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But now I am going to tell you about a dear little boy who does not know how to be joyful, because he cannot hear or speak or see, and he has no kind lady to teach him. His name is Tommy, and he is only five years old. His home is near Pittsburgh, Penn. The light went out of the poor little boy's eyes and the sound went out of his ears when he was a very small infant, because he was very sick indeed and suffered greatly. And is it not sad to think that Tommy has no gentle mother to love and kiss her little child? He has a good papa, but he is too poor to do much to make his little son's life happier. Can you imagine how sad and lonely and still little Tommy's days are? I do not think you can, because the light has never gone out of your bright eyes, nor the pleasant sounds out of those pretty ears like pink-white shells. But I know you would like to help make your new friend happy and I will tell you how you can do it. You can save the pennies which your papas give you to buy candy and other nice things, and send them to Mr. Anagnos, so that he can bring Tommy to the kindergarten and get a kind lady to teach him. Then he will not be sad any more, for he will have other children to play with him and talk to him, and when you come to visit the institution you will see him and dear little Willie playing together as happy and frolicsome as two kittens; and then you will be happy too, for you will be glad that you helped make Tommy's life so bright.

Now, dear little friends, good-bye. Do not forget that you can do something beautiful, for it is beautiful to make others happy.

Lovingly, your friend, HELEN KELLER.

Mr. Amos L Root of Medina, Ohio, editor of the Gleanings in Bee Culture, published a similar appeal in his journal, with excellent results. It was accompanied by a letter from Mr. Goodhue, and illustrated by two photogravures of Helen, which he was so kind as to lend to us for this sketch.

These appeals, together with those which appeared repeatedly in the Boston newspapers, were generously responded to. Contributions came from far and near, and Helen never failed to acknowledge propriâ manû et propriis verbis the smallest of them. From a very large collection of letters which she wrote in this connection, averaging eight per day, we select the following for publication.

SOUTH BOSTON, March 6, 1891.

DEAR, KIND LADY: -- You cannot imagine how delighted I was when I heard the beautiful news. I clapped my hands for joy, and many loving thoughts came into my heart. Oh, how I wish dear little Tommy knew what happiness is awaiting him at the kindergarten with a bright smile! The money which you sent to Mr. Anagnos seemed to me like it beautiful bunch of spring wild flowers, because, you see, it will bring so much sweetness into Tommy's life. Please give Anna and Martha and dear little George my best love, and tell Anna she must ask Miss Poulsson how the Mikado spends his time. I am sure the real Mikado never did such a thing.

Lovingly, your happy friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

Mrs. JOHN C. PHILLIPS.

SOUTH BOSTON, Mass., April 27, 1891.

MY DEAR DR. ELLIS: -- I want to thank you for the money which you sent to Mr. Jackson to help educate our little Tommy. It makes me very happy to know that baby Tom has so many kind friends who will love and protect him always. Mr. Brooks once told me that love was the most beautiful thing in the world, and now I am sure it is, for nothing but love could brighten Tommy's whole life. I think we ought to love those who are weak and helpless even more tenderly than we do others who are strong and beautiful. My heart has been full of love for Tommy ever since Mr. Brown wrote to me about him last summer, and I was sure that everybody would wish to help him if only they knew his sad story. I have read that there are lonesome and dismal places in this great world, but I cannot imagine anything so sad and lonely as a little child's heart who has no loving mother to caress and care for him. But we shall all be so good and gentle with little Tommy that he will think the world is full of loving mothers and patient fathers. I am very sorry to tell you that teacher and I were obliged to leave Tommy last Friday, but his own teacher will come to him on Monday. We all hope you will tell Tommy's story in your paper, and ask the good people to help him.

Lovingly, your little friend, HELEN KELLER.

Rev. GEORGE E. ELLIS, D.D.

BOSTON, MASS., April 21, 1891.

MY DEAR MISS BETTIE DAVIS: -- I have just received your postal, telling me of your wish to help little Tommy. It makes me very happy to know that my friends in the beautiful sunny South are going to help me educate dear Tommy. You would love him if you could only see what a helpless little child lie is. My teacher and I are giving him his first lessons, and we are hoping that his mind will soon escape from its lonely prison into the bright world of knowledge. You have my correct address. With much love to your pupils and yourself, from

HELEN A. KELLER.