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MY DEAR MRS. REED: -- Will you please tell the little girls who sent me the money for Tommy, that I thank them for the gift, and for the sweet sympathy which they have taken in a dear little child whose life is not so bright as theirs? It always makes me glad to receive money from little children, because it is beautiful for them to share their joy with others. I am sure it makes them more gentle and loving to know that there is suffering and unhappiness in this beautiful world, and that they can help to make it brighter by being kind and generous.

From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

Mrs. K. T. REED

When the subscriptions reached the sum of six hundred dollars, it was deemed advisable to publish the names of the donors and the amount of their gifts. Helen was told to send with the list of acknowledgments a brief note to each of the newspaper managers, thanking them for the friendly interest which they had taken in Tommy's case, and requesting them to urge the children to continue to work for him until the fund should be completed. This was all that she was asked to do, nothing more. She went immediately to her desk with a sufficient supply of paper, and, without any further suggestion, she wrote, instead of a circular, individual letters to the different editors, no two of which were alike either in matter or form. Here they are.

SOUTH BOSTON, May 13, 1891.

Editor of the BOSTON TRANSCRIPT.

MY DEAR MR. CLEMENT: -- Will you please publish, in your paper, the enclosed list of the friends who have sent us money to help educate our little Tommy? I am sure the kindhearted people who read the Transcript will be glad to hear that "Baby Tom" is growing very happily in the pretty child's garden at Jamaica Plain. He has not learned any words yet, but he is finding out about things, and by and by he will discover that language is the most beautiful and wonderful thing of all, for when we can read and talk we are not blind and deaf any longer. The wise and great people can then tell us all that they see and hear. I hope loving children and their kind friends will continue to work for Tommy until his fund is completed, and his whole life is made bright and joyous.

From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

SOUTH BOSTON, May 13, 1891.

Editor of the BOSTON HERALD,

My DEAR MR. HOLMES: -- Will you kindly print, in the Herald, the enclosed list? I think the readers of your paper will be glad to know that so much has been done for dear little Tommy, and that they will all wish to share in the pleasure of helping him. He is very happy indeed at the kindergarten, and is learning something every day. He has found out that doors have locks, and that little sticks and bits of paper can be got into the key-hole quite easily; but he does not seem very eager to get them out after they are in. He loves to climb the bedposts and unscrew the steam valves much better than to spell, but that is because he does not understand that words would help him to make new and interesting discoveries. I hope that good people will continue to work for Tommy until his fund is completed, and education has brought light and music into his little life. From your little friend, HELEN KELLER.

SOUTH BOSTON, May 13, 1891.

Editor of the BOSTON JOURNAL.

MY DEAR COLONEL CLAPP: -- I hope you will publish, in the Journal, the enclosed list of the friends who have helped bring gladness into the life of our dear little Tommy. There are many, many other good people, I am sure, who when they read in the papers what has been done for "Baby Tom," will wish to do something for him. It is beautiful to try to make little children happy and helpful, and that is what education will do for Tommy. And something makes me sure that every little boy and girl who hears about Tommy's sad, still life will be eager to help make it bright and beautiful. Hoping that we shall continue to receive money for Tommy's fund,

I am your little friend, HELEN KELLER.

SOUTH BOSTON, May 13, 1891.

Editor of the BOSTON GLOBE.

MY DEAR COLONEL TAYLOR: -- I know you are little Tommy's friend, so you will be glad to publish the enclosed list in the Globe. We want Tommy's friends to know what has already been done for him, and we hope they will continue to work for him until his fund has been completed and his whole life has been made bright and helpful. It makes me happy when people want to help Tommy, for I know how beautiful knowledge is. I remember when I was quite ignorant of all things, and I was not happy then. I do not think I often smiled before teacher came to me, and taught me how full of beautiful, wonderful things the world was; and my heart has been full to the brim with love and gladness ever since. And now I am eager for the same joy to come to dear little Tommy.

From your little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

This note, the greater portion of which was reproduced in fac-simile, was prefaced with the following editorial remark: "Here is a letter from Helen Keller, who is deaf, dumb and blind. Yet the editor of the Globe never received a letter better than hers in diction or spirit."