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You write me under date of the 2d inst. that your boy who is at school at Dusseldorf, has for the last eighteen months been ``saving up his pennies,'' and has sent you the proceeds, amounting to five dollars which you enclose, to ``help the sick and wounded of
our brave boys fighting for the glorious cause of truth and freedom'' as he is himself ``not yet old enough to fight.''
The amount is duly received and shall be devoted to the object indicated. I thank your boy, not only for myself, but also for all the children of the nation, who are even more interested than those of us, of maturer age, that this war shall be successful, and the Union be maintained and perpetuated. Yours truly,
[1] Df, DLC-Nicolay Papers. The draft is in Nicolay's handwriting. An endorsement on the verso in the handwriting of Edward D. Neill indicates that Neill copied the letter which Lincoln signed and sent, but the original has not been discovered. Meier's letter is also in the Nicolay Papers.