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I have spoken already of Imogene Hart, one of my pupils in the Institution and a life-long friend. For a recent birthday she sent me the following greetings:

"Dear Fanny:

"I am the Imogene Hart who was one of your schoolmates at the Institution for the Blind in 1839. You were appointed to prepare me to join several classes that were well advanced in their studies. You taught me grammar, geography, and knitting. You also labored very hard to teach me to sing 'second' in the hymn 'Come Ye Disconsolate.' I think you must have been greatly discouraged to hear my voice join the first sopranos after all your work to make me learn to sing alto.

"I see by the 'Tribune' that you are now eighty-five years old; and I congratulate you most heartily for the great good which you have all your life been able to accomplish through your beautiful hymns and carols -- even writing up to this present day; and it makes me happy to know that you have always enjoyed good health and that you are still in the full enjoyment of life.

"I was with you at the Institution less than three years, after which I developed a good voice and some musical ability. I am still able to sing a little although I shall be eighty years of age the first of next June. Sometimes I try my powers at composition; and I am going to send you some specimens of it. The 'Polka Song' you must get some of your young lady friends to sing for you, so that you may judge that I keep up my good spirits.

"Yours affectionately,
"Imogene Hart."

"Mt. Vernon, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1901."

"Dear Friend of the Olden Time:

"Most of our colleagues and associates of the forties and fifties have crossed the river; but, for some reason, the ferryman has left you and me on this side. We can count on our fingers nearly all of our friends now living, who were with us at the Institution for the Blind from 1849 to 1854. With the exception of the years just named I was a school master from the second Monday in November, 1835, to the l0th of September last; and as I was teaching more or less while in the Institution, I claim to have been a teacher for sixty-four years and ten months.

"Since I retired last September, to occupy my time, which for a while, 'hung heavy on my hands,' I began to look over my old manuscripts and I will copy a few lines from my diary, which was kept during those years.

"'Nov. 21, 1850: Last evening one of our number was converted at the 18th Street Church; and another (Fanny Crosby) at the 30th Street. I wish all of our family were Christians; and then we would be a happy family.'

"Do you remember that in 1851 a man came to the Institution to get you to write for a new weekly paper, to be called 'The Saturday Emporium?' You promised to write for him on the condition that I should reply to you in the next number. You wrote several poems, addressing me as Bertram, and signing yourself 'Eurrilla.' I have in manuscript now my answer to two of your poetic questions; one was

'Where shall the wounded spirit rest?'

But I can only remember the last two lines of another question, and none of the one to which these were part of the answer. To this second question, 'What is earth's purest gem?' I wrote sixteen four-line stanzas; and after sending you on a number of useless journeys, I concluded thus:

'Forgiveness is the brightest pearl,
In all earth's diadem.'

"Wishing you long years more, health and happiness, I am,

"Your life-long friend,
"T. D. Camp."

I am glad to be able to include a letter from Mr. Faddoul Moghabghab, the real "Syrian Guest," whose beautiful story has been written.

"Miss Fanny Crosby,

"Most beloved sister in Christ:

"I am writing this letter with my Syrian pen, and must therefore put the Syrian custom into practice on such an occasion like this, -- Easter Week, 'Jesus Christ is Risen'; 'Is risen indeed.' We use these terms in Syria in place of your 'Good morning,' or 'Good evening,' etc., especially on Sunday, Easter-day; and wheresoever we go or with whomever we speak the first salutation is ' Jesus Christ is risen today,' and the reply 'Is risen indeed.'

"Sister, though you are still in the body on this earth, you are always quoting the language of Heaven above; and your thoughts are continually discovering new regions beyond the river. Oh, I imagine how happy you always feel; and I hope to have another chance of meeting you again upon this earth, because I always gain new inspiration from those whose mansions are already prepared by the ' Shepherd of the Sheep'; but I am sure, if we cannot meet each other in this world, we shall meet in Heaven.

"I remain, yours in Christ,
"Faddoul Moghabghab."

CHAPTER XXI
A FEW TRIBUTES

AT the suggestion of several friends, I have finally concluded to add here a few of the tributes in song that kindred spirits have sent to me on various occasions. Between them and myself there has been a firm bond of sympathy and a keen appreciation of the kind words exchanged on birthdays and at Christmas time. I do not vouch for all of the things that these admiring and indulgent friends have said about me; I can only wish that all their words of praise were indeed well founded.