"When the first excitement had in a measure subsided, I wrote to a friend in Washington and asked if in case of Mr. Garfield's death his family would be left in comfortable circumstances." It was on July 6th that he sent this message by cable and telegraph to friends in Europe and America: "If President Garfield should die from the wounds received on 2d instant he would leave for his wife and five children about $20,000. I shall to-morrow, Thursday, morning exert myself to the utmost to raise a sum of money to be presented to him at once, as I feel confident it would help his recovery if he knew that in the event of his death his family would be provided for. I shall cheerfully subscribe $5000 towards the sum to be raised. If you or any of your friends would like to join, please telegraph to me early to-morrow, Thursday, for what amount I may put your name, and oblige." The subscriptions were from $5000 to a ten-cent piece (given by an office-boy), and there was deposited in the United States Trust Company $362,238 52. A silver coin of the value of ten cents was sold, and he sent this note to the child who made the donation: "145 BROADWAY, "NEW YORK, _15th July, 1881_. "_My dear young Friend._--I was very much pleased to read your nice letter enclosing the silver coin you had kept so long. I showed your letter to a gentleman who came to see me at my office, and he kindly said he would give one hundred times the value of the coin, and handed me twenty dollars in exchange for it and your letter, so that you see your little offering to Mollie Garfield's mamma has realized quite a large sum. "I thank you very much for your contribution, and am "Very truly your friend, "CYRUS W. FIELD." "MR. FIELD: "_Dear Sir,_--I thought it was very funny to see my little letter printed in the newspaper, and I think it was so kind of that gentleman to give twenty dollars in my name. I wish I knew who it was, so I could thank him for it. Will you please thank him for me? I am seven years old. "BERDIE HAZELTON. "I don't know Mollie Garfield very well, for I never saw her, but I am so sorry for her, 'cause her poor papa got shot." With the invitation to attend the Garfield memorial service came this note: "WASHINGTON, _February 18, 1882_. "_My dear Mr. Field,_--You must come to the address on the 27th, Monday. You will go on the floor with me. I should feel that my audience was incomplete if you were not present. Sincerely, "JAMES G. BLAINE." As he had received the thanks of Congress, he was entitled for life to the privilege of going upon the floor. A message sent from the Yorktown celebration, in October, 1881, to Mr. Gladstone, called forth this answer: "HAWARDEN CASTLE, CHESTER, "_October 21, 1881_.