"Het 'John Grier Home'" by Jean Webster is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Sallie McBride, who unexpectedly finds herself becoming the head of an orphanage called the John Grier Home, much to her surprise and dismay. Filled with comic elements and a unique perspective on social responsibility, the book explores themes of care, growth, and the heartwarming challenges of managing a group of children who have
faced abandonment." The opening of the novel introduces the protagonist, Sallie McBride, who receives an unexpected request from her friend Judy to take on the role of directress at the John Grier Home, an institution for orphans. Initially incredulous and resistant to this new responsibility, Sallie employs humor to express her concerns about managing the needs of a hundred children. As Sallie arrives at the orphanage during a snowstorm, she recalls the frustrations and uncertainties accompanying her new role, including the dreary living conditions she observes. The initial chapters set the stage for Sallie's evolution as she faces the challenges of bringing warmth and betterment to the children’s lives while navigating her own personal struggles and the skepticism of those around her. (This is an automatically generated summary.)