y　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　h