--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dear Judy: Your letter is here. I have…" description: "\"“Dear Judy: Your letter is here. I have read it twice, and with amazement. Do I understand that Jervis has given you, for a Christmas present, the maki..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/jean-webster-7791_christmas-present_dear-judy-your-letter-is-here-i-have-rea_2240820.jpg" --- # Dear Judy: Your letter is here. I have read it twice, and… ![“Dear Judy: Your letter is here. I have read it twice, and with amazement. Do I understand that Jervis has given you, for a Christmas present, the making over of the John Grier Home into a model institution, and that you have chosen me to disburse the money? Me - I, Sallie McBride, the head of an…” quote by Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/jean-webster-7791_christmas-present_dear-judy-your-letter-is-here-i-have-rea_2240820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/jean-webster-7791_christmas-present_dear-judy-your-letter-is-here-i-have-rea_2240820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/jean-webster-7791_christmas-present_dear-judy-your-letter-is-here-i-have-rea_2240820.jpg) > ““Dear Judy: Your letter is here. I have read it twice, and with amazement. Do I understand that Jervis has given you, for a Christmas present, the making over of the John Grier Home into a model institution, and that you have chosen me to disburse the money? Me - I, Sallie McBride, the head of an orphan asylum! My poor people, have you lost your senses, or have you become addicted to the use of opium, and is the raving of two fevered imaginations? I am exactly as well fitted to take care of one hundred children as to become the curator of a zoo.”” [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator sarcastically questions the suitability of a wealthy benefactor for managing an orphanage, highlighting absurdity. **In simple terms:** She doubts the donor’s fit for the role. Key Takeaway Question authority when it seems absurd. Themes authority absurdity charity responsibility social critique Mood skeptical ironic Type literary satire social commentary When to use this quote - orphanage management - donor relations - charitable decisions - social work Key Concepts philanthropy institutional care power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a donor suitable for a cause? - How do power imbalances affect care? A Different Perspective Charitable intentions can be misguided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christmas present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-present/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) ## Related quotes > [“I thought Marilla Cuthburt was an old fool when I heard she'd adopted a girl out of an orphan asylum," she said to herself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery-2/i-thought-marilla-cuthburt-was-an-old-fool-when-i-heard-she-d-adopted/) [l. m. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery-2/) > [“Dear Judy Blume, why didn’t you write a book about how to survive talking to your centuries-old, super-duper experienced, smoking-hot soul mate about sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-amanda-hooper/dear-judy-blume-why-didn-t-you-write-a-book-about-how-to-survive/) [Karen Amanda Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-amanda-hooper/) > [Simply having you here is the best Christmas present I could ever have. Thank you for making this year so wonderful and I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axiz/simply-having-you-here-is-the-best-christmas-present-i-could-ever/) Axiz > [On Christmas morning, before we could open our Christmas presents, we would go to this stranger's home and bring them presents. I remember helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/on-christmas-morning-before-we-could-open-our-christmas-presents-we/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [“Hot damn! Hunter was finally paying off with the hot guy friends. I knew this day would come, it was inevitable, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genna-rulon/hot-damn-hunter-was-finally-paying-off-with-the-hot-guy-friends-i/) [Genna Rulon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genna-rulon/) > [We really couldn't listen to the radio. Never got a Christmas present from my mama a day in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/we-really-couldn-t-listen-to-the-radio-never-got-a-christmas-present/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been-very-careful-i-ve-never-had/) [John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/) > [Wanna know whats upsetting? My sister crying for her farther.She wants him for christmas.I think it would be a wonderful christmas present.But you cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/wanna-know-whats-upsetting-my-sister-crying-for-her-farther-she-wants/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) > [“I want your babies, and your anger, and your cold blue eyes … “ I choke on my words and I am the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/i-want-your-babies-and-your-anger-and-your-cold-blue-eyes-i-choke-on/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [“I think after Christmas would be better for publication: I am hardly a Christmas present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-think-after-christmas-would-be-better-for-publication-i-am-hardly-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“As his life steadily unraveled, he pawned his gold watch and chain for $20 on December 23, 1857, to purchase Christmas presents for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/as-his-life-steadily-unraveled-he-pawned-his-gold-watch-and-chain-for/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/all-the-christmas-presents-in-the-world-are-worth-nothing-without-the/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“People do not seem to realise that the planet is FULL of AMAZING people, many of whom would pass out at the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gala-darling/people-do-not-seem-to-realise-that-the-planet-is-full-of-amazing/) Gala Darling ## More by Jean Webster > [“It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/it-isn-t-the-big-troubles-in-life-that-require-character-anybody-can/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“Please be thinking about me. I'm quite lonely and I want to be thought about”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/please-be-thinking-about-me-i-m-quite-lonely-and-i-want-to-be-thought/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [Half of the time I don't know what they're talking about; their jokes seem to relate to a past that everyone but me has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/half-of-the-time-i-don-t-know-what-they-re-talking-about-their-jokes/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [... in spite of being happier than I ever dreamed I could be, I'm also soberer. The fear that something may happen to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/in-spite-of-being-happier-than-i-ever-dreamed-i-could-be-i-m-also/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“Do you want to know something? I have three pairs of kid gloves. I've had kid mittens before from the Christmas tree, but never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/do-you-want-to-know-something-i-have-three-pairs-of-kid-gloves-i-ve/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“I don't believe it pays to be a great author.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/i-don-t-believe-it-pays-to-be-a-great-author/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“Examinations are even entertaining, if you know the right answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/examinations-are-even-entertaining-if-you-know-the-right-answers/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“Her eyes wandered back to the campus again, and she suddenly grew sober as the thought swept over her that in a few weeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/her-eyes-wandered-back-to-the-campus-again-and-she-suddenly-grew/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [I think that the most necessary quality for any person to have is imagination. It makes people able to put themselves in other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/i-think-that-the-most-necessary-quality-for-any-person-to-have-is/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [I went to bed last night utterly dejected; I thought I was never going to amount to anything, and that you had thrown away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/i-went-to-bed-last-night-utterly-dejected-i-thought-i-was-never-going/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“One does not miss what one has never had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/one-does-not-miss-what-one-has-never-had/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“You remember that illuminated text over the dining-room door--"The Lord Will Provide." We've painted it out, and covered the spot with rabbits. It's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/you-remember-that-illuminated-text-over-the-dining-room-door-the-lord/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [“The bitterness of wearing your enemies' cast-off clothes eats into your soul. If I wore silk stockings for the rest of my life, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/the-bitterness-of-wearing-your-enemies-cast-off-clothes-eats-into/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [The world is full of happiness, and plenty to go round, if you are only willing to take the kind that comes your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/the-world-is-full-of-happiness-and-plenty-to-go-round-if-you-are-only/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [This is your heart.Keep it locked until the chap turns up who has the key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/this-is-your-heart-keep-it-locked-until-the-chap-turns-up-who-has-the/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) [Explore all 79 Jean Webster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) ## More Christmas present quotes > [“People do not seem to realise that the planet is FULL of AMAZING people, many of whom would pass out at the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gala-darling/people-do-not-seem-to-realise-that-the-planet-is-full-of-amazing/) Gala Darling > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/all-the-christmas-presents-in-the-world-are-worth-nothing-without-the/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“As his life steadily unraveled, he pawned his gold watch and chain for $20 on December 23, 1857, to purchase Christmas presents for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/as-his-life-steadily-unraveled-he-pawned-his-gold-watch-and-chain-for/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I think after Christmas would be better for publication: I am hardly a Christmas present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-think-after-christmas-would-be-better-for-publication-i-am-hardly-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I want your babies, and your anger, and your cold blue eyes … “ I choke on my words and I am the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/i-want-your-babies-and-your-anger-and-your-cold-blue-eyes-i-choke-on/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [Wanna know whats upsetting? My sister crying for her farther.She wants him for christmas.I think it would be a wonderful christmas present.But you cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/wanna-know-whats-upsetting-my-sister-crying-for-her-farther-she-wants/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) > [My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been-very-careful-i-ve-never-had/) [John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/) > [We really couldn't listen to the radio. Never got a Christmas present from my mama a day in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/we-really-couldn-t-listen-to-the-radio-never-got-a-christmas-present/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [“Hot damn! Hunter was finally paying off with the hot guy friends. I knew this day would come, it was inevitable, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genna-rulon/hot-damn-hunter-was-finally-paying-off-with-the-hot-guy-friends-i/) [Genna Rulon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genna-rulon/) > [On Christmas morning, before we could open our Christmas presents, we would go to this stranger's home and bring them presents. I remember helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/on-christmas-morning-before-we-could-open-our-christmas-presents-we/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Simply having you here is the best Christmas present I could ever have. Thank you for making this year so wonderful and I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axiz/simply-having-you-here-is-the-best-christmas-present-i-could-ever/) Axiz > [“I always listen,” Ranger said. “I don’t always agree. I have a problem right now that I can’t seem to solve by myself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-always-listen-ranger-said-i-don-t-always-agree-i-have-a-problem/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/you-can-never-truly-enjoy-christmas-until-you-can-look-up-into-the/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) [Browse all 128 Christmas present quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-present/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dear Judy: Your letter is here. I have read it twice, and with amazement. Do I understand that Jervis has given you, for a Christmas present, the making over of the John Grier Home into a model institution, and that you have chosen me to disburse the money? Me - I, Sallie McBride, the head of an orphan asylum! 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