(seq. 43)

COPY

Sunday, December 25th, 1949

Dear Miss O'Keefe,

It was an unpleasant surprise to learn of your illness and
sudden operation. Everything is strange around here without you
presence and the sound of your voice, speaking in that curt way you
do cometimes when you want an order enforced. But we don't mind
how abrupt you are on occasion - we love it. And we dont' mind
taking orders from you and obeying them to the letter. We don't
mind, because we know that underneath you are very kind and humane
and that what you do is sincerely for our best interest.

Little did we realize when we were running in and out of your
office, with our numerous petty complaints etc., and you were
patiently listening to us with understanding and ironing out our
mental wrinkles for us - that you were suffering silently.

How selfish we have been. When you looked tired and sick, we
thought to ourselves, "Oh she just has a headache or a cold coming
on, nothing serious". She will listen to my problem and I will get
hew viewpoint or counsel on the issue today. We did not realize
that you had problems too and mightlike a little rest from the buzz
of our never ending beefs. It took something like this to make us
realize how very much you mean to us.

You are a close second to Dr. Van Waters in the category of a
humanitarian. Both of you are the pillars of the mansion builded
here. Without you both the place would crumble and the remains
would be tragic. it would again become a place of torture, heart-
ache and misery ruled by devils instead of two guiding angels.
There would be no more happy faces and sounds of music and laughter
everywhere. This place would again become a cold and silent prison
with hundreds of sad eyed girls. Suffering and pain would be written
on their faces and one glance would tell that they were too stunned
with sorrow and grief to even contemplate on a sound future for them-
selves. The sound of crying would be heard daily. Laughter would be
a rare thing. I think most of us realize all this and what a precious
gem you are in our setting here.

So please get strong and well and come back to us soon.

Your devoted student

/s/ Madeline Donnelly