G. C. B.—You would do better not to attempt such a curtain as you describe. It is both difficult and expensive to arrange a curtain which can be raised and lowered swiftly in a hall for amateur performances. A curtain which is divided in the middle, and may be drawn quickly apart from both sides, will be more satisfactory, and can be easily adjusted.
Box 185, Cumberland, Maryland, states that his coins are exhausted. He will return all superfluous stamps sent him on receipt of postage to do so.
Our children will not forget Mrs. Richardson's little school, though we may not remind them of it every week. Here is another charming letter from her, acknowledging the receipt of needed gifts, and suggesting something for the future which will set many little fingers at work. Christmas is still a long distance from us, yet it is not too early to begin, in odd minutes, the pleasant work of making Christmas gifts. You will all enjoy the merry time the more if you take pains to give the little dark-eyed boys and girls at Woodside a jolly Christmas-tree.
Woodside, near Lincolnton, North Carolina.
My dear Friends,—Once more let me thank you for the little parcels that have come since I wrote last, from Glenn Woolfenden, Nashoa, Mo.; Anna Dearburne, Big Stone City, Dakota; Miss Gertrude Guion, Elmira, N. Y.; Charley Brink, Aniaga, A. T.; Mrs. Ellen Burke, Blue Mound, Ill.; Teddy Smith, ——; Miss Mary O'Neil, Miss Hattie Burgess, Miss Etta Coulter, Rochester, N. Y.; Charles R. Crowther, Bridgeport, Conn.; F. H. Day, Norwood, Massachusetts; W. A. Lewis, Lewistown, Penn.; N. A. Miller, Tarrytown, N. Y.; Miss Emma Joiner, Easton, Md. Among these parcels were two boxes of very useful books. You have helped us so generously that we have now books and papers to last us for some months to come. Of course I could in the neighborhood find use for almost any number, but that would be too big a work for either you or for us to undertake. We have decided that it will be best to build the school-house on land of its own, and so we will make a deed of the land upon which it is to be built to that effect. We will teach the school, and do all as I have promised. If your kind hearts still wish to help, you can do so by sending me some old clothes, hats, hoods, shoes, shawls; dolls and toys—no matter if they are broken: they will be acceptable and lovely to these little ones, who have never owned a "store doll" in their lives. They all are fond of candy, from Uncle Pete down to the youngest child. They will be very poor this winter, owing to the dry summer, and failure in the cotton crop. We will be so glad if the Christmas tree can have gifts that will warm up their cold little bodies! We will make and frost a large cake that will cut into forty-two generous slices; then have, without stint, cookies and hot coffee in the kitchen; when they have enjoyed this, show them the tree. If we succeed, I will write you about it. With my heart full of gratitude to you all, I am truly yours,
Mrs. Richardson.