Written so plainly that tired eyes were rested when they read it. It is a splendid idea to have that reading-table in your class-room.
Athens, Georgia.
I am nine years of age. I have a pet cat, and her name is Beauty, and I have a dog whose name is Rex. I have a sister older than myself; she is ten years of age. I go to school to Miss Fannie A. I like her very well, although she sometimes scolds. I have an uncle who sends us the Young People. I liked "All-Hallow-eve" very much. My sister Hallie has a pet dog, whose name is Flirt. She is so timid that if you go in the yard with a stick, and make believe that you are going to whip her, she will get down on her stomach, and keep right still until you go away. I think this is long enough, so good-by.
Your friend,
Annie H.
Woodside, near Lincolnton, North Carolina.
I wish again, my dear young friends, to thank you for the books, papers, and the box of things for the Christmas tree that have come since I wrote to you last. I am so glad you keep sending them, for I find so many who need them, and to whom they will do so much good. We have some money, and will begin having the lumber for the school-house hauled to the mill to be sawed very soon now—as soon as the men sow their wheat and get in their corn. The parcels I have received have been from Miss Emma Joiner, Easton, Md.; Miss Julia Langden, Elmira, N. Y.; Rev. David Strang, Lincoln, Tenn.; Mrs. E. A. Clark, Battle Creek, Mich.; Miss Maria McRene Suydam, Newark, N. J.; Miss Mary O'Neil, Miss Clara Copeland, Miss Harper, Miss Millie Glover, Miss Hattie Burgess, Miss Cora Cote, Miss Livia Mandeville, Miss Grace Webb, Miss Etta Coulter, and Miss Hattie Plinney, Rochester, N. Y.; Miss Mary Harkell, Weathersfield, Vt.; Master Charles Graff, Harlem, New York City; Miss Carrie Yardley, Lockhaven, Penn.; Mrs. Harrison, Walnut Creek, Col.; Mrs. P. A. Harrison, Dewbury, Barry County, Mich.; Miss McFarland and Mrs. Snyder, Paxton, Ill.; Miss Miriam Oliver, Milwaukee, Wis.; Master Paul Krughoff, Nashville, Ill.; Master N. B. Blunt, Lexington Avenue, New York City; Miss Annie Wetzell, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Master George R. Hitchcock, Champlain, N. Y.; Miss Helen Woodworth, 268 Ryerson Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Master Walter Anderson, Nashville, Ill.; Mrs. S. B. Bortwick, South Amboy, N. J.; Miss Ethel and Master Vivian Ketchum, Augusta, Ill.; Miss Minna Mandeville, Kinderhook, N. Y.: Miss M. D. L., Madison, N. J.; Miss Corinne Redden, Master Bertie Ellis, and Miss Winnie Needles, Nashville, Ill.; Miss Slack, Bristol, Penn.
Our school keeps growing, and now numbers fifty-six. They are learning very well indeed. They are now learning on Saturday afternoons a carol to sing at Christmas! Not many can read; they have to learn the words orally. They catch the tune very quickly. They are looking forward with so much pleasure to the expected tree at Christmas. I wish I could tell you what a happy time it will be for them all, and how often I wish that you could all spend a Sunday with us, and see how pleased they are to be learning. We do—all of us who teach them—thank you so much for your kind and generous help! I will write you all about the tree after Christmas. Truly your grateful friend,
Mrs. Richardson.