The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lesson for Today, by Joel Nydahl
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
using this eBook.
Title: Lesson for Today
Author: Joel Nydahl
Release Date: August 27, 2021 [eBook #66151]
Language: English
Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LESSON FOR TODAY ***
LESSON FOR TODAY
By Joel Nydahl
With the world destroyed around them, Helen
wondered why she and Robbie were still left alive.
There must be a reason--and of course, there was....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
May 1953
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"_While we remain in our invisible space-ship, the inhabitants of
this world cannot see us. Prepare to take notes now in preparation
for your final exam on the subject Alien Creatures and Their Actions
in Given Situations. Notice below us the female of the dominant
Species. She is with her child...._"
Clutching Robbie in her arms and holding him tight, Helen Thompson
sat down wearily on the ground. The cold and dampness was all around
her, boring through the thin cotton dress she wore. Her flesh was cold
and her dark brown hair hung in ringlets over her forehead. She wore
no shoes. She had lost them miles back, near the ruins at the edge of
Chicago. Her feet were blistered and bleeding, numb now from the cold
of early morning.
Carefully she put her sleeping child on the ground for a moment as she
rubbed her feet trying to restore circulation. Slowly feeling came back
and then she flinched as pain shot up her legs.
She picked up the child and started again, heading westward.
"_See the way she tries to protect her young, cradling it in her
arms, shielding it from the coldness with her own body._"
Now the sun was higher in the sky. The cold was gone now. But still
there was something surrounding her, enclosing her, almost like a
prison wall. Yet she could not see it.
_Radiation!_
Radiation from the long exploded bombs. It poisoned the air. It killed
all vegetation. It killed all the animals. All except the two of them,
the woman and her child. It had spared them. Not because it wanted to,
but because it had to. Vaguely she remembered....
* * * * *
She and Robbie had been sitting in a Chicago park when the first
bomb dropped. It fell quite near them, about three miles away. She
remembered the bright blinding flash. Above them the branch of a tree
cracked. It fell to a point twenty feet over their heads. Then it
stopped. It was as if some force held it back. The force, whatever it
was, also held back the heat. But it didn't stop her from fainting in
terror.
When she regained consciousness, the burned and broken city lay all
around them. Buildings were fused together. Everywhere was destruction.
Everywhere except around she and Robbie. There, the grass was green and
flowers grew. At the edge where the green ended and the black began,
there was a pile of rubbish piled up _as if leaning against something_.
She picked up a stick nearby and threw it. It reached the point where
the green stopped and then it too stopped, _in the middle of the air_.
Finally it fell to the ground.
She arose and walked over to where the stick lay. She extended her hand
a few feet in front of her, and touched something. Something tangible,
yet she could not see it. And no matter how hard she pushed, she could
not extend her hand beyond a given point.
_A dome was covering them and protecting them!_
For weeks she and Robbie stayed under the dome while the wind took some
of the radiation away. Each morning, when they awoke, a package of food
lay by their side. Strange food, food they had never tasted or seen
before. _Alien food._
_They had been spared by--what?_
The puzzling thoughts spun in her mind. _Why_ were they being spared?
_Who_ was sparing them?
Then one day, weeks after the bombs dropped, the dome disappeared. She
could not see it disappear, but she knew that it was gone for the pile
of ash that had leaned against it fell to the ground.
Then she started out with but one thought in mind. _I must find
Johnny!_ Across country she went, through small towns filled with death.
She walked, with Robbie stumbling along at her side, his small face
wide with wonder and fear. Her heart ached as she looked into his
staring eyes, while an occasional whimper left his lips. "... mommy,
where's Daddy? Where is he, mommy?"
She gripped his hand tighter and continued to walk, each mile a numb
and crazy nightmare.
"_Now take note of the setting the aliens are in. It took careful
planning for our scientists to devastate the planet's surface as
you now witness._"
It was late afternoon when Helen stopped to rest by a seared oak tree.
Robbie had been walking beside her. Suddenly he turned and looked up at
her. "Mommy, why are we walking so far? I'm tired of walking. I don't
want to walk any more. Where is daddy?"
"Hush, dear. We're going to find daddy." She knew they would never find
him ... alive. But something made her keep going. Something inside
wouldn't let her turn back. _She had to know...._
"We've got to find daddy so he'll make everything right again, don't
we?"
She hesitated before answering. "Yes--yes that's it. We've got to find
daddy so he can help us--and make everything right again!"
"Oh."
"Go to sleep, Robbie. You've got to rest."
"But I'm hungry."
"Sleep, dear. We'll eat ... later." She kissed him, sat on the ground
beside him and rocked his head in her weary arms.
"_For those of you students who do not understand the languages of
this planet, I'll interpret. She was trying to comfort her young
one, telling him that his father was going to make everything right
again when they found him. While inwardly she knew they would never
find him alive. Primitive peoples often react to disasters in this
way, making themselves and others around them believe things that
are not true._"
Slowly Helen opened her eyes. She sat up slowly, taking in the scene
around her. She sat that way for a moment, thinking, her mind far from
there, somewhere in southern France where her aunt and uncle were. She
wondered if--
"Robbie," she whispered. She nudged his shoulder gently, trying to
awaken him. Finally his eyes opened. He smiled wistfully.
"Get up, dear. We've got to be going now."
"I'm hungry."
"I know. So am I. We'll find something to eat pretty soon. You will
have to wait."
"But--" Tears came to his eyes. One ran down his dirty cheek, making a
rivulet.
"Please Robbie," she pleaded. "Don't cry. Remember what daddy always
said, 'A smile blocks up the tears.'" He smiled weakly. "Now buck up,"
she added.
She took his hand and they started walking.
"_Reading her mind, I see that she is more concerned over her
child's welfare than her own. This is very unusual in primitive
races._"
They entered a small town. Down the main street they walked. The town
was deserted, but showed no sign of being bombed or burned. In the
street, numerous automobiles were parked. But she saw no people....
They entered a restaurant. Inside, the tables and chairs were in good
order except for a half inch of dust and a few dirty dishes. She
inspected the kitchen and found what she had been looking for. Canned
food.
"Robbie," she called. "Where are you?"
She walked back to the door of the kitchen and looked into the
restaurant. Robbie was not there.... Then she saw him through the
restaurant windows, standing on the street outside. She called
"Robbie--I've found some food!"
Robbie turned, his small face twisted with hunger. He started back
toward the door.
She returned to the kitchen and looked for a can opener.
"_We will drop down a few hundred feet and pick up the young one
with our magnetic-force-field. We shall examine him._"
One moment Robbie was standing at the restaurant door, and the next
he was floating upward in the middle of the air. There was a strange
sensation in his stomach. He was scared. He started to cry.
"_Notice the noise he makes with his mouth. This is not a form of
communication, but rather he is using a primitive form of expressing
his thoughts, which is called crying. Reading his mind, I find only
confusion and fear. He wonders where he is, but knows that he
doesn't like it._
"_Another interesting fact about these aliens is that they feel
pain. It is hard to understand and even harder to explain. But I
will try. We are aware of touching something or somebody only as a
sensation on the skin. These people have more than that. Now watch.
As I cut the skin of this young one slightly, notice that he jerks
and screams louder. He is feeling pain. It is a strong sensation
that leaves a sharp impression on the brain. That does not fully
explain it, but it is the best I can do along with this
demonstration._"
"Oh, good God! Robbie! What happened, honey. What happened?" Then she
saw the blood dripping on the floor. "_Robbie_, your arm!"
Then he was in her arms, sobbing hysterically. "I--I ... they took me,
and cut me--and ..." but he could go no further.
Carefully, she laid him on a table and examined his arm. The bleeding
had subsided some. She took a clean wet cloth and wiped off the blood.
Then she bandaged it.
Robbie had stopped sobbing now, but the tears were still coming. She
tried to get the story of what had happened to him, but what she did
hear, she didn't believe.
After he finished she said, "Now, Robbie, I can't believe that you were
lifted into the air by a space-ship, tied to a table and cut in the arm
by some monster!"
"But Mommy, that's what happened. Honest! And when I was laying on the
table I heard them talking. But I couldn't understand what they were
saying!"
A grimness filled her as he spoke. And then a terrible horror spread
through her. She remembered the Chicago park, when the bombs fell--how
they alone seemed to be spared death.... _Was it possible?..._
She grabbed Robbie into her arms and dashed up the street away from the
restaurant. She saw a car standing by the curb and ran to it. There
were keys in the ignition. She put Robbie on the front seat and got
in. As the motor coughed into life she meshed gears and sped out of
the town. One thing buzzed in her mind. _Peoria--that's where Johnny
is--oh, Johnny--help us!_
"_The conveyance in which you now see them is called an automobile.
It is propelled by a liquid fuel, gasoline, in an internal
combustion engine. We purposely had the automobile left there for
them._"
She drove through the industrial section of Peoria. She knew she was
near the factory where Johnny worked. She started looking for the
building, thinking how unfair it was for Johnny to have taken a job
so far from Chicago. But her heart lifted as she thought about her
husband. _Johnny--Johnny, we're here!_
There! To her left. There it was! She stopped the car, took Robbie's
hand and ran toward the building.
"Mommy, is this where daddy is? Is he here?" Robbie's voice trembled.
She nodded her head as they ran. "Yes, Robbie--daddy's here!"
She reached the building. The door was open and they stepped inside.
She was breathless now. Johnny--so close.... She led Robbie to the
stairs and her knees shook as they went up. "Johnny! Johnny!" she
called, her voice close to hysteria.
But there was only silence.
She ran down the hall on the second floor, pulling Robbie with her,
heard him sobbing. Then she saw the door and the gold letters on it.
JOHN THOMPSON.
"Robbie, stay here." She hesitated. Her hands were cold and clammy. She
was trembling.
She shoved open the door.
She screamed.
There on the floor lay a body. It had once been a man. Now there was
only a skeleton of bleached white bones. Then she saw _it_. On the ring
finger of his right hand. A gold ring with silver letters on black
onyx. Johnny's....
Then she was running and screaming. Screaming and running. Down the
stairs and out the door. Behind her Robbie followed, crying, terror in
his small eyes.
She collapsed on the ground, her body shaking with sobs. Robbie fell
beside her.
She put her arms around him, clutched his body to her. "Oh, Robbie,"
she cried. "You're the only thing I have left in the world. I love you.
Don't leave me. Don't ever leave me." She snuggled him closer to her.
Then she looked at his face. She gave a little cry in her throat. She
looked closer. Covering his skin were small red sores. What was it she
had once read in a book?--Something about radiation poisoning--red
sores appearing just before death--
"No, Robbie! Oh, no!"
He looked up at her, his eyes hot and feverish. He tried to talk but
the words bubbled on his lips.
She pressed him to her breast and rocked him, shaking her head. "No,
Robbie! Don't leave me!..."
She felt the beating of his heart against hers. Slower. His small body
twitched. Then grew silent.
... She sat there on the ground, holding the still form in her arms
long after the sun had set. The Moon shone down with a silver glow,
bathing the child's dead body in its soft light. It shone in the
woman's eyes too, glazed eyes, with a dead mind behind them....
"_That concludes our lesson for today._"
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LESSON FOR TODAY ***
Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
be renamed.
Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the
United States without permission and without paying copyright
royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may
do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
license, especially commercial redistribution.
START: FULL LICENSE
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your
possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the
person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph
1.E.8.
1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this
agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the
Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual
works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting
free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm
works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily
comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when
you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no
representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
country other than the United States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work
on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the
phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,
performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project
Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works
posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
Gutenberg-tm License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format
other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official
version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website
(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain
Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the
full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
provided that:
* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation."
* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
works.
* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
receipt of the work.
* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than
are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
cannot be read by your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
without further opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO
OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in
accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or
additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any
Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
from people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future
generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
www.gutenberg.org
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website
and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without
widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular
state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be
freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of
volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
edition.
Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
facility: www.gutenberg.org
This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
