Marble Hill press., 1897-03-18

gether.
II WILL" said the uncle, "in min
ute. But haven't told you all the
trouble yet. You are living toe
much within yourselves
In order. to get new and re
freshing kid of alnnsament sng.
pose you 90 to work ard amnse
others littte-those who are cheer
less and helpless and sad"
"When can we get them to Gomez
asked Alice.
"Oh, but they can't come here
very well, ,"replied the uncle. "You
must 60 and find them"
"And hunt and hunt and hunt?
inquired Ethel.
"You won't have to hunt very
long, or very far There's some
body suffering not so very great Il
distance rom you all the time, !.
know where there are a lot of
them all together"
"ln the hospital" said Uncle
Jack, gravely. when was caught
in San Francisco with the broken
knee, and went to the hospital be-
cause | was so far away from home
and needed scientific attendance
and good nursing, I found a great
many people that, besides being
sick, were very sad and despond-
ent. [ had a pretty good time
myself, for I am great reader.
have good eyes, a lovely pair Of
spectacles, and cheerful disposi-
ton; and then | had a letter from
one or the other Of you every
two or three days, and that kind
of warmed me up"
"pid it really warm you up.
Uncle Jack?' asked Ethel, playing
with his watch chain.
Yes" said the uncle, "and you
have no idea how much good
pleasant letter helps one. Now I'll
tell you what you can do right in
that line; and it will be one OF the
finest amusement you ever enjoyed
$50 to two or three hospitals
and get acquainted with inmates.
Talk with them, and they will
probably tell you some Of their his
tory Get interested in them, and
when you come away, tell them
you are going to write to them"
"But what shall we say when we
write" asked Alice.
"Write just as you would to q,
friend" replied Uncle Jack. Tel,
them what you are doing-what
yon are enjoying you are
suffering, Don't brag too much.
people in misfortune like to know
you are having a good time, may
be, but they do not care to get it
tod to them too often in italics
Say good dea! in your letter about
them.
".You have no idea what an ex
element it makes in hospital.
when mall-time comes. rs there
any letter for me today? is per
haps the one question oftenest
asked there. | have seen patients
lose their heart and courage and
grow Sicker in very little while
on account of the failure to receive
an expected letter, You have nc
idea how much good you can do in,
this way. Peoples minds and
hearts needs nursing. just as much
as their bodies"
The Mayhem children were en-,
ergetic little creatures, AMI carried
their hearts with them in every act"
and it was not many days before
each Of them had half dozen cor
respondents among the poor, the
sick, and the respondent.
| was thus that the Helpful Let
ter-Wrihng Bureau came to be es
tablished. r...
The letters that went out from it
contained all sorts of good things
good wishes, good hopes, good in.
formation, good jokes, good prom.
ises (alwoys fulflled); good cheer
Of all kinds, Often dainty flow
erblossom was folded carefully in,
and sometimes a little money,
The letters that came back to it
were in all sorts Of handwriting
some Of it very rude; but they
never differed from each other in,
one thing they were full of thanks
and real gratitude, And the May
hew children soon decided that
they were getting more real pleas
urc out Of the Helpful Letter. Witt