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From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

In response to this note, Mr. Krehl sent a generous contribution for Tommy, and at the same time offered to take charge of any subscriptions which charitable people in England might be disposed to forward to him.

On the sixth of April last Tommy was brought to the kindergarten in Jamaica Plain whither Helen and her teacher repaired to take care of him, and train him until the services of a special tutor should be engaged. His arrival was hailed with exultation, and it was made known to those who were especially interested in the little fellow's case in the most hopeful terms. She wrote to Mr. Goodhue as follows: --

KINDERGARTEN FOR THE BLIND,
JAMAICA PLAIN, April 11, 1891.

MY DEAR FRIEND, MR. GOODHUE: -- I hope you have not thought that your little friend Helen did not appreciate the beautiful gifts which you sent her. You cannot imagine how delighted she was with the roses! I did not know that such choice ones would grow in a greenhouse. At my home they grow out in the beautiful sunshine, where sweet Mother Nature loves to see her little ones. When I am at home I like to get up bright and early in the morning, and go out in the garden before the sunbeams have flown off with the dew-drops. How beautiful the lovely buds are! each with a glistening gem hid away among its delicate petals.

But why do you suppose I have not written to you before? I am sure you cannot guess, so I shall have to tell you. Dear little Tommy has come! He is very small and helpless, just like an infant. He has had no loving mother to teach him how to do like other children, and that is why he cannot walk and eat as other little boys do. But teacher will be very gentle and patient with him, and soon his mind will escape from its dark prison and be filled with light and music, -- that is what education will do for baby Tom.

I am going to write my dear friend Dr. Holmes a letter tomorrow, and I shall write on the dainty paper which you sent me. The violets will remind him of the wonderful, beautiful things which are happening everywhere these lovely spring days. Mother writes that my home is beautiful now with its wealth of blossoms and its soft, fragrant air. The little birds are busy building their nests. The bluebird with his azure plumes, the thrush clad all in brown, the robin jerking his spasmodic throat, the oriole drifting like a flake of fire, the jolly bobolink and his happy mate, the mocking-bird imitating the notes of all, the red-bird with his one sweet trill, and the busy little wren, are all making the trees in our front yard ring with their glad songs. You must tell me what birds live in Quebec.

We lead a very pleasant time at the dog show. Mr. Wade was there, and did everything to make us have a nice time. I liked Lord Melrose, the gentle-faced St. Bernard, the best. I could feel the gentleness in his look, and I was delighted when he laid his great head on my shoulder and kissed my cheek.

Please give my love to Louise and Henry and Herman. I hope Louise will write to me soon. I had almost forgot to tell you something which I am sure will please you.

Everybody at the Institution had some of the delicious maple-honey and piece of maple-sugar, so you see you were the means of making many people happy. Is not that very pleasant news? Teacher sends kindest regards, and thanks you for her share in the pleasures which your visit brought to all of us.

Lovingly, your little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

To Mr. Wade she sent the following note, in which she describes Tommy's condition briefly but very accurately.

KINDERGARTEN FOR THE BLIND, April 18, 1891.

DEAR, KIND MR. WADE: -- I have some beautiful news for you. Little Tommy, our sweet human plantlet, is here in this pretty child's garden, and teacher and I will give him his first lessons. I did not imagine he would be so small and helpless, but we love him all the more for his helplessness. We have taught him to walk a little by himself, and to take some food, and soon we hope to give him his first word. I can hardly wait patiently for the time to come when he will have learned to spell with his baby fingers. I forgot to tell you that he is a pretty little fellow, with soft, dimpled hands. I think it will make the kind gentlemen who are giving money for Tommy's education glad to know that they are helping bring light and gladness into a little life which is all dark and still now. I shall write Mr. Millais a letter, and thank him for the kind gift. How grateful Tommy will be by and bye for this love and kindness! . . . HELEN A. KELLER.

To Mr. Millais, the famous English artist, Helen wrote the following letter in acknowledgment of a contribution which he sent to her fund for Tommy.

PERKINS INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND,
SOUTH BOSTON, MASS., April 30, 1891.

MY DEAR MR. MILLAIS: -- Your little American sister is going to write you a letter, because she wants you to know how pleased she was to hear you were interested in our poor little Tommy, and had sent some money to help educate him. It is very beautiful to think that people far away in England feel sorry for a little helpless child in America. I used to think, when I read in my books about your great city, that when I visited it the people would be strangers to me, but now I feel differently. It seems to me that all people who have loving, pitying hearts, are not strangers to each other. I can hardly wait patiently for the time to come when I shall see my dear English friends, and their beautiful island home. My favorite poet has written some lines about England which I love very much. I think you will like them too, so I will try to write them for you.