YOUNG PEOPLE'S COT.
We publish this week the January report of Miss E. Augusta Fanshawe, and repeat that the contributions for Young People's Cot should be sent to the treasurer of the Cot Fund, and not to Messrs. Harper & Brothers. Please read Aunt Edna's letter, children.
New York City.
In my last letter I told you I would soon let you know something from our hospital. Well, the other day I went there, and such a chatter of little voices as met my ear when the door opened! I could hardly believe I was going to a place where there was sickness and pain. I went up stairs to Holy Innocent's Ward—our ward, you know—and how bright and sunny it looked! Sister Miriam, the kind Sister who has charge of it, and who I wish you all knew, as she is sunshine itself, was putting the finishing touches to the morning dressing of the little ones. Every bed had its occupant, though many of the children were not then in bed, but were running about the room; and I was quickly surrounded by several little "tots," who wanted to rub my muff, and see some cards I had that a kind lady had sent them. But just now I am only going to speak of two children and one cot, though I could easily tell you interesting things of many more if I did not feel afraid the Postmistress would shake her head.
Sister Miriam is much pleased with your efforts, and thinks you will certainly raise the whole amount if you will only keep on trying, and to encourage you all she has selected a cot that will be ours just as soon as we raise the money, but not before, remember. It is the first cot in the south end of the room, right in the sunshine, near a big window, where our child can look down on Thirty-fourth Street. When I was there the occupant of that cot was a funny little colored boy named Willie Stanward. He had been very sick with something called by a very long name—pneumonia—but was a great deal better, and when I saw him he was sitting in a little chair near the window playing with something—looking very much like a doll. He was only a wee boy, you know. He was going home very soon, well, and Sister Miriam thought she would put in his place a little white boy named Robert McGee, who, she said, made very queer speeches, and was ever so funny. The doctor had been making his legs straight, which before were crooked, and though it was pretty hard to bear, he was getting on very nicely. He also was a very little boy. I took up a "mite chest" and put it over that cot, and think when we open it we will find something to help on our work.
Now good-by, but don't forget that we have not got the cot yet, but must all try hard and raise the money, and then think how glad we will all feel when we can say that is the Young People's Cot.
Aunt Edna.
Contributions received for Young People's Cot in Holy Innocent's Ward, St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children, 407 West Thirty-fourth Street, New York:
Willie and Georgie Campbell, Drummondville, $1; Clare Gardiner, Troy, N. Y., 25c.; In Memoriam M. A., "a dear little one who will never need the cot," $30; Kitty Tutwiler, Flatonia, Texas, 10c.; Nobe Taylor, Flatonia, Texas, 10c.; Charles Roy Bangs, Brooklyn, $3; Mary Dean, 25c.; Jennie Dart, Kingston, N. Y., $1; Ida Allison, Harlem, N. Y., $2; Willie Allison, Harlem, N. Y., $2; T. Robert Palmer, Palatka, Fla., 50c.; Will D. Sayer, Meadville, Penn., $2; Green Clay, Jun., Mexico, Mo., $1; Ellie Earle, Chelten Hills, Penn., $1; Agnes D. Cram, Mechanic Falls, 10c.; Jennie Bolton, New York City, $1—total, $45.30. Previously acknowledged, $201.39; total, January 16, $246.69.
E. Augusta Fanshawe, Treasurer,
43 New Street, New York City.
Flatonia, Texas, December 15, 1881.
I send you my Three Little Kittens book for all the children in that room. I send you a dime for that bed you wrote about. Papa read us that letter, and our black boy said he wanted to send a dime too. His name is Nobe Taylor. He has lived with us for nine years, and nursed me when I was a baby. He is big and fat. This is all I've got to send. Aunt Net sent me the book from Alabama last Christmas. Our school-teacher is going to give us a Christmas tree. I can't write good enough, and got papa to write this for me.
Kitty Tutwiler.
P.S.—Nobe incloses his dime too.
Chelten Hills, Pennsylvania.
I got a good many china animals for Christmas, and now I have forty-one altogether. Sophie and Horace, two of my school-mates, have one hundred and fifty-one; Sophie has only fifteen of them, though. I got a lovely coaster for Christmas, and I want to use it very much. There is about an inch of snow on the ground now, but not enough for coasting; there has not been deep snow on the ground all winter. In my letter I send a dollar for the Young People's Cot. Our tree was just taken down to-day, and the room where it was looks all bare to me.
Ellie Earle.
There are a number of other little letters about the Cot, and they are very bright and sweet, but we have not room to insert any more.