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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