January 27, 1868

LADY MACDONALD JOINS ORPHAN’S HOME

Lady Macdonald has been appointed 1st Directress of the Ottawa Orphan’s Home. She has furnished an account of her impressions of the organization, dated January 19:

Sunday. 19th

Pleasant, but still cold weather. I never remember so severe a winter. It is however a happy one. I have accepted the post of 1st Directress to the Ottawa Orphan's Home. It seems to be anything but a "bed of roses" The old Committee seem to have quarrelled, & parted, & now I find the Debt on the new building is nearly 3500 dollars. -besides there is Smallpox in one part of the Building & no water in the well!

These facts sound discouraging. I drove out yesterday afternoon after walking with my husband to his office, to see the 2nd Directress. Her husband is an American Lumberman & I am told she is charitable & kind. Her house is long & low & looks out upon a cheerless reach of snow. I found her a dried-up looking prim woman - who seemed disposed to act on the defensive, but she soon thawed, when I spoke cordially & said I had undertaken charge from a conviction that it was right & from a desire to do some good to my suffering & destitute fellow creatures. I added that I had purposely refrained from asking any particulars about the causes of dissension & difficulty - tho some of the committee who had resigned were personal friends of mine - lest I should enter on my duties with any prejudices. She thanked me & seemed pleased, & then entered into a detail of the present state of the Institution...

I do hope I can be useful. I have prayed about it.