ould t I could enriccered to my ten in our literature and dear to ts of many, of my readers. But t escapes fame, sal in t ened and ennobled by it. tter days in our lives to our eager, impatient spirits a fulness ies, irritations and dreams, and o see y and fill our everyday life blossom suddenly into brigies. In a ures is a libation poured upon our discontent, and s oucain stream fress brine.
I en been asked, quot;Do not people bore you?quot; I do not understand quite means. I suppose tupid and curious, especially of neers, are alune. I also dislike people o talk doo my understanding. try to sen teps to suit yours; ting.
t are dumbly eloquent to me. toucinence. I people so empty of joy, t ips, it seemed as if I orm. Ot t. It may be only touc tential suns for me as ty ter gives me genuine pleasure.
I I en been unable to reply to tters; but I eful for tly I acknohem.
I count it one of test privileges of my life to h many men of genius.
Only te to t. As a co sit on o tiful God and tual could not reaco
carrying a t grey and depto kno and soul, love every c ties of good are greater ties of evil; and you o ; And ration of t trut kno . liberates and lifts, In all t ens and consoles.
Bisaug ideas--t trut clouds be ed, riumph.
I am too o t ture, except to remember t I ing me tiful Someo me t I s t strange if at any moment t as to before t away.
Since Bis;; and Drummonds quot;Ascent of Man,quot; and I em more soul-satisfying trong, ic of companions. it o feel dull in his presence.
I remember time I sao call on ernoon. It after I o speak. e o ed in a big armcher days.
quot;And listening to t; I suggested.
quot;Yes,quot; ;tions for me.quot; t and leatold me t it retc my inctively to find ted upon a beautiful volume of tennysons poems, and o recite: Break, break, break On tones, O sea!
But I stopped suddenly. I felt tears on my ly distressed. in different interesting to examine, and at I recited quot;tilus,quot; er t I sao love t.
One beautiful summer day, not long after my meeting ed tier in le courtesy and quaint speec. from I could pronounce t y in understanding me. tions about ttle boy in t tten. I also recited quot;Laus Deo,quot; and as I spoke tatue of a slave from ers limbs er into udy, and e ograpeac;it admiration of truly ttier.quot;] and expressed ion of o me, quot;Sual liberator.quot; to te and kissed me tenderly on my foreo visit he promise was fulfilled.
Dr. Edt friends. I , and my love for ender sympat of Miss Sullivan and me in times of trial and sorroasks to accomplis it is to believe, live and be free. augifully expressed in ry, kindness to t of o live upward and onward. and an inspirer of men, and a mighe friend of all his race--God bless him!
I ten of my first meeting many ason and at iful of Cape Breton Island, near
Baddeck, tory, or in t Bras dOr, I many deligening to ell me about s, and es by means of o discover t sure air-s in many fields of science, and of making every subject ouceresting, even t abstruse t if you only tle more time, you, too, migor. ic side, too. ing passion is e so tle deaf cions of c to come; and we love hers.
During t in Neies to talk inguisen o meet. Most of t first in tton. It privilege to visit ton in tiful sentiments and brigs gifted friends ten for t ruly said t Mr. ton y of bringing out in every one t ts and kindest sentiments. One does not need to read quot;A Boy I Kne; to understand generous, s-natured boy I ever knes of races tprints of love in t of his fellowmen.
Mrs. ton is a true and tried friend. Muc I est, muc I precious, I oo her.
Senest advised and icularly difficult and discouraging, ses me letters t make me feel glad and brave; for s one painful duty fulfilled makes t plainer and easier.
Mr. ton introduced me to many of erary friends, greatest of Mr. Ricson Gilder and Mr. Edmund Clarence Stedman. I also knew Mr.
C deligory-tellers and t beloved friend, may be truly said of hings and his neighbour as himself. Once Mr.
arner brougo see me t of tle and sympatic and I felt t their essays and poems.
I could not keep pace erary folk as t to subject and entered into deep dispute, or made conversation sparkle ticisms. I tle Ascanius, rides of Aeneas on o to me. Mr. Gilder told me about journeys across t desert to tter e me ure deep in t I could feel it. t Dr. o give a personal touco ters to me by pricking ure in braille. I read from Mark ters is a tender Iliad of hy.
t of oteresting people I met in Neor of St. Nice Douglas iggin), t aut;Patsy.quot; I received from ts t le concurrence of t, books containing ts, soul-illumined letters, and pograp I love to t space to mention all my friends, and indeed t too sacred to set fort. It is ancy t I ton.
I sion only ttsburgen visited in . So make some one y and wise counsel eache years we have known her.
to ted. enterprises, and ies of all. Kind to every one, doing good, silent and unseen. Again I touc not mention; but I ionate interest o go to college.
t is t my friends ory of my life. In a turned my limitations into beautiful privileges, and enabled me to ion.
Part II. Letters(1887-1901) INtRODUCtION ters are important, not only as a supplementary story of as a demonstration of and expression--tself inguished.
tters are, merely remarkable as tions of a deaf and blind girl, to be read y; tters almost from t. t passages are talks about erms of . important, but most important are s of o tatues, t try sood in t. Bart tively fe all rying to be quot;like ot; and so soo often describes t as to as to one h eyes and ears.
One cause for tters is t number of trained o e. S different times in different parts of try, and so ed from most of ives. Of inguiso en, I t taneity--s it necessary to e o to a fe sympates imate frankness ;Little Jakey,quot; ition of ructive; for t only ing it all into letters, she new words her own.
So tions from Miss Kellers correspondence are made o s and to preserve t entertaining and significant passages from several ters. Many of tten before 1892 itution for tters up to t year are printed intact, for it is legitimate to be interested in ting, even to details of punctuation; so it is o preserve a literal integrity of reproduction. From tters after t of one making an ant in style and most important from t of viee tters I e it, punctuation, spelling, and all. I select and cut.
tters are arranged in cters from Bistier are put immediately after tters to ant letters of 1901, tions cease year Miss Keller entered college. No sure letters s seems best t no more of inguis t Part II. Letters(1887-1901)63
sed deaf and blind person in the world.
LEttERS (1887-1901) Miss Sullivan began to teacer t o e in pencil tter tO . tURNER [tuscumbia, Alabama, June 17, 1887.] e anna george or ure] ty-five days later, ao illegible, and t slants in every direction.
tO MRS. KAtE ADAMS KELLER [sville, Alabama, July 12, 1887.] e motter papa did give in swing mildred did kiss eac anna did give and up.
conductor did puncicket papa did give er in car carlotta did give ty neember in fulness of construction and more extended relations of t.
tO t tItUtION IN SOUtON [tuscumbia, September, 1887.] e little blind girls a letter eaco see little blind girls eaceam car to boston alk on fingers o sc and spell and e like blind girls mildred go to boston Mildred does cry prince and jumbo o boston papa does s ducks er and jumbo and mamie do ser and bring ducks out in mouto papa eaceaco go fast letter in envelope for blind girls good-by er yle is more nearly correct and freer in movement. Sill omits articles and uses t;didquot; construction for t. this is an idiom common among children.
tO t tItUtION [tuscumbia, October 24, 1887.] dear little blind girls I e you a letter I tty desk I did e to mot mot II. Letters(1887-1901)64
came me a pretty neo sville me apples and candy I and teaco boston and see you nancy is my doll so sleep mildred is sick doctor . I eactle blind girls mr. anagnos o see me.
good-by O MR. MICOR OF tItUtION [tuscumbia, November, 1887.] dear mr. anagnos I e you a letter. I and teacures. teac to you.
pograpures. carpenter does build neables. my doll nancy is sleeping. sing deer. we will weac.
simpson did give me popcorn and s. cousin rosa o see o c fox and box. fox can sit in to read in my book. you do love me. I do love you.
good-by hELEN KELLER.
tO DR. ALEXANDER GRAuscumbia, November, 1887.] Dear Mr. Bell. I am glad to e you a letter, Fature. I and Fat did go to see you in ason. I did play cor in ason. my eyes. I can read stories in my book. I can e and spell and count. good girl. My sister can birds. Rat did kill baby pigeons. I am sorry.
Rat does not knoeaco Boston in June. I tle blind girls.
Nancy cty doll. her name is Allie.
Good-by, hELEN KELLER.
By t year ives appear, including adjectives of colour. Alt of our vocabulary, intellectually, rut to impression, but to fact. tter is to a sce at titution.
tO MISS SARAOMLINSON tuscumbia, Ala. Jan. 2nd 1888.
Dear Sarao e to you to see me soon. I o Boston in June and I ty and ty Cmas-tree, and tty presents on it for little ctle bird and candy. I mas. Aunt gave me a trunk for Nancy and clot to party eac nuts and candy and cakes and oranges and I did tle boys and girls. Mrs. tle blind girls.
Men and boys do make carpets in mills. ool groo th in mills.
Cotton groalks in fields. Men and boys and girls and ton. e do make t II. Letters(1887-1901)65
and cotton dresses of cotton. Cotton ty . teacear o take to Boston. I to Knoxville . Bessie is tle. Mrs. thompsons chickens killed Leilas chickens.
Eva does sleep in my bed. I do love good girls.
Good-by hELEN KELLER.
t tters mention in January to ives in Mempennessee. Saken to tton exc t;Do men go to sc; Se on tlemen present. Memp over one of teamers.
tO DR. EDARD EVEREtt uscumbia, Alabama, February 15th [1888].
Dear Mr. o e you a letter teacold me about kind gentleman I so read pretty story I do read stories in my book about tigers and lions and sheep.
I am coming to Boston in June to see little blind girls and I o see you. I to Mempo see grandmot Nannie. teac me lovely netle Natalie is a very ook us to see steamboat. It is like o play tle sister. Nancy a good c to Memp e more to-day. I am tired.
Good-by hELEN KELLER.
tO MR. MICuscumbia, Ala., Feb. 24th, 1888.
My dear Mr. Anagnos,--I am glad to e you a letter in Braille. t me a beautiful bouquet of violets and crocuses and jonquils. Sunday Adeline Moses broug came from Neand up straigty red dress. Ser and I am t to Mempick.
Mildred does feed little co play tle sister.
teac to Mempo see aunt Nannie and grandmot Nannies ceac me a lovely neockings and collars and grandmot Nannie made me aprons. Lady made me a pretty cap. I to see Robert and Mr. Graves and Mrs.
Graves and little Natalie, and Mr. Farris and Mr. Mayo and Mary and everyone. I do love Robert and teacher.
S me to e more today. I feel tired.
I found box of candy in Mr. Graves pocket. Fatook us to see steam boat it is like es plooday to plant grass. Mule pulled ploables.
Fat melons and peas and beans.
Cousin Bell o see us Saturday. Mothompson is sick. I am sorry for him.
teac to rees gro and sets in t. Suscumbia is souto Boston in June. I le blind girls.
Part II. Letters(1887-1901)66
Good bye hELEN KELLER.
quot;Uncle Morriequot; of t letter is Mr. Morrison ucky, w and hor of some commendable verses.
tO MR. MORRISON uscumbia, Ala., Marc 1888.
My dear uncle Morrie,--I am o e you a letter, I do love you, and I will hug and kiss you when I see you.
Mr. Anagnos is coming to see me Monday. I do love to run and in bright warm sun.
I do knotle girl in Lexington Ky. herine hobson.
I am going to Boston in June eactle blind girls, and Mr. ty story. I do read stories in my book about lions and tigers and bears.
Mildred go to Boston, so play tle sister, ster.
Yates killed ants, ants stung Yates. Yates is digging in garden. Mr. Anagnos did see oranges, they look like golden apples.
Robert o see me Sunday wo Mempo see Mr. Farris and Mrs. Graves and Mr. Mayo and Mr. Graves.
Natalie is a good girl and does not cry, and s dresses for her.
Natalie tle carriage. Mr. Mayo o Duck s flowers home.
ith much love and a kiss hELEN A. KELLER.
In t of t an illuminating glimpse of Miss Sullivans skill in teache childs vocabulary grew.
tO MR. MICuscumbia, Ala., May 3rd 1888.
Dear Mr. Anagnos.--I am glad to e to you to receive pretty book and nice candy and tters from you. I o see you soon and ions about countries and you will love good child.
Motty neo on and I o see little girls and boys and you. Friday teac to a picnic tle ce dinner under trees, and rees. trees. t stle birds love to so and fro and sing sly up in trees. Rabbits ivated flo before supper.
Cousin Artree. Aunt Ev. o Mempraeeto Cincinnati Monday Ev. ired no to go doairs. I send many kisses and ter.
Part II. Letters(1887-1901)67
Your darling child hELEN KELLER.
toarted for Boston. On t a feon and to titution; ttle blind girls he year before.
Early in July s to Breer, Massacts, and spent t of t encounter ten.
tO MISS MARY C. MOORE So. Boston, Mass. Sept. 1888 My dear Miss Moore Are you very glad to receive a nice letter from your darling little friend? I love you very dearly because you are my friend. My precious little sister is quite in my little rocking-c ty to sleep. ould you like to see darling little Mildred? Sty baby. and round and rosy and and golden. S summer Mildred in t stra eat too many of t for they will make her very ill.
Sometime o Alabama and visit me? My uncle James is going to buy me a very gentle pony and a pretty cart and I so take you and o ride. I be afraid of my pony. I tiful little brotle and patient to my netle brot many strange countries my brotay oo small to see a great many people and I t rough ocean.
. Baker gets igers and monkeys. I a baby lion and a o bring time at Breer. I in bat every day and Carrie and Frank and little er. I am not afraid to float now. Can and swim?
e came to Boston last ted to see me, and he hugged and kissed me.
ttle girls are coming back to sc ednesday.
ill you please tell o e me a very long letter soon? o tuscumbia to see me I apples and juicy peacer melons.
I me and love me because I am a good little child.
ittle friend hELEN A. KELLER.
In t of a visit to some friends, is muc one from an ordinary c, except perisfaction in tlemen.
tO MRS. KAtE ADAMS KELLER So. Boston, Mass, Sept. 24th [1888].
My dear Moto kno my visit to est Neeacime Ne far from Boston and team cars very quickly.
Mrs. Freeman and Carrie and Eto station to meet us in a II. Letters(1887-1901)68
deligo see my dear little friends and I ime to see all tiful t Nerees and brigains. tle and liked to trot very fast. rabbits and t puppies, and a nice little tens and a pretty curly dog named Don. Ponys name tle pony and a little cart very soon.
Clifton did not kiss me because like to kiss little girls. Frank and Clarence and Robbie and Eddie and C very stle girls and e fruit and to ride. Many ladies and gentlemen came to see us. Lucy and Dora and Ctle girls in C talk on t I to Ceaco see me, iny atze t very ric never groeam cars do not go often on Sunday.
Conductors and engineers do get very tired and go o rest. I satle illie S did I do o train to meet teac Eva and Bessie are sick. I y my birt Carrie and Eto come to Alabama to visit me.
ill Mildred sleep h me when I come home.
ittle daughter. hELEN A. KELLER.
to Plymoutter, ten ter, s lesson in ory.
tO MR. MORRISON on, Mass. October 1st, 1888.
My dear uncle Morrie,--I to receive a letter from your dear little friend o e to you because I tty stories in t me, about C, and Arthe sheep.
I . It was like a seacher and Mrs. hopkins and Mr. Anagnos and Mr.
Rodocanac to Plymouto see many old tell you a little story about Plymouth.
Many years ago t t kind and gentle and patient like to like to go to c to build very nice little chemselves.
to a strange country to live and leave very dear y king. So, t all to big boxes, and said, Good-bye. I am sorry for t to kno knoalking about because t knoc soon tc t little boys and girls to forget it and learn to talk funny Dutc go to a nery far a all to t to find a nery. Poor people s s because t knotle c ocean for it is very strong and it makes a large boat rock and ttle c ter t see trees or flo just er and tiful sky, for s II. Letters(1887-1901)69
not sail quickly t kno engines and steam. One day a dear little baby-boy poor little Peregrine is dead no upon deck to look out for land. One day t s on try safely. Little girls and boys jumped and clapped tepped upon a tle s dear little Peregrine slept in and many old t came in to visit Plymoutime and see many old things.
Noired and I .
ittle friend. hELEN A. KELLER.
tters, t of to ten for told montoed ised imes using telligently, sometimes repeating t-like fashion.
Even and t so use correctly ; is Edithomas.
tO MR. MIC. 17th, 1888.
Mon cting by tiful sun is seaco ten yesterday. ty seven little c see mucime o see my mot little sister. I o Alabama to visit me and I ake you to ride in my little cart and I to see me on my dear little ponys back. I sly I ake you to see Leila and Eva and Bessie. een years old I am going to travel in many strange and beautiful countries. I sains in Nortle Lord Fauntleroy in England and o s castle. And s and catc be afraid of Fauntleroys great dog Dougal. I leroy take me to see a very kind queen. o France I ake Frenctle French boy will say, Parlez-vous Francais?
and I o see talk Greek to e and I to see me soon and take me to ter? a. Nooo tired to e more. Je vous aime. Au revoir From your darling little friend hELEN A. KELLER.
tO MISS EVELINA on, Mass. October 29, 1888.] My dearest Aunt,--I am coming o see my teac many tudying Frencin and Greek. Se agapo is Greek, and it means I love tite soeur is Frenc means I tle sister. Nous avons un bon pere et une bonne mere means, ter is moteach Mildred many languages when I come home. hELEN A. KELLER.