TOMRS.SOPHIAC.HOPKINSTuscumbia,Ala.Dec.11th,1888.

    MydearMrs.Hopkins:--Ihavejustfedmydearlittlepigeon.MybrotherSimpsoomelastSunday.

    IAnnie,formyteacher.Mypuppyhashadhissupperandgoobed.Myrabbitsaresleeping,too;andverysoonIshallgotobed.Teacheriswritierstoherfriends.Motherandfatherandtheirfriendshavegooseeahugefurhefuromakeiron.Theironoreisfoundintheground;butitotbeuseduntilithasbeenbroughttothefurnadmelted,andallthedirttakenout,andjustthepureirohenitisallreadytobemanufacturedintoeoves,kettlesandmanyotherthings.

    Coalisfoundintheground,too.Manyyearsago,beforepeoplecametoliveoh,greattreesandtallgrassesandhugefernsandallthebeautifulflowerscovertheearth.Whentheleavesareesfell,thewaterandthesoilcoveredthem;andthereesgrewandfellalso,andwereburieduerandsoil.

    Aftertheyhadallbeenpressedtogetherformanythousandsofyears,thewoodgrewveryhard,likerodthenitwasallreadyforpeopletoburn.youseeleavesandfernsandbarkontheengodownintothegroundanddigoutthecoal,andsteam-carstakeittothelargecities,atopeopletoburn,tomakethemwarmandhappywhenitiscoldoutofdoors.

    Areyouverylonelyandsadnow?Ihopeyouwilletoseemesoon,andstayalongtime.

    WithmuchlovefromyourlittlefriendHELENA.KELLER.

    TOMISSDELLABEuscumbia,Ala.,Jan.29,1889.

    MydearMissBe:--Iamdelightedtowritetoyouthism.Wehavejusteatenourbreakfast.

    Mildredisrunningaboutdownstairs.Ihavebeenreadinginmybookaboutastronomers.AstronomeresfromtheLatinwordastra,whichmeansstars;an