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　Silcock　a　long　time　ago。　

Can　the　readers　of　The　Times　help　us？　This　man　is　not　ill；　but　he　needs　a　home。　We　can　give　him　a　room　at　the　hospital；　but　we　need　some　money。　Please　write　to　me　at　the　London　Hospital。　

　　

Yours　faithfully；　

F。　C。　Carr　Gomm。　

Chairman　of　the　London　Hospital

　　

The　readers　of　The　Times　are　very　kind　people。　They　gave　us　a　lot　of　money。　After　one　week；　we　had　￡50；　000；　so　Merrick　could　live　in　the　Hospital　for　all　his　life。　We　could　give　him　a　home。　


Chapter　4

　　

Merrick's　First　Home

　　

We　gave　Merrick　two　rooms　at　the　back　of　the　hospital。　One　room　was　a　bathroom；　so　he　could　have　a　bath　every　day。　Soon　his　skin　was　much　better；　and　there　was　no　horrible　smell。　

The　second　room　had　a　bed；　table　；　and　chairs。　I　visited　him　every　day；　and　talked　to　him。　He　loved　reading；　and　talking　about　books。　At　first　he　did　not　know　many　books：the　Bible；　and　one　or　two　newspapers；　that's　all。　But　I　gave　him　some　books　of　love　stories；　and　he　liked　them　very　much。　He　read　them　again　and　again；　and　talked　about　them　often。　For　him；　the　men　and　women　in　these　books　were　alive；　like　you　and　me。　He　was　very　happy。　

But　sometimes　it　was　difficult　for　him。　At　first；　one　or　two　people　in　the　hospital　laughed　at　Merrick　because　he　was　ugly。　Sometimes；　they　brought　their　friends　to　look　at　him。　One　day　a　new　nurse　came　to　the　hospital；　and　nobody　told　her　about　Merrick。　She　took　his　food　to　his　room；　and　opened　the　door。　Then　she　saw　him。　She　screamed；　dropped　the　food　on　the　floor；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　

I　was　very　angry　with　the　nurse；　and　went　to　see　Merrick。　He　was　not　happy　about　it；　but　he　was　not　very　angry。　I　think　he　felt　sorry　for　the　girl。　

‘People　don't　like　looking　at　me。　I　know　that；　Dr　26Treves；　’he　said。　‘They　usually　laugh　or　scream。　’

‘Well；　I　don't　want　nurses　to　laugh　at　you；　Joseph；　’　I　said　angrily。　‘I　want　them　to　help　you。　’

‘Thank　you；　doctor；　’he　said；　in　his　strange　slow　voice。　‘But　it's　not　important。　Everyone　laughs　at　me。　I　understand　that。　’

I　looked　at　him　sadly。　In　his　one　good　hand；　his　left　hand；　he　had　the　little　picture　of　his　mother。　He　looked　at　the　picture　for　a　minute；　and　then　put　it　by　a　flower　on　the　table。　A　tear　ran　out　of　his　eye　and　down　the　skin　of　his　enormous；　ugly　face。　

‘Dr　Treves；　’he　said；　slowly。　‘You　and　the　nurses　arevery　kind；　and　I'm　very　happy　here。　Thank　you　very　much。　But…I　know　I　can't　stay　here　long；　and…I　would　like　to　live　in　a　lighthouse；　after　the　hospital；　please。　A　lighthouse；　or　a　home　for　blind　people。　I　think　those　are　the　best　places　for　me。　

‘What　do　you　mean？’I　ashed。　‘Why？’

He　did　not　look　at　me。　He　put　the　flower　on　the　picture　and　looked　at　it　carefully。　

‘Lighthouses　have　sea　all　round　them；　don't　they？　’he　said。　‘　Nobody　could　look　at　me　in　a　lighthouse；　so　I　would　be　happy　there。　And　blind　people　can　see　nothing；　so　they　couldn't　see　me；　could　they？’

‘But　Joseph；　’I　said。　‘This　is　your　home。　You　live　here　now。　You　aren't　going　to　leave　the　hospital。　’　28‘Not　todsy；　perhaps；　’he　said。　But　soon。　You　are　a　kind　man；　Dr　Treves。　But　I　can't　stay　here　very　long。　I　have　no　money。　’

I　smiled。　‘Joseph；　I　said。　‘This　is　your　home　now。　Don't　you　understand？You　can　stay　here　all　your　life。　’　Very　carefully；　I　told　him　about　the　letter　to　The　Times；　and　the　money。　

I　don't　think　he　understood　at　first；　so　I　told　him　again。　He　inute。　Then　he　stood　up；　and　walked　up　and　down　the　room　very　quickly。　A　strange　sound　came　from　him；　like　laughing。　

　　
Chapter　5

　　

An　Important　Visitor

　　

I　did　not　want　Merrick　to　live　by　himself；　like　a　man　in　a　lighthouse。　He　read　his　books；　and　talked　to　me；　but　I　wanted　him　to　talk　to　more　people。　And　I　wanted　him　to　talk　to　women。　

Merrick　read　about　women　in　his　books；　but　he　did　not　often　talk　to　women。　He　met　the　nurses　every　day；　but　they　did　not　talk　to　him　very　much。　For　them；　he　was　always　a　creature；　not　a　man。　

One　day；　one　of　my　friends；　a　beautiful　young　woman；　came　to　the　hospital。　I　told　her　about　Merrick；　and　took　her　to　his　room。　She　opened　the　door；　and　smiled　at　him。　

‘Good　morning；　Mr　Merrick；　’she　said。　Then　she　shook　his　hand。　

Merrick　looked　at　her　for　a　minute　with　his　mouth　open。　Then　he　sat　down　on　his　bed；　with　his　head　in　his　hand；　and　cried。　He　cried　for　nearly　five　minutes。　The　tears　ran　down　his　face；　between　his　fingers；　and　onto　the　floor。　

My　friend　sat　on　the　bed　beside　him　and　put　her　hand　on　his　arm。　She　said　nothing；　but　she　smiled　at　him　and　shookhis　hand　again　before　she　left。　

‘Dr　Treves；　’he　said　to　me　that　night。　‘That　lady　was　wonderful！　My　mother　smiled　at　me　once；　many　years　ago；　but　no　women　smile　at　me　now。　But　this　lady　smiled　at　me　too；　and　she　shook　my　hand！　A　beautiful　lady　smiled　at　me　and　shook　my　hand！　’

My　young　lady　friend　came　again　the　next　week；　and　talked　to　Merrick　for　half　an　hour。　The　week　after　that；　she　came　again　with　a　friend。　They　gave　him　some　books；　and　had　a　cup　of　tea　with　him。　It　was　wonderful　for　him。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　he　had　some　friends。　He　was　a　very　happy　man。　He　sat　in　his　room；　and　read　his　books；　and　said　no　more　about　living　on　a　lighthouse。　

People　began　to　read　about　Merrick　in　the　newspapers；　sohe　had　a　lot　of　visitors。　Everybody　wanted　to　see　him。　A　lot　of　important　ladies　and　gentlemen　visited　him。　They　smiled　at　him；　shook　his　hand；　and　gave　him　books。　Merrick　liked　talk…ing　to　these　people；　and　he　began　to　forget　about　his　uglybody。　His　visitors　never　laughed　at　him。　He　began　to　feel　like　a　man；　not　a　creature。　

One　wonderful　day；　a　very　important　lady　came　to　the　hospital　to　visit　him。　I　met　the　lady；　and　took　her　to　his　room。　Then　I　opened　the　door；　and　smiled　at　him。　

‘Good　morning；　Joseph；　’I　said。　‘There　is　a　new　visitor　to　see　you　today。　A　very　famous　lady。　’

Merrick　stood　up　beside　his　table。　He　did　not　smile；　because　his　face　could　not　smile；　but　his　eyes　looked　happy。　

‘That's　good；　’he　said。　‘Who　is　it？’

I　moved　away　from　the　door；　and　the　visitor　walked　in。　‘Your　Majesty；　this　is　Joseph　Merrick；　’I　said。　‘Joseph；　this　is　Her　Majesty；　Queen　Alexandra；　the　Queen　of　England。　’

Queen　Alexandra　smiled　at　him。　‘How　do　you　do；　Mr　Merrick；　’She　said。　‘I'm　very　pleased　to　meet　you。　’Then　she　shook　his　hand。　

Merrick　did　not　move。　For　nearly　half　a　minute　he　stood　and　looked　at　her　with　his　mouth　open。　Then　he　spoke；　in　his　strange；　slow　voice。　

‘How…　how　do　you　do；　Your　Majesty；　’he　said。　But　I　don't　think　the　Queen　understood　him；　because　he　tried　to　get　down　on　his　knees　at　the　same　time。　It　was　very　difficult　for　him；　because　of　his　enormous　legs。　

‘No；　please；　Mr　Merrick；　do　get　up；　’said　the　Queen。　‘I　would　like　to　talk　to　you。　Can　we　sit　at　your　table？’

‘Yes…yes；　of　course；　’he　said。　They　sat　at　the　table。　She　took　his　left　hand；　the　good　hand；　in　hers。　She　looked　at　the　hand　carefully；　and　then　smiled　at　Merrick　again。　

‘I　often　read　about　you　in　the　newspapers；　’she　said。　‘You　are　a　very　interesting　man；　Mr　Merrick。　You　have　a　very　difficult　life；　but　people　say　you're　happy。　Is　it　true？　Are　you　happy　now？’

‘Oh；　yes；　Your　Majesty；　yes！　’said　Merrick。　‘I'm　a　very　happy　man！　I　have　a　home　here　now；　and　friends；　and　my　books。　I'm　happy　every　hour　of　the　day！　’

‘What　a　wonderful　story！　’she　said。　‘I'm　very　pleasedto　hear　it　Now；　tell　me　about　your　reading。　I　see　you　have　a　lot　of　books　here。　’

‘Oh；　yes；　Your　Majesty。　I　love　my　books；　’said　Merrick。　And　for　nearly　half　an　hour　they　sat　and　talked　about　books。　The　Queen　gave　him　a　little　book；　and　some　red　flowers；　before　she　left。　

After　her　visit；　Merrick　began　to　sing。　He　could　not　sing　easily；　of　course；　because　of　his　mouth；　but　all　that　day　there　was　a　strange；　happy　noise　in　his　room。　He　looked　at　the　flowers　carefully；　and　put　them　on　his　table。　

He　had　many　visits　from　the　Queen；　and　at　Christmas　she　sent　him　a　Christmas　card。　

　　

Windsor　Castle

20th　December　1888

　　

Dear　Joseph；　

Here　is　a　small　Christmas　present　for　you。　I　think　it　looks　like　me；　doesn't　it？I　do　like　visiting　you　very　much；　and　I　am　going　to　e　to　the　hospital　again　in　the　New　Year。　

Happy　Christmas！　

　　

Your　friend

Alexandra

　　

The　present　was　a　picture　of　Queen　Alexandra；　with　her　name　on　it。　Merrick　cried　over　it；　and　put　it　carefully　by　the　bed　in　his　room。　Then　he　sat　down　and　wrote　a　letter　to　the　Queen。　It　was　the　first　letter　of　his　life。　

　　

The　London　Hospital

23rd　December　1888

My　dear　Queen；　

Thank　you　very；　very；　much　for　your　wonderful　card　and　the　beautiful　picture。　It　is　the　best　thing　in　my　room；　the　very　best；　the　most　beautiful　thing　I　have。　This　is　the　first　Christmas　in　my　life；　and　my　first　Christmas　present。　Perhaps　I　had　a　Christmas　with　my　mother　once；　but　I　do　not　remember　it。　I　have　my　mother's　picture　too；　and　she　is　beautiful；　like　you。　But　now　I　know　many　famous　ladies　and　kind　people　like　Dr　Treves；　and　I　am　a　very　happy　man。　I　am　happy　too　because　I　am　going　to　see　you　in　the　New　Year。　

Happy　Christmas　to　you；　my　dear　friend；　

　　

With　all　my　love；　

Joseph　Merrick

　　
Chapter　6

　　

Outside　the　Hospital

　　

Merrick　had　a　lo　of　friends　now；　but　he　was　more　like　a　child　than　a　man。　He　could　read　about　things；　and　talk　to　his　visitors；　but　he　could　not　go　out　of　the　hospital　by　himself。　He　thought　and　played　like　a　child。　

After　Christmas；　he　wanted　to　go　to　the　theatre。　This　was　very　difficult；　because　I　did　not　want　the　people　in　the　theatre　to　see　him。　But　a　kind　lady　from　the　theatre—Mrs　Kendal—helped　us。　We　bought　tickets　for　a　box　at　the　side　of　the　theatre　We　went　to　the　theatre　in　a　cab　with　dark　windows；　and　we　went　into　the　theatre　by　a　door　at　the　back—the　Queen's　door。　Nobody　saw　us。　

Three　nurses　sat　at　the　front　of　the　box；　and　Merrick　and　I　sat　in　the　dark　behind　them。　Nobody　in　the　theatre　could　see　us；　but　we　could　see　the　play。　

It　was　a　children's　Christmas　play。　Merrick　loved　it。　It　was　a　most　wonderful；　exciting　story。　Often　he　laughed；　and　sometimes　he　tried　to　sing　like　the　children　in　the　theatre。　He　was　like　a　child。　For　him；　everything　in　the　story　was　true。　

Once　he　was　very　afraid；　because　the　bad　man　in　the　play　was　angry　and　had　a　knife。　At　first　Merrick　wanted　to　leave　the　theatre；　but　I　stopped　him。　Then　he　was　very　angry　with　this　bad　man　in　the　play。　He　hit　his　hand　on　his　chair；　and　stood　up　and　talked　to　the　man。　But　nobody　heard　him。　When　　42the　bad　man　went　to　prison；　Merrick　laughed。　

Merrick　thought　the　beautiful　young　lady　in　the　play　was　wonderful。　He　wanted　to　talk　to　her　too。　At　the　end　of　the　play　he　was　very　happy　because　she　married　a　good　young　man。　

He　remembered　this　play　for　a　long　time；　and　he　talked　a　lot　about　the　people　in　it。　‘What　do　you　think　they　did　after　we　left？’he　asked　me。　‘Where　do　the　young　lady　and　the　young　man　live？　What　are　they　doing　now？’

‘I　don't　know；　I　said。　‘Perhaps　they　live　in　the　country。　’

Merrick　thought　about　this　for　a　long　time。　Then　he　said：‘Dr　Treves；　can　I　go　to　the　country；　please？I　saw　the　country　once　from　a　train；　but　I　never　went　there。　I　often　read　about　it　in　books。　It's　very　beautiful；　isn't　it？I　would　like　to　see　it。　’

The　visit　to　the　theatre　was　difficult　but　a　visit　to　the　country　was　more　difficult。　But　again；　one　of　his　new　friends　helped　us。　She　had　a　small　house　in　the　country；　and　Merrick　could　stay　in　it　for　the　summer；　she　said。　

I　took　Merrick　to　the　country　in　a　train　with　dark　windows；　so　nobody　could　see　him。　Then　we　went　in　a　cab　to　the　country　house。　

There　were　a　lot　of　trees　near　the　house；　but　no　people　lived　near　it。　A　countryman　brought　food　to　the　house　everyday；　but　no　people　came　near　it。　

I　stayed　with　him　that　night。　At　night；　it　orning；　hundreds　of　birds　sang　in　the　trees；　and　everything　outside　the　house　was　green。　Merrick　walked　under　the　big　trees；　looking　at　things　happily；　and　singing　his　strange　song。　

I　went　back　to　London；　but　Merrick　stayed　there　for　six　weeks。　He　was　wonderfully　happy。　Every　week；　he　wrote　me　a　letter。　

　　

Apple　Tree　House；　

West　Wickham；　

Be