In my last letter I told you I would soon let you know something
from _our_ hospital. Well, the other day I went there, and such a
chatter of little voices as met my ear when the door opened! I
could hardly believe I was going to a place where there was
sickness and pain. I went up stairs to Holy Innocent's Ward--_our_
ward, you know--and how bright and sunny it looked! Sister Miriam,
the kind Sister who has charge of it, and who I wish you all knew,
as she is sunshine itself, was putting the finishing touches to the
morning dressing of the little ones. Every bed had its occupant,
though many of the children were not then in bed, but were running
about the room; and I was quickly surrounded by several little
"tots," who wanted to rub my muff, and see some cards I had that a
kind lady had sent them. But just now I am only going to speak of
two children and one cot, though I could easily tell you
interesting things of many more if I did not feel afraid the
Postmistress would shake her head.
Sister Miriam is much pleased with your efforts, and thinks you
will certainly raise the whole amount if you will only keep on
trying, and to encourage you all she has selected a cot that will
be ours just as soon as we raise the money, but not before,
remember. It is the first cot in the south end of the room, right
in the sunshine, near a big window, where our child can look down
on Thirty-fourth Street. When I was there the occupant of that cot
was a funny little colored boy named Willie Stanward. He had been
very sick with something called by a very long name--pneumonia--but
was a great deal better, and when I saw him he was sitting in a
little chair near the window playing with something--looking very
much like a doll. He was only a wee boy, you know. He was going
home very soon, well, and Sister Miriam thought she would put in
his place a little white boy named Robert McGee, who, she said,
made very queer speeches, and was ever so funny. The doctor had
been making his legs straight, which before were crooked, and
though it was pretty hard to bear, he was getting on very nicely.
He also was a very little boy. I took up a "mite chest" and put it
over that cot, and think when we open it we will find something to
help on our work.
Now good-by, but don't forget that we have not got the cot yet, but
must all try hard and raise the money, and then think how glad we
will all feel when we can say _that_ is the Young People's Cot.