You all remember the letter from Lydia Hargreaves and Lulu Ruckstuhl, which appeared in Our Post-office Box No. 111. Here is an acknowledgment of your answer to that appeal:
Dear "Young People,"—We know you are all anxiously waiting to hear about the Christmas tree at the Home for the Innocents, so we will try and write a nice long letter, and thank you for the many gifts that we have received—for we did receive a great many gifts; we had no idea when we wrote that there were so many kind little boys and girls who read the paper. Monday morning we went out early to the Home, and found some kind ladies, and together with them we dressed the tree with the ornaments you had sent; then around under it we placed the dolls and toys and books. The tree was beautiful, and although the room was small, it showed off very well. In the afternoon the children came marching in, singing "Onward, Christian soldiers." They have two or three little boys that sing so sweetly. But they could hardly finish their song, so eager were they in watching the tree. After a short prayer, the children were each asked, "Now, what will you have?"
After the children were supplied—and there was an abundance, as you were all so liberal; even the little ones in their nurses' arms had their arms full of dolls—Sister Emily, who is the matron, and has another small school where she teaches poor children—took some of the toys, and fixed a tree for them. These poor little children were dumb when they saw the tree. One little girl, when they handed her a doll, said, "Oh, dolly! dolly!" and she did not look at anything else the whole evening but her doll. I wonder if you were all as happy on Christmas as that little girl. I hope so.
Little Bertha R. always calls the paper Harper's Young Family. We think you are the nicest family we ever heard of. If some little boy or girl does not find his or her name below, please don't feel slighted, for we have tried to put all the names down, and you may be sure your package was received and appreciated by some poor child.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, we are yours lovingly,
Lulu G. and Lydia B.
Louisville, Kentucky.
Packages were received from Harper & Brothers; Susie Benedict; Fred and Arthur D.; Alice Paige; Maud Duling; Grace Stephens; Fanny Young; Maggie Buch; Annie Lewis; Morril Dunn; Eva Cunningham; Rose Ella Carhart; W. and A. Burke; John and Daisy Cunningham; Lottie, Warren, and Alice Lockwood; Rona R. and "Little Gertrude"; Justin, Tommy, and Isaac Andersen; Jennie and Annie Petman; Willie H. Hazard; Helen McCoy; "Aunt Edna"; Kenneth Murdock; Dolly; May and Tom Barron: Mollie, Effie, and Myrtle Bakewell; Josie Ulmer; L. V. H.; Maud and Lillie Hench; L. H. S. and T. B. S.; Carrie; Nora and Bell; Nellie Portis; Jessie Whitehurst; Daisy; Mortimer Hambem; Louisa L. Tatten; Willie Needham; Mrs. Annie J. Post and Charlie J. Post; Louis Bryant, a check for $1; an unknown friend, $1; Winnifred and Mac Allen; Mrs. T. A. C.; Murray Boyer; Charlie and Willie Patrick; and a package from Canada.
Nukhonuyo.
The readers of Young People would like to hear of my pets. I am five years old, and have two birds (linnets), Tommy and Mrs. Tommy, a white rabbit called Snowball, which is very cunning, and my gray kitty is named Baby Rose. My dollies are a great delight to me. Their names are Daisy, Rosa Posa, and Bessy Bright-Eyes, who is married to Boy Blue, and has a family of five children.
Ethel McP.