　has　reigned　over　the　J。　G。　H。　　A　man　from　the　village　is　helping　us　out　while　we　hopefully　await　the　farmer　of　our　dreams。
  I　am　sorry　to　have　troubled　you　with　our　troubles。　　Tell　Judy　that　she　owes　me　a　letter；　and　won't　hear　from　until　she　has　paid　it。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Your　ob'd't　servant；
  S。　McBRIDE。
  Dear　Judy：
  In　my　letter　of　yesterday　to　Jervis　I　forgotted　（Punch's　word）　to　convey　to　you　our　thanks　for　three　tin　bathtubs。　　The　skyblue　tub　with　poppies　on　the　side　adds　a　particularly　bright　note　to　the　nursery。　　I　do　love　presents　for　the　babies　that　are　too　big　to　be　swallowed。
  You　will　be　pleased　to　hear　that　our　manual　training　is　well　under　way。　　The　carpenter　benches　are　being　installed　in　the　old　primary　room；　and　until　our　schoolhouse　gets　its　new　addition；　our　primary　class　is　meeting　on　the　front　porch；　in　accordance　with　Miss　Matthew's　able　suggestion。
  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　indiv