“The Italian Embassy, 20 Grosvenor Square,
January 11.”
Did that end it? Not at all. For another week packages dribbled in from Ireland, from the North of Scotland, from Germany, and even from Switzerland.
The curious thing about these parcels was that more than half the clothes were absolutely new. People had gone to shops and bought five or ten pounds’ worth of goods in reply to my appeal “in kind.” A large number came from gentlemen’s clubs or chambers. These usually arrived anonymously, with a touching little bit of paper inside, “God bless you,” or “An unknown admirer of your books,” or “My interest in Sicily was first awakened by your book on that country.”
A pair of baby’s socks came from a poor woman who wrote she was sorry she could not send more, but still she wanted to send something. Another workman’s wife offered a week’s time, as she had formerly been a shirt-maker and could get through a lot in the time, and that right willingly “for them poor things.”
A poor old governess wrote from a seaside town:
“Dear Madam,—When I read about your starting a Relief Fund for the poor darlings—the sufferers in Messina—I prayed for God’s choicest blessing to rest on you. Next came a wish to do something myself, and a mournful inability presented itself unless this attempt may be of some use. I am an invalid—almost a martyr to bronchial asthma, and I am oftener in bed than out of it.
“I am 70 years of age and am being maintained by a sister or the workhouse would be my portion. I am a Board School teacher, and at different times I tried my hand at composition. In the year 1902—I think it was—I tried for the £100 prize for a story. If you can make any use of the MSS., please apply the money to your fund.
“In conclusion, I pray again God will prosper you in all your way. We want more of such real Christians as you have proved yourself to be. I wept when I first read of your grand work.
“With kind regards, yours very sincerely,
“(Mrs.) M. A. C.”
The address was rather touching: