uit from head to foot.
I have had three happy Christmases, but this is the
best I ever witnessed before. It is not because I
have had much play. I have been so busy in reading
letters and writing letters. I have received two a
week, for this last three weeks, of the friends of
peace. On the morrow after Christmas day I was
at work again. When my sisters have called me
to my breakfast or dinner, I have been forced to be
reading while I have eaten my food. One night I
was reading in the Citizen about my young friends.
I was reading about that little girl which went without
milk at supper time because I should have a
suit of clothes. My mother she dropped her head
and began to wipe her eyes, but I kept on reading
till I come to that little girl which came skipping
across the street with a good long list of names
which she had been collecting money of. I was
forced to put the paper down. I told her that you
sent that money to make me comfortable not to
make me miserable. My mother she made me
promise to pay you all again. I told her you did
not want money you only wanted me to be a good
boy and write about peace and Brotherhood, and as
soon as I can I shall send some money to pay for
some Olive Leaves and a good song to put in them.
There are some good boys in America as well as
girls. They have been very busy for me. I return
you all many sincere thanks for your kindness. I
am writing to you with pen and paper hoping sometime
I shall come and see you all face to face. I
shall not come with a sword in my hand nor a gun
nor a fine feather in my cap flying about. I shall
come with a nice book in my hand or a roll of paper
and tell you some good news. It did not take quite
all that money to buy my suit, so my sisters have
got a little shawl apiece. They have not quite worn
out their sixpenny bonnets.

JOSIAH BANNER.

* * * * *

Dear Children:--

I have read these letters to you just as Josiah wrote them. He is now
about 12 years old, "working with two hammers, one with his foot, the
other with his hand, striking off nails as fast as he can." But I should
like to compare his writing with the writing of any little boys and
girls of his age, that meet in our school-room. He has no nice desk to
write on; his pens and ink are such as he can get. There were no pen and
ink in hi