Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, K

12/15/1901

Skull Run, W. Va.

Mrs. Leland Stanford Dear Friend:

As I have seen in the Cincinati Enquirer where you have given a handsome gift to our Institutions of learning, and as I am a poor Boy of 22 yrs of a[ge], I would love if you could help me a little for the purpose of goeing [sic] to school. I have a hard time in trying to get an Education I {haeft ?} to Words By the Days Words at 76 per day and I am all most discouraged and if I would {?} a year at that rate it { ?} go far in school you know and if I dont get help soon I will {haeft ? have} to give it up. and if you can help me I will never forget you long as life shall last. and when I get able I will return all you can give me if it would be your wish. So I will close hoping you will enjoy many years of life and after death a home in heaven

is the wish of a true Boy

W. B. Keeffe

[right side of page turned on itself]

Houston Texas Dec. 22, 01

Dear Mrs Stanford

Pardon me a stranger for writing you these few lines. As I have [often] heard of your kind gen[erous] nature I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject that you may thi[nk] bold in me. Yet I feel that you would pardon me and be my friend were our acquaintance more tha[n] what it now is and my c[ase] placed before you so that [you] could understand and kn[ow] me better.

I will introduce my[self] by saying that I am { ?} young man (white) { ?} { ?} strong and healthy,

who has had the misfortune of becoming nearly totally blind seeing a space only about 1 1/2 or 2 inches in diameter and that very dimly and almost helpless, thereby since reaching the age of manhood.

I am strictly temperate and have the best of moral habits. Was allways fond of books and study and considered myself fairly well read for one of my age when an accident forever blasted my hopes and ambitions.

I have often thought how much better off I would be if I could gain the love and respects of some elderly lady or gentleman and were given an opportunity of proving myself worthy of their respects.

Now Mrs Stanford it would be much {appreached ? [appreciated]} by me could I find an elderly lady or gentleman that would let me have a home with them and if I proved myself worthy of his or her respects to addopt [sic] me, as one of their children One that would try to make my life brighter and happier. I could love and cherish such a noble spirit person as though he or she was my father or mother and I do not think it possible that when extreame [sic] old age overtook him or her they would regret the kindness shown a poor blind boy.

Now Mrs Stanford I do not want you to think me an idle trifle

boy. I would rather saw cord wood than to be idle. I work each day that I can get employment. For instance last week I sawed three cords of wood and did a lot of other work rather than be an intire [sic] dependence upon my two sisters who work in a factory to support Mother and myself; Father having been dead many years. Prior to my ey[es] failing me I took care of Mother and them. While earning only a dollar a day learning a trade I provided for and bought a home for them.

Since my eyes failed me I have worked at whatever my poor eyesight would enable me to do no matter how hard or distasteful. I have allways [sic] tried to do my work through and excell. [sic]

Father died and lost his property when we were small. I would be glad to hear