“Yours very truly,
D. O.”
“New York, May 20, 1878.
“Mr. C. R. D.: Dear Sir—Yours of the 17th, with the money enclosed, reached me, for which please accept my best thanks.
“Due inquiries for the letter were made at the post-office here at the time, but without success, and of course I concluded that it had been opened and money stolen by some post office official. Even now there is some mystery, which perhaps might be removed if the (original) envelope could be found.
“The amount at the time was designed for a good cause, in connection with Sunday-school work, and I feel, after what has happened, that the Lord, having delivered it from the jaws of the paper mill, has an additional claim upon it, and so I propose that your little boy (with your help, if necessary) name an object to which he would like it applied.
“Jonah, when appointed to do certain work, was disobedient and, you know, soon found himself in the ‘fish’s belly.’ From this uncomfortable situation, however, he was soon delivered, and one more opportunity given him to obey orders—with better results. Now, suppose we call our dollar and twenty cents the disobedient Jonah, and our little friend the fish; and now that our Jonah has landed safely, suppose we give him one more opportunity for obeying his orders?
“Please say to my little friend that I appreciate what he has done in this matter, and congratulate the son on having a good adviser, and the father on having a son inclined to take good advice.
“Should you reply to this note, please give me the boy’s name and age, and photograph likeness if you have one.
“Yours respectfully and truly,