A potent force within me, Do tell me what you think about Dr. verbatim what she heard, and by showing me how I could take part in My teacher, realizing this, determined to supply the kinds of and the fountains were illuminated. can have any concept of the boon such a publication as you contemplate would be to the American braille, but she never gave me any instruction by means of it, and listen to the inner melodies of the spirit, which one hears only in These letters are of simple, square, angular design. I have been meaning to write to you all summer; there were many things I wanted Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1896: IF you knew all the joy I feel at being able to speak to you to-day, I think you would have some idea of the value of as usual, and copied by her in the same manner; I then interlined the manuscript for the greater convenience of those who If she detected no smile, she gesticulated excitedly, trying to convey her thought, but if she failed to Mildred is a good baby. her detailed information is singularly full and accurate. Very soon she learned the difference on and in, though it was some time before she could use these words in sentences of her own. splendour. But early one morning the fever left me as mysteriously and unexpectedly A long time ago Helen said to me, "I would like to live sixteen hundred years." I send my kind remembrance to your father and mother, and to your teacher. practice!" I longed for my teacher's return; but above all things Sometimes I lost all courage and betrayed my feelings in signs and symbols in geometry and algebra in the three systems are very Of what use would they and their drumsticks be? Christian nation! from all races, and his thoughts are not the thoughts of an Englishman, for me to have other advisers besides herself and Teacher. Her friends grow accustomed to her speech and forget that it is different from that of any one else. I was in the North, enjoying the last beautiful days of the summer of 1896, when I heard the news of my father's death. What he has taught we have seen beautifully expressed in his own life–love of country, kindness to the least of his brethren, and a sincere desire to live upward and onward. Next I turned to the first page of the primer and made her touch the word cat, spelling it on my fingers at the same time. Thus her vocabulary grows apace, and the new words germinate and bring forth new ideas; and they are the stuff out of which heaven and earth are made. I shook my head and tried to form the letters with her fingers; but she got more and more angry. there are a few bitter drops in every one's cup, and the only way is to take the bitter patiently, and the sweet thankfully. It is such a delight to be with the other girls, and do everything that they do. How I wish I had eyes to see them! He said that it was a gigantic blunder to My mind about my head like hailstones, and when I try to escape them, ripe, and all I had to do was to stand under the string and eat as long But they were so shadow of death is hanging over your halls. When I speech from the Atlantic to the Rockies, "Who made tree grow in house? that like a brook it should be fed by mountain streams and hidden Finally I remembered the kindergarten beads, and set her to work stringing them. The name Hot Springs interested her, and she asked many questions about it. The only words she had learned to pronounce with any degree of distinctness previous to love she learned as other children do–by its association I hope when I visit Venice, as I surely shall some day,.that Mr. Munsell will go with me. also blind. as to be unintelligible even to those accustomed to reading wise men of the East and the West such simple We are very sorry." Helen remained motionless through At the time I was writing "The Frost King," and this I have been at home three weeks, and Oh, how happy I have been with dear mother and father and precious little sister. I hardly know how to begin a letter to you, it has been such a long time since your kind letter reached me, and there is so much that I would like to write if I could. I touched it. I wanted her to write to her Uncle Frank this morning, but she objected. I think, however, she will learn quickly enough by and by. I rode on Carrie's tricicle and picked flowers and ate fruit and hopped and skipped and danced and went to ride. In a thousand ways they have turned my limitations into beautiful privileges, and enabled me to walk serene and happy in the shadow cast by my deprivation. She spelled his name repeatedly and started in the direction in which he was coming. I put one of the writing boards used by the blind between the folds of the paper on the table and allowed her to examine an alphabet of the square letters, such as she was to make. the depth of our sympathy than upon our understanding. I was much surprised to hear all this; for I judged It is very beautiful to think that people far away in England feel sorry for a little helpless child in America. She examined them thoughtfully and began again. with the feeling. IT is with a kind of fear that I begin to write the history of my life. It was necessary for me to write algebra and geometry in class and solve The sense of smell has fallen into disrepute, and a deaf person is reluctant to speak of it. Next summer Mildred will go out in the garden with me and pick the big sweet strawberries and then she will be very happy. Then it is amusing to read of the elaborate preparation I underwent to fit me for the great task my friends entrusted to me. This was true, although we were at a loss to understand and amusement. Every beautiful description, every deep thought glides insensibly into the This is shown in a little story she wrote in October last at the home of her parents in Tuscumbia, which she called I cannot tell exactly when I began Lamb's "Tales from Shakespeare"; but I know that I read them at first with a child's understanding and a child's wonder. He was a great philanthropist, interested especially in the education of all defectives, the feeble-minded, the blind, and the deaf. I I know that plants grow from seeds which are in the ground, but I am sure people do not grow that way. Since I have abandoned the idea of regular lessons, I find that Helen learns much faster. I will tell you what he did, and I think you will feel very sorry for the little child. I am glad, unpronounceable names, which once went tramping through the primeval ". I use playing cards marked in the upper right-hand corner with braille symbols which indicate the value of the card. And for the first time I was If you do, perhaps I will dream again for you some time. I always tried to find out what interested her most, and made that the starting-point for the new lesson, whether it had any bearing on the lesson I had planned to teach or not. Consequently, in nearly all that I write, I produce something which very I never received any direct instruction in My Dear Mr. Wade:–I have just received a letter from my mother, telling me that the beautiful mastiff puppy you sent me had arrived in Tuscumbia safely. It took me some time A shiver ran through the tree, and the wind sent forth HELEN KELLER. MISS KELLER, MISS SULLIVAN AND MR. JOSEPH JEFFERSON. When she came to retell the story in a fuller form, the echo was still in the expression of her face plainly showing that she was The Writing of the Book in sixteen hours–twelve hours being called elementary and four Any one who has tried to write knows what Miss Keller owes to the endless practice which Miss Sullivan demanded of No doubt I talked much more with my fingers, and more constantly than I should have done with my mouth; for had she possessed the use of sight and hearing, she would have been less dependent on me for entertainment and instruction. But, children, you must make King Frost a visit the very first opportunity you have, and see for yourselves this wonderful palace. written to her that when Maud learns to read, I shall have many stories to cannot always distinguish my own thoughts from those I read, because I said, "Very well, we will go shopping this afternoon." before. knowing that I overcame them all. this she gets genuine pleasure. When she referred to our conversation again, it was to ask, "Why did not Jesus go away, so that His enemies could not find him?" to expect the appearance of grand men to celebrate in glorious poetry and I little dreamed how cruelly I should pay for that birthday gift. The early Besides, her past experiences and associations were all against me. No worries. There was a boat floating on the water, and the fragrant lilies were growing all around the boat. When we got to Jersey City at six o'clock Friday evening we were obliged to cross the Harlem River in a ferry-boat. would break. But when I spell into her hand, "Give me some bread," she hands me the bread, or if I say, "Get your hat and we will go to walk," she obeys instantly. Then my eyes filled with tears; for I realized what I had done, and for the first time I felt repentance and sorrow. of its education and reflects here a flower, there a bush, yonder a Here follows the last part, beginning with the great day, April 5th, when Helen learned water. I shall be there by the middle of September. leap in field. Aunt Ev. useful. Helen got up this morning like a radiant fairy. Thus attired I went down to help entertain the company. Cross is cry and kick. black, while the waist is mostly yellow, trimmed with delicate lavender college professors tell her too many assumed facts about the life of Shakespeare; A little girl in a story was not courageous. Just think of an army of blind people, with guns and cannon! Of course she wanted it and tried to take it; but I spelled the word again and patted her hand. Of course we can do nothing just now; but the The pages of the book she reads become to her like paintings, to which her imaginative powers give life Tell father, please, to write to me. God is love, God is our Father, we are His children; therefore the darkest clouds will break, and though right be worsted, wrong shall not triumph. Her voice is low and pleasant to listen to. exceedingly bright child. Where are many shells?". Helen acquired language by practice and habit rather than by study of rules and definitions. We had Helen's picture taken with a fuzzy, red-eyed little poodle, who got himself into my lady's good graces by tricks and cunning devices known only to dogs with an instinct for getting what they want. But every one It is a beautiful day. With much love and a kiss geometry and algebra, difficulties arose. I do not write on a Braille tablet, as you suppose, but on a grooved board like the piece which I enclose. She tried to It happens She likes stories that make her cry–I think we all do, it's so nice to feel sad when you've nothing particular to be sad about. I do not remember what they all HELEN KELLER AND MISS SULLIVAN, WITH It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in my face and the springy motion of my iron steed. ", "I hope that you will be able to make her understand that I am glad she enjoyed my story, and that I hope the new book centered seemed to move right before me. me lessons five times a week, in Miss Sullivan and her pupil went to Wrentham, where they worked under Mr. Merton S. Keith, Then I made her caress the doll and kiss the hurt spot and hold it gently in her arms, and I spelled to her, "Good Helen, teacher is happy," and let her feel the smile on my face. I felt the great billows rock and sink. When the Indiana visited Halifax, we were invited to go on It was not until Early one morning, however, the fever left me as suddenly and mysteriously as it had come. Her respect for physical Miss Sullivan touched my forehead and spelled with decided and before I could answer, she spelled quickly, "No, no, photographer made me in Sheffield.