daddy long legs

Chapter 2 Blue Wednesday
The first Wednesday of every month is a bad day--it's a day to wait in worry, endure bravely, and then forget in the rush.On this day, the floor of every floor must be spotless, every chair must be clean and shiny, and all sheets must not have half a wrinkle.And ninety-seven little orphans jumping around, washed and dressed in starched plaid shirts, and told to be polite.Answer questions from the trustees by saying, "Yes, sir." "No, sir."

It was a depressing day, and poor Jerusha Albert, certainly the oldest orphan in the orphanage, was even more unlucky.However, this special Wednesday is finally over.Jerusha had left the kitchen, where she had just made sandwiches for the visitors, and was running back upstairs to finish her daily routine.She was in charge of Room 6, where there were 11 little ones aged 4 to 7 and 11 cots arranged in a row.Jerusha called them over with some difficulty, straightened their rumpled clothes, wiped their noses, lined up, and led them to the dining-room, where they had a good half hour to drink milk, Eat bread and plum pudding.

She slumped tiredly on the chair on the window sill, pressing her swollen and aching temples against the cold glass.

Since 5 o'clock in the morning, her hands and feet have been constantly busy, obeying everyone's orders, and being scolded by the neurotic female supervisor from time to time.In private, Mrs. Lippy was not as calm and dignified as she was in front of the trustees and visiting ladies.Jerusha's eyes flicked across the frozen open grass beyond the high iron railings of the orphanage, and she saw the rolling peaks in the distance, scattered cottages on the hills, and the spiers of the houses exposed among the bare trees.

The day was over—as far as she could tell it was a happy ending, because nothing had gone wrong.The directors and the visiting group have already visited, listened to the report, and drank tea. Now they are busy rushing back to the warm fire of their own house. It will take at least another month before they think of these torturous little ones who need their care. guy.Jerusha leaned on the window sill, watching curiously a series of carriages and cars passing through the gate of the orphanage.She couldn't help but fantasize.

She imagined that she followed one car after another to the densely packed houses at the foot of the mountain.She saw herself in a mink coat and silk hat trimmed with velvet leaning on the seat of the car, casually saying to the driver, "Go home!" But when she got to the door of the house, the whole picture became blurred up.

Jerusha liked to fantasize--Mrs. Lippy said fantasies could get her into trouble if she wasn't careful.But no amount of her imagination could lead her through the doors she longed to enter, and she remained on the porch.Poor little adventurous Jerusha had never been in a home in all her seventeen years.She couldn't imagine what other people's daily life would be like without the interference of orphans.

"Jo... Jo... Rosa... A... Bur... Te
someone wants... you
go to the office,

And I thought,

You better move fast! "

Tommy Dylan had just joined the choir, and he sang along the stairs and corridors, getting louder as he made his way to Room 6.Jerusha withdrew her thoughts from the window and faced life's troubles again.

"Who's calling me?" she asked eagerly, interrupting Tommy's humming.

"Mrs Lippy of the office,
I think she's very angry,
Amen! "

Tommy was still drawling, and there was no gloating in his tone.Even the most hard-hearted little orphan would pity the wronged sister, for she was going to see the nasty dean.Besides, Tommy was fond of Jerusha, even though she occasionally pulled his arm hard and almost wiped his nose off when she washed him!
Jerusha walked away in silence, two lines appearing on her brow.She wondered what went wrong, wasn't the sandwich sliced ​​thin enough?Or is there a crust in the almond cake?Or which visiting lady saw the hole in Suzie Watson's stocking?Or... oops, oops!Did the mischievous babes in Room 6 get sauce on the director?

The lights had gone out in the low hallway, and when she came down, the last of the trustees was standing there, about to leave.He was standing in front of the gate leading to the outside of the courtyard. Jerusha took a look at this man and felt only one thing - high.He was waving to a waiting car outside the yard. When the car started, the dazzling lights cast his shadow on the wall of the house. The weird shadow stretched his hands and feet, and his comical appearance extended from the floor to the wall of the corridor. superior.It looks like what people commonly call "Daddy Long Legs" - a dangling big spider.

Jerusha immediately frowned and laughed happily.She is a naturally optimistic girl who can make her laugh out loud at little things.It was a surprise to find a joke in a depressing director.The episode pleased her so much that she entered the office with a smile on her face when she saw Mrs. Lippy.Unexpectedly, the dean was also smiling at her, even if it wasn't a real smile, but his expression was kind.She is almost as kind as she is to her visiting guests.

"Jorosha, sit down, I have something to say to you."

Jerusha sat in the nearest chair, waiting with bated breath.A car drove by the window, and the light flashed through the window.Mrs. Lippi stared at the passing car and asked, "Did you notice the gentleman who just left?"

"I saw his back."

"He was one of the wealthiest men on the board and had donated large sums of money to the orphanage. I can't tell you his name because he specifically asked not to be named."

Jerusha opened her eyes slightly.She was not used to being called into the office by the dean to discuss the eccentricities of the trustees.

"This gentleman took great care of the boys in the orphanage. You remember Charlie Bunton and Henry Fritz? They were both sent to college by this gentleman... oh, the trustee. Both All very hardworking, and rewarding his generosity with good grades. This gentleman asks for nothing else. So far his kindness has been limited to boys, and I have never been able to make him pay attention to girls, No matter how good they are. I can tell you he has no interest in girls."

"Yes, ma'am," murmured Jerusha, for the question seemed to require her answer at the moment.

"At today's regular meeting, someone mentioned your whereabouts."

Mrs. Lippi paused for a moment, and then proceeded slowly.This made her listeners suddenly tense and painful.

"Normally, you know, kids can't stay here after they're 16, but you're an exception. You finished your orphanage course at 14 with good grades - but I have to say, your conduct Didn’t always do well – so we keep you going to the village high school. Now that you’re graduating, we can’t continue to pay for your living expenses. Even so, you’ve got two more years of education than everyone else.”

Mrs. Lippy did not mention at all that Jerusha worked extremely hard for her own board and lodging for two years.Orphanage work always comes first, homework comes second.As long as it is a day like today, she has to stay and clean up.

"As I said earlier, the question of your whereabouts was raised, and your performance was discussed -- thoroughly discussed."

Mrs. Lippi stared reproachfully at her prisoner, and the prisoner also acted guilty, not because she had done anything wrong, but because Mrs. Lippy felt that she needed it.

"Of course, for you, we can arrange a job at random, but when you were in school, you were outstanding in some subjects, and your English writing was even very good. Miss Pritchar happened to be on the visiting group, and she was also a member of the council. member, she talked to your composition teacher and said a lot of good things about you because she read one of your compositions called "Blue Wednesday."

Now Jorusha really pleaded guilty.

"I think you're gifted at laughing at the orphanage that's done so much for you, without showing an iota of gratitude. If you weren't so amused, I suspect few would be willing to forgive you. But thanks to the gentleman, who just The gentleman who left showed a great sense of humor. That rude article made him willing to let you go to college."

"College?" Jerusha's eyes widened in disbelief.

Mrs. Lippy nodded.

"He stayed and discussed the terms with me. The terms are very unusual. I think this gentleman is a bit eccentric. He thinks you have some talent for writing and wants to train you to be a writer."

"A writer?" Jerusha's mind went numb, and she could only repeat what Mrs. Lippy had said.

"That's just his hope. How it turns out, you will know later. He will give you enough pocket money, which is really too generous for a girl who has never dealt with money. But he arranges these trivial matters It is very comprehensive, and I can hardly raise any objections. You stay here this summer, and the kind Miss Pritchar promises to help you buy new clothes. Your board, lodging and tuition fees will be paid directly to the school by that gentleman. During your 4 years, you still have an allowance of $35 per month, which is enough to put you on an equal footing with other students. Every month, this gentleman's private secretary will send you this money, and you will have to ask for it every month. Write him a letter. It's not that you need to thank him, he doesn't care about it, you write to tell others about your studies and the details of your daily life, just like you would write to your parents, if they still alive."

"These letters were addressed to Mr. John Smith, forwarded by his secretary. The gentleman's real name was of course not John Smith, as he wished to remain anonymous. To you he will always be Mr. John Smith. He asks you The reason for writing the letter is that he believes that there is nothing better than writing letters to cultivate people's writing ability. Since you have no relatives to contact, he hopes that you can do this. In addition, he also wants to know your learning situation at any time. He won't write back or find fault with your letters. He hates writing letters, but he doesn't want them to be a burden to you. If there is an emergency that requires him to respond - like you get expelled from school, I think This should not happen—you can contact his secretary, Mr. Gritz. It is an absolute obligation for you to write a letter every month, and it is the only requirement of Mr. Smith. So you must Meticulous, delivered on time, just like paying the bills. I hope you will always maintain a respectful tone and use your writing skills well. You must remember that your letter is addressed to the John Gorier Orphanage director."

Jerusha anxiously searched for the door. She was already a little dizzy with excitement, and now she just wanted to escape from Mrs. Lippi's cliché and think about it.She stood up and took a tentative step back.Mrs. Lippi raised her hand to signal her to stay. How could such a good educational opportunity be let go?

"I believe you will be grateful for this good luck that fell from the sky, right? There are very few girls of your birth in the world who can encounter such good luck. You must keep in mind..."

"I will, ma'am, thank you very much. I think, if nothing else, I'll have to mend the patch on Freddie Birkin's trousers."

She closed the door and left, and Mrs. Lippie had to swallow her interrupted speech and stare at the door dumbfounded—her speech had just begun.

(End of this chapter)