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。　’