Part II. Letters(1887-1890)70

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TO MRS. SOPHIA C. HOPKINS Tuscumbia, Ala. Dec. 11th, 1888.

 My dear Mrs. Hopkins:-- I have just fed my dear little pigeon. My brother Simpson gave it to me last Sunday.

 I Annie, for my teacher. My puppy has had his supper and goo bed. My rabbits are sleeping, too; and very soon I shall go to bed. Teacher is writiers to her friends. Mother and father and their friends have goo see a huge furhe furnace is to make iron. The iron ore is found in the ground; but it ot be used until it has been brought to the furnad melted, and all the dirt taken out, and just the pure iro. Then it is all ready to be manufactured into engines, stoves, kettles and many other things.

 Coal is found in the ground, too. Many years ago, before people came to live on the earth, great trees and tall grasses and huge ferns and all the beautiful flowers cover the earth. When the leaves and the trees fell, the water and the soil covered them; and then more trees grew and fell also, and were buried under water and soil.

 After they had all been pressed together for many thousands of years, the wood grew very hard, like rock, and then it was all ready for people to burn. you see leaves and ferns and bark on the coal? Men go down into the ground and dig out the coal, and steam-cars take it to the large cities, and sell it to people to burn, to make them warm and happy when it is cold out of doors.

 Are you very lonely and sad now? I hope you will e to see me soon, and stay a long time.

 With much love from your little friend HELEN A. KELLER.

 TO MISS DELLA BEuscumbia, Ala., Jan. 29, 1889.

 My dear Miss Be:--I am delighted to write to you this m. We have just eaten our breakfast.

 Mildred is running about downstairs. I have been reading in my book about astronomers. Astronomer es from the Latin word astra, which means stars; and astronomers are men who study the stars, and tell us about them. When we are sleeping quietly in our beds, they are watg the beautiful sky through the telescope. A telescope is like a very strong eye. The stars are so far away that people ot tell much about them, without very excellent instruments. Do you like to look out of your window, and see little stars? Teacher says she see Venus from our window, and it is a large aiful star. The stars are called the earths brothers and sisters.

 There are a great many instruments besides those which the astronomers use. A knife is an instrument to cut with. I think the bell is an instrument, too. I will tell you what I know about bells.

 Some bells are musical and others are unmusical. Some are very tiny and some are very large. I saw a very large bell at Wellesley. It came from Japan. Bells are used for many purposes. They tell us when breakfast is ready, when to go to school, when it is time for church, and when there is a fire. They tell people when to go to work, and when to go home a. The engiells the passehat they are ing to a station, and it tells the people to keep out of the way. Sometimes very terrible acts happen, and many people are burned and drowned and ihe other day I broke my dolls head off; but that was not a dreadful act, because dolls do not live and feel, like people. My little pigeons are well, and so is my little bird. I would like to have some clay. Teacher says it is time for me to study now. Good-bye. With much love, and many kisses, HELEN A. KELLER.

 TO DR. EDWARD EVERETT HALE Tuscumbia, Alabama, February 21st, 1889.

 My dear Mr. Hale, I am very much afraid that you are thinking in your mind that little Helen has fotten all about you and her dear cousins. But I think you will be delighted to receive this letter because then you will know that I of[ten] think about you and I love you dearly for you are my dear cousin. I have been at home a great many weeks now. It made me feel very sad to leave Boston and I missed all of my friends greatly, but of course I was glad to get bay lovely home once more. My darling little sister is growing very fast.

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 Sometimes she tries to spell very short words on her small [fingers] but she is too young to remember hard words. When she is older I will teach her many things if she is patient and obedient. My teacher says, if children learn to be patient ale while they are little, that when they grow to be young ladies alemen they will not fet to be kind and loving and brave. I hope I shall be ceous always. A little girl in a story was not ceous. She thought she saw little elves with tall pointed [hats] peeping from between the bushes and dang down the long alleys, and the poor little girl was terrified. Did you have a pleasant Christmas? I had many lovely presents given to me. The other day I had a fine party. All of my dear little friends came to see me. We played games, and ate ice-cream and cake and fruit. Then we had great fun.

 The sun is shining brightly to-day and I hope we shall go to ride if the roads are dry. In a few days the beautiful spring will be here. I am very glad because I love the warm sunshine and the fragrant flowers. I think Flrow to make people happy and good. I have four dolls now. Cedric is my little boy, he is named for Lord Fauntleroy. He has big brown eyes and long golden hair and pretty round cheeks. Ida is my baby. A lady brought her to me from Paris. She drink milk like a real baby. Lucy is a fine young lady. She has on a dainty lace dress and satin slippers. Poor old Nancy is growing old and very feeble. She is almost an invalid. I have tigeons and a tiny ary bird. Jumbo is very strong and faithful. He will not let anything harm us at night. I go to school every day I am studying reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and language. My Mother and teacher send you and Mrs. Hale their kind greetings and Mildred sends you a kiss. With much love and kisses, from your Affeate cousin HELEN A. KELLER.

 During the winter Miss Sullivan and her pupil were w at Helens home in Tuscumbia, and to good purpose, for by spring Helen had learo write idiomatiglish. After May, 1889, I find almost no inaccuracies, except some evident slips of the pencil. She uses words precisely and makes easy, flueences.

 TO MR. MICHAEL ANAGNOS Tuscumbia, Ala., May 18, 1889.

 My Dear Mr. Anagnos:--You agine how delighted I was to receive a letter from you last evening. I am very sorry that yoing so far away. We shall miss you very, very much. I would love to visit maiful cities with you. When I was in Huntsville I saw Dr. Bryson, aold me that he had been to Rome and Athens and Paris and London. He had climbed the high mountains in Switzerland and visited beautiful churches in Italy and France, and he saw a great many a castles. I hope you will please write to me from all the cities you visit. When you go to Holland please give my love to the lovely princess Wilhelmina. She is a dear little girl, and when she is old enough she will be the queen of Holland. If you go to Roumania please ask the good queen Elizabeth about her little invalid brother, and tell her that I am very sorry that her darling little girl died. I should like to send a kiss to Vittorio, the little prince of Naples, but teacher says she is afraid you will not remember so many messages. When I am thirteen years old I shall visit them all myself.

 I thank you very much for the beautiful story about Lord Fauntleroy, and so does teacher.

 I am so glad that Eva is ing to stay with me this summer. We will have fiimes together. Give Howard my love, and tell him to answer my letter. Thursday we had a piic. It was very pleasant out in the shady woods, and we all ehe piic very much.

 Mildred is out in the yard playing, and mother is pig the delicious strawberries. Father and Uncle Frank are down town. Simpson is ing home soon. Mildred and I had our pictures taken while we were in Huntsville. I will send you one.

 The roses have beeiful. Mother has a great many fine roses. The La Frand the Lamarque are the most fragrant; but the Marechal Neil, Solfaterre, Jacqueminot, s, Etoile de Lyon, Papa Gontier, Gabrielle Drevet and the Perle des Jardines are all lovely roses.

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 Please give the little boys and girls my love. I think of them every day and I love them dearly in my heart.

 When you e home from Europe I hope you will be all well and very happy to get home again. Do not fet to give my love to Miss Calliope Kehayia and Mr. Francis Demetrios Kalopothakes. Lovingly, your little friend, HELEN ADAMS KELLER.

 Like a good many of Helen Kellers early letters, this to her French teacher is her re-phrasing of a story. It shows how much the gift of writing is, in the early stages of its development, the gift of mimicry.

 TO MISS FANNIE S. MARRETT Tuscumbia, Ala., May 17, 1889.

 My Dear Miss Marrett--I am thinking about a dear little girl, who wept very hard. She wept because her brother teased her very much. I will tell you what he did, and I think you will feel very sorry for the little child. She had a most beautiful doll given her. Oh, it was a lovely and delicate doll! but the little girls brother, a tall lad, had taken the doll, a up in a high tree in the garden, and had run away. The little girl could not reach the doll, and could not help it down, and therefore she cried. The doll cried, too, and stretched out its arms from among the green branches, and looked distressed. Soon the dismal night would e--and was the doll to sit up iree all night, and by herself? The little girl could not ehat thought. "I will stay with you," said she to the doll, although she was not at all ceous. Already she began to see quite plainly the little elves iall pointed hats, dang down the dusky alleys, and peeping from between the bushes, and they seemed to e nearer and nearer; and she stretched her hands up towards the tree in which the doll sat and they laughed, and poiheir fingers at her. How terrified was the little girl; but if one has not done anything wrong, these stratle elves ot harm one. "Have I done anything wrong? Ah, yes!" said the little girl. "I have laughed at the poor duck, with the red rag tied round its leg. It hobbled, and that made me laugh; but it is wrong to laugh at the poor animals!”

 Is it not a pitiful story? I hope the father puhe naughty little boy. Shall you be very glad to see my teacher hursday? She is going home to rest, but she will e bae autumn. Lovingly, your little friend, HELEN ADAMS KELLER.

 TO MISS MARY E. RILEY Tuscumbia, Ala., May 27, 1889.

 My Dear Miss Riley:--I wish you were here in the warm, sunny south today. Little sister and I would take you out into the garden, and pick the delicious raspberries and a few strawberries for you. How would you like that? The strawberries are nearly all gone. In the evening, when it is cool and pleasant, we would walk in the yard, and catch the grasshoppers and butterflies. We would talk about the birds and flowers and grass and Jumbo and Pearl. If you liked, we would run and jump and hop and dance, and be very happy. I think you would enjoy hearing the mog-birds sing. Os owig of a tree, just beh our window, and he fills the air with his glad songs. But I am afraid you ot e to Tuscumbia; so I will write to you, and send you a sweet kiss and my love. How is Dick? Daisy is happy, but she would be happy ever if she had a little mate. My little children are all well except Nancy, and she is quite feeble. My grandmother and aunt ne are here. Grandmother is going to make me two new dresses. Give my love to all the little girls, ahem that Helen loves them very, very much. Eva sends love to all.

 With much love and many kisses, from your affeate little friend, HELEN ADAMS KELLER.

 During the summer Miss Sullivan was away from Helen for three months and a half, the first separation of teacher and pupil. Only oerward in fifteen years was their stant panionship broken for more than a few days at a time.

 TO MISS ANNE MANSFIELD SULLIVAN Tuscumbia, Ala., August 7, 1889.

 Dearest Teacher--I am very glad to write to you this evening, for I have been thinking much about you all day.

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 I am sitting on the piazza, and my little white pigeon is perched on the bay chair, watg me write.

 Her little brown mate has floith the other birds; but Annie is not sad, for she likes to stay with me.

 Fauntleroy is asleep upstairs, and Nancy is putting Lucy to bed. Perhaps the mog bird is singing them to sleep. All the beautiful flowers are in bloom now. The air is sweet with the perfume of jasmines, heliotropes and roses. It is getting warm here now, so father is going to take us to the Quarry oh of August. I think we shall have a beautiful time out in the cool, pleasant woods. I will write and tell you all the pleasant things we do. I am so glad that Lester and Henry are good little infants. Give them many sweet kisses for me.

 What was the name of the little boy who fell in love with the beautiful star? Eva has been telling me a story about a lovely little girl named Heidi. Will you please send it to me? I shall be delighted to have a typewriter.

 Little Arthur is growing very fast. He has on short dresses now. Cousin Leila thinks he will walk in a little while. Then I will take his soft chubby hand in mine, and go out in the bright sunshih him. He will pull the largest roses, and chase the gayest butterflies. I will take very good care of him, and not let him fall and hurt himself. Father and some entleme huntierday. Father killed thirty-eight birds. We had some of them for supper, and they were very nice. Last Monday Simpson shot a pretty e. The e is a large and strong bird. His wings are as long as my arm, and his bill is as long as my foot. He eats little fishes, and other small animals. Father says he fly nearly all day without stopping.

 Mildred is the dearest and sweetest little maiden in the world. She is very roguish, too. Sometimes, when mother does not know it, she goes out into the vineyard, as her apron full of delicious grapes. I think she would like to put her two soft arms around your ned hug you.

 Sunday I went to church. I love to go to church, because I like to see my friends.

 A gentleman gave me a beautiful card. It icture of a mill, near a beautiful brook. There was a boat floating oer, and the fragrant lilies were growing all around the boat. Not far from the mill there was an old house, with many trees growing close to it. There were eight pigeons on the roof of the house, and a great dog oep. Pearl is a very proud m now. She has eight puppies, and she thinks there never were such fine puppies as hers.

 I read in my books every day. I love them very, very, very much. I do want you to e bae soon. I miss you so very, very much. I ot know about many things, when my dear teacher is not here. I send you five thousand kisses, and more love than I tell. I send Mrs. H. much love and a kiss. From your affeate little pupil, HELEN A. KELLER.

 In the fall Helen and Miss Sullivauro Perkins Institution at South Boston.

 TO MISS MILDRED KELLER South Boston, Oct. 24, 1889.

 My Precious Little Sister:--Good m. I am going to send you a birthday gift with this letter. I hope it will please you very much, because it makes me happy to send it. The dress is blue like your eyes, and dy is sweet just like your dear little self. I think mother will be glad to make the dress for you, and when you wear it you will look as pretty as a rose. The picture-book will tell you all about many strange and wild animals. You must not be afraid of them. They ot e out of the picture to harm you.

 I go to school every day, and I learn mahings. At eight I study arithmetic. I like that. At nine I go to the gymnasium with the little girls and we have great fun. I wish you could be here to play three little squirrels, and two gentle doves, and to make a pretty for a dear little robin. The mog bird does not live in the cold north. At ten I study about the earth on which we all live. At eleven I talk with teacher and at twelve I study zoology. I do not know what I shall do iernoo.

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 Now, my darling little Mildred, good bye. Give father and mreat deal of love and many hugs and kisses for me. Teacher sends her love too. From your loving sister, HELEN A. KELLER.

 TO MR. WILLIAM WADE South Boston, Mass., Nov. 20, 1889.

 My Dear Mr. Wade:--I have just received a letter from my mother, tellihat the beautiful mastiff puppy you sent me had arrived in Tuscumbia safely. Thank you very much for the nice gift. I am very sorry that I was not at home to wele her; but my mother and my baby sister will be very kind to her while her mistress is away. I hope she is not lonely and unhappy. I think puppies feel very home-sick, as well as little girls. I should like to call her Lioness, for y. May I? I hope she will be very faithful,--and brave, too.

 I am studying in Boston, with my dear teacher. I learn a great many new and wonderful things. I study about the earth, and the animals, and I like arithmetic exceedingly. I learn many new words, too. EXCEEDINGLY is ohat I learned yesterday. When I see Lioness I will tell her many things which w<q></q>ill surprise her greatly. I think she will laugh when I tell her she is a vertebrate, a mammal, a quadruped; and I shall be very sorry to tell her that she belongs to the order ivora. I study French, too. When I talk French to Lioness I will call her mon beau . Please tell Lion that I will take good care of Lioness. I shall be happy to have a letter from you when you like to write to me. From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER. P.S. I am studying at the Institution for the Blind. H. A. K.

 This letter is indorsed in Whittiers hand, "Helen A. Keller--deaf dumb and blind--aged nine years." "Browns”

 is a lapse of the pencil for "brown eyes.”

 TO JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER Inst. for the Blind, So. Boston, Mass., Nov. 27, 1889.

 Dear Poet, I think you will be surprised to receive a letter from a little girl whom you do not know, but I thought you would be glad to hear that your beautiful poems make me very happy. Yesterday I read "In School Days" and "My Playmate," and I ehem greatly. I was very sorry that the poor little girl with the browns and the "tangled golden curls" died. It is very pleasant to live here in our beautiful world. I ot see the lovely things with my eyes, but my mind see them all, and so I am joyful all the day long.

 When I walk out in my garden I ot see the beautiful flowers but I know that they are all around me; for is not the air sweet with their fragrance? I know too that the tiny lily-bells are whispering pretty secrets to their panions else they would not look so happy. I love you very dearly, because you have taught me so many lovely things about flowers, and birds, and people. Now I must say, good-bye. I hope [you] will enjoy the Thanksgiving very much.

 From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER. To Mr. John Greenleaf Whittier.

 Whittiers reply, to which there is a referen the followier, has been lost.

 TO MRS. KATE ADAMS KELLER South Boston, Mass., Dec. 3, 1889.

 My Dear Mother:--Your little daughter is very happy to write to you this beautiful m. It is cold and raio-day. Yesterday the tess of Meath came again to see me. She gave me a beautiful bunch of violets. Her little girls are named Violet and May. The Earl said he should be delighted to visit Tuscumbia the ime he es to America. Lady Meath said she would like to see your flowers, ahe mog-birds sing. When I visit England they wao e to see them, and stay a few weeks. They will take me to see the Queen.

 I had a lovely letter from the poet Whittier. He loves me. Mr. Wade wants teacher ao e and see Part II. Letters(1887-1901)75

 him spring. May we go? He said you must feed Lioness from your hand, because she will be mentle if she does with s.

 Mr. Wilson came to call on us ohursday. I was delighted to receive the flowers from home. They came while we were eating breakfast, and my friends ehem with me. We had a very nice dinner on Thanksgiving day,--turkey and plum-pudding. Last week I visited a beautiful art store. I saw a great many statues, and the gentleman gave me an angel.

 Sunday I went to chur board a great warship. After the services were over the soldier-sailors showed us around. There were four hundred and sixty sailors. They were very kind to me. One carried me in his arms so that my feet would not touch the water. They wore blue uniforms and queer little caps. There was a terrible fire Thursday. Many stores were burned, and four men were killed. I am very sorry for them. Tell father, please, to write to me. How is dear little sister? Give her many kisses for me. Now I must close. With much love, from your darling child, HELEN A. KELLER.

 TO MRS. KATE ADAMS KELLER So. Boston, Mass., Dec. 24, 1889 

 My dear Mother, Yesterday I sent you a little Christmas box. I am very sorry that I could not send it before so that you would receive it tomorrow, but I could not finish the watch-case any sooner. I made all of the gifts myself, excepting fathers handkerchief. I wish I could have made father a gift too, but I did not have suffit time. I hope you will like your watch-case, for it made me very happy to make it for you. You must keep your lovely new montre in it. If it is too warm in Tuscumbia for little sister to wear her pretty mittens, she keep them because her sister made them for her. I imagine she will have fun with the little toy man.

 Tell her to shake him, and then he will blow his trumpet. I thank my dear kind father for sending me some moo buy gifts for my friends. I love to make everybody happy. I should like to be at home on Christmas day. We would be very happy together. I think of my beautiful home every day. Please do not fet to send me some pretty presents to hang on my tree. I am going to have a Christmas tree, in the parlor and teacher will hang all of my gifts upon it. It will be a funny tree. All of the girls have gone home to spend Christmas.

 Teacher and I are the only babies left for Mrs. Hopkins to care for. Teacher has been si bed for many days. Her throat was very sore and the doctor thought she would have to go away to the hospital, but she is better now. I have not been sick at all. The little girls are well too. Friday I am going to spend the day with my little friends Carrie, Ethel, Frank and Helen Freeman. We will have great fun I am sure.

 Mr. and Miss Endicott came to see me, and I went to ride in the carriage. They are going to give me a lovely present, but I ot guess what it will be. Sammy has a dear new brother. He is very soft and delicate yet.

 Mr. Anagnos is in Athens now. He is delighted because I am here. Now I must say, good-bye. I hope I have written my letter nicely, but it is very difficult to write on this paper and teacher is not here to give me better.

 Give many kisses to little sister and much love to all. Lovingly HELEN.

 TO DR. EDWARD EVERETT HALE South Boston, Jan. 8, 1890.

 My dear Mr. Hale: The beautiful shells came last night. I thank you very much for them. I shall always keep them, and it will make me very happy to think that you found them, on that far away island, from whibus sailed to discover our dear try. When I am eleven years old it will be four hundred years since he started with the three small ships to cross the great strange o. He was very brave. The little girls were delighted to see the lovely shells. I told them all I knew about them. Are you very glad that you could make so many happy? I am. I should be very happy to e and teach you the Braille sometime, if you have time to learn, but I am afraid you are too busy. A few days ago I received a little box of English violets from Lady Meath. The flowers were wilted, but the kind thought which came with them was as sweet and as fresh as newly pulled violets.

 With loving greeting to the little cousins, and Mrs. Hale and a sweet kiss for yourself, From you<bdi>?</bdi>r little friend, Part II. Letters(1887-1901)76

 HELEN A. KELLER.

 This, the first of Heleers to Dr. Holmes, written soon after a visit to him, he published in "Over the Teacups." [Atlantithly, May, 1890] TO DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES South Boston, Mass., March 1, 1890.

 Dear, Kind Poet:--I have thought of you many times sihat bright Sunday when I bade you good-bye; and I am going to write you a letter, because I love you. I am sorry that you have no little children to play with you sometimes; but I think you are very happy with your books, and your many, many friends. On Washingtons birthday a great many people came here to see the blind children; and I read for them from your poems, and showed them some beautiful shells, which came from a little island near Palos.

 I am reading a very sad story, called "Little Jakey." Jakey was the sweetest little fellow you imagine, but he oor and blind. I used to think--when I was small, and before I could read--that everybody was always happy, and at first it made me very sad to know about pain and great sorrow; but now I know that we could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.

 I am studying about is in zoology, and I have learned many things about butterflies. They do not make honey for us, like the bees, but many of them are as beautiful as the flowers they light upon, and they always delight the hearts of little children. They live a gay life, flitting from flower to flower, sipping the drops of honeydew, without a thought for the morrow. They are just like little boys and girls when they fet books and studies, and run away to the woods and the fields, to gather wild flowers, or wade in the ponds frant lilies, happy in the bright sunshine.

 If my little sister es to Bosto June, will you let me brio see you? She is a lovely baby, and I am sure you will love her.

 Now I must tell my gentle poet good-bye, for I have a letter to write home before I go to bed. From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

 TO MISS SARAH FULLER [Miss Fuller gave Helen Keller her first lesson in articulation. See Chapter IV, Speech.] South Boston, Mass., April 3, 1890.

 My dear Miss Fuller, My heart is full of joy this beautiful m, because I have learo speak many new words, and I make a few sentences. Last evening I went out in the yard and spoke to the moon. I said, "O!

 moon e to me!" Do you think the lovely moon was glad that I could speak to her? How glad my mother will be. I hardly wait for Juo e I am so eager to speak to her and to my precious little sister.

 Mildred could not uand me when I spelled with my fingers, but now she will sit in my lap and I will tell her many things to please her, and we shall be so happy together. Are you very, very happy because you make so many people happy? I think you are very kind and patient, and I love you very dearly. My teacher told me Tuesday that you wao know how I came to wish to talk with my mouth. I will tell you all about it, for I remember my thoughts perfectly. When I was a very little child I used to sit in my mothers lap all the time, because I was very timid, and did not like to be left by myself. And I would keep my little hand on her face all the while, because it amused me to feel her fad lips move whealked with people. I did not know then what she was doing, for I was quite ignorant of all things. Then when I was older I learo play with my nurse and the little negro children and I noticed that they kept moving their lips just like my mother, so I moved mioo, but sometimes it made me angry and I would hold my playmates mouths very hard. I did not know then that it was very naughty to do so. After a long time my dear teacher came to me, and taught me to unicate with my fingers and I was satisfied and happy. But when I came to school in Boston I met some deaf people who talked with their mouths like all other people, and one day a lady who had been to Norway came to see me, and told me of a blind and deaf girl [Ragnhild Kaata] she had seen in that far aart II. Letters(1887-1901)77

 land who had been taught to speak and uand others when they spoke to her. This good and happy news delighted me exceedingly, for then I was sure that I should learn also. I tried to make sounds like my little playmates, but teacher told me that the voice was very delicate aive and that it would i to make incorrect sounds, and promised to take me to see a kind and wise lady who would teach me rightly. That lady was yourself. Now I am as happy as the little birds, because I speak and perhaps I shall sing too. All of my friends will be so surprised and glad. Your loving little pupil, HELEN A. KELLER.

 When the Perkins Institution closed for the summer, Helen and Miss Sullivao Tuscumbia. This was the first home-going after she had learo "talk with her mouth.”

 TO REV. PHILLIPS BROOKS Tuscumbia, Alabama, July 14, 1890.

 My dear Mr. Brooks, I am very glad to write to you this beautiful day because you are my kind friend and I love you, and because I wish to know many things. I have been at home three weeks, and Oh, hoy I have been with dear mother and father and precious little sister. I was very, very sad to part with all of my friends in Boston, but I was so eager to see my baby sister I could hardly wait for the train to take me home.

 But I tried very hard to be patient for teachers sake. Mildred has grown much taller and strohan she was when I went to Boston, and she is the sweetest and dearest little child in the world. My parents were delighted to hear me speak, and I was overjoyed to give them such a happy surprise. I think it is so pleasant to make everybody happy. Why does the dear Father in heaven think it best for us to have very great sorrow sometimes? I am always happy and so was Little Lord Fauntleroy, but dear Little Jakeys life was full of sadness. God did not put the light in Jakeys eyes and he was blind, and his father was not gentle and loving.

 Do you think poor Jakey loved his Father in heaven more because his other father was unkind to him? How did God tell people that his home was in heaven? When people do very wrong and hurt animals and treat children unkindly God is grieved, but what will he do to them to teach them to be pitiful and loving? I think he will tell them how dearly He loves them and that He wants them to be good and happy, and they will not wish to grieve their father who loves them so much, and they will want to please him ihing they do, so they will love each other and do good to everyone, and be kind to animals.

 Please tell me something that you know about God. It makes me happy to know much about my loving Father, who is good and wise. I hope you will write to your little friend when you have time. I should like very much to see you to-day Is the sun very hot in Boston now? this afternoon if it is cool enough I shall take Mildred for a ride on my donkey. Mr. Wade sent Neddy to me, and he is the prettiest donkey you imagine.

 My great dog Lioness goes with us when we ride to protect us. Simpson, that is my brother, brought me some beautiful pond lilies yesterday--he is a very brother to me.

 Teacher sends you her kind remembrances, and father and mother also send their regards. From your loving little friend, HELEN A. KELLER.

 DR. BROOKSS REPLY London, August 3, 1890.

 My Dear Helen--I was very glad io get your letter. It has followed me across the o and found me in this magnifit great city which I should like to tell you all about if I could take time for it and make my letter long enough. Some time when you e and see me in my study in Boston I shall be glad to talk to you about it all if you care to hear.

 But now I want to tell you how glad I am that you are so happy and enjoying your home so very much. I almost think I see you with your father and mother and little sister, with all the brightness of the beautiful try about you, and it makes me very glad to know how glad you are.

 I am glad also to know, from the questions which you ask me, what you are thinking about. I do not see how we help thinking about God when He is so good to us all the time. Let me tell you how it seems to me that Part II. Letters(1887-1901)78

 we e to know about our heavenly Father. It is from the power of love which is in our ows. Love is at the soul of everything. Whatever has not the power of loving must have a very dreary life indeed. We like to think that the sunshine and the winds and the trees are able to love in some way of their own, for it would make us know that they were happy if we khat they could love. And so God who is the greatest and happiest of all beings is the most loving too. All the love that is in our hearts es from him, as all the light which is in the flowers es from the sun. And the more we love the more near we are to God and His Love.

 I told you that I was very happy because of your happiness. Indeed I am. So are your Father and your Mother and your Teacher and all your friends. But do you not think that God is happy too because you are happy? I am sure He is. And He is happier than any of us because He is greater than any of us, and also because He not merely SEES your happiness as we do, but He also MADE it. He gives it to you as the sun gives light and color to the rose. And we are always most glad of what we not merely see our friends enjoy, but of what we give them to enjoy. Are we not?

 But God does not only want us to be HAPPY; He wants us to be good. He wants that most of all. He knows that we be really happy only when we are good. A great deal of the trouble that is in the world is medie which is very bad to take, but which it is good to take because it makes us better. We see how good people may be irouble whehink of Jesus who was the greatest sufferer that ever lived a was the best Being and so, I am sure, the happiest Being that the world has ever seen.

 I love to tell you about God. But He will tell you Himself by the love which He will put into your heart if you ask Him. And Jesus, who is His Son, but is o Him than all of us His other Children, came into the world on purpose to tell us all about our Fathers Love. If you read His words, you will see how full His heart is of the love of God. "We KNOW that He loves us," He says. And so He loved men Himself and though they were very cruel to Him and at last killed Him, He was willing to die for them because He loved them so. And, Helen, He loves men still, and He loves us, aells us that we may love Him.

 And so love is everything. And if anybody asks you, or if you ask yourself what God is, answer, "God is Love." That is the beautiful answer which the Bible gives.

 All this is what you are to think of and to uand more and more as you grow older. Think of it now, a make every blessing brighter because your dear Father sends it to you.

 You will e back to Boston I hope soon after I do. I shall be there by the middle of September. I shall want you to tell me all about everything, and not fet the Donkey.

 I send my kind remembrao your father and mother, and to your teacher. I wish I could see your little sister.

 Good Bye, dear Helen. Do write to me soon again, direg your letter to Boston. Your affeate friend PHILLIPS BROOKS.

 DR. HOLMESS REPLY To a letter which has been lost.

 Beverly Farms, Mass., August 1, 1890. My Dear Little Friend Helen: I received your wele letter several days ago, but I have so much writing to do that I am apt to make my letters wait a good while before they get answered.

 It gratifies me very much to find that you remember me so kindly. Your letter is charming, and I am greatly pleased with it. I rejoice to know that you are well and happy. I am very much delighted to hear of your new acquisition--that you "talk with your mouth" as well as with your fingers. What a curious thing SPEECH is!

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 The tongue is so serviceable a member (taking all sorts of shapes, just as is wanted),--the teeth, the lips, the roof of the mouth, all ready to help, and so heap up the sound of the voito the solid bits which we call sonants, and make room for the curiously shaped breathings which we call vowels! You have studied all this, I dont doubt, since you have practised vocal speaking.

 I am surprised at the mastery of language which your letter shows. It almost makes me think the world would get along as well without seeing and hearing as with them. Perhaps people would be better in a great many ways, for they could not fight as they do now. Just think of an army of blind people, with guns and on!

 Think of the poor drummers! Of what use would they and their drumsticks be? You are spared the pain of many sights and sounds, which you are only too happy in esg. Then think how much kindness you are sure of as long as you live. Everybody will feel an i in dear little Helen; everybody will want to do something for her; and, if she bees an a, gray-haired woman, she is still sure of being thoughtfully cared for.

 Your parents and friends must take great satisfa in your progress. It does great credit, not only to you, but to your instructors, who have so broken down the walls that seemed to shut you in that now your outlook seems more bright and cheerful than that of many seeing and hearing children.

 Good-bye, dear little Helen! With every kind wish from your friend, OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

 This letter was written to some gentlemen in Gardiner, Maine, who named a lumber vessel after her.

 TO MESSRS. BRADSTREET Tuscumbia, Ala., July 14, 1890.

 My Dear, Kind Friends:--I thank you very, very much for naming your beautiful new ship for me. It makes me very happy to know that I have kind and loving friends in the far-away State of Maine. I did not imagine, when I studied about the forests of Maihat a strong aiful ship would go sailing all over the world, carrying wood from those rich forests, to build pleasant homes and schools and churches in distant tries. I hope the great o will love the new Helen, a her sail over its blue waves peacefully. Please tell the brave sailors, who have charge of the HELEN KELLER, that little Helen who stays at home will often think of them with loving thoughts. I hope I shall see you and my beautiful namesake some time.

 With much love, from your little friend, HELEN A. KELLER. To the Messrs. Bradstreet.

 Helen and Miss Sullivauro the Perkins Institution early in November.

 TO MRS. KATE ADAMS KELLER South Boston, Nov. 10, 1890.

 My Dearest Mother:--My heart has been full of thoughts of you and my beautiful home ever since we parted so sadly on Wednesday night. How I wish I could see you this lovely m, and tell you all that has happened since I left home! And my darling little sister, how I wish I could give her a hundred kisses! And my dear father, how he would like to hear about our journey! But I ot see you and talk to you, so I will write and tell you all that I think of.

 We did not reach Boston until Saturday m. I am sorry to say that our train was delayed in several places, which made us late in reag New York. Whe to Jersey City at six oclock Friday evening we were obliged to cross the Harlem River in a ferry-boat. We found the boat and the transfer carriage with much less difficulty than teacher expected. When we arrived at the statioold us that the train did not leave for Boston until eleven oclock, but that we could take the sleeper at nine, which we did. We went to bed and slept until m. When we awoke we were in Boston. I was delighted to get there, though I was much disappointed because we did not arrive on Mr. Anagnos birthday. We surprised our dear friends, however, for they did not expect us Saturday; but when the bell rung Miss Marrett guessed who was at the door, and Mrs.

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 Hopkins jumped up from the breakfast table and ran to the door to meet us; she was indeed much astoo see us. After we had had some breakfast we went up to see Mr. Anagnos. I was overjoyed to see my dearest and ki friend once more. He gave me a beautiful watch. I have it pio my dress. I tell everybody the time when they ask me. I have only seen Mr. Anagnos twice. I have many questions to ask him about the tries he has been travelling in. But I suppose he is very busy now.

 The hills in Virginia were very lovely. Jack Frost had dressed them in gold and crimson. The view was most charmingly picturesque. Pennsylvania is a very beautiful State. The grass was as green as though it ringtime, and the golden ears of gathered together in heaps in the great fields looked very pretty. In Harrisburg we saw a donkey like Neddy. How I wish I could see my own donkey and my dear Lioness! Do they miss their mistress very much? Tell Mildred she must be kind to them for my sake.

 Our room is pleasant and fortable.

 My typewriter was mujured ing. The case was broken and the keys are nearly all out. Teacher is going to see if it be fixed.

 There are many new books in the library. What a ime I shall have reading them! I have already read Sara Crewe. It is a very pretty story, and I will tell it to you some time. Now, sweet mother, your little girl must say good-bye.

 With much love to father, Mildred, you and all the dear friends, lovingly your little daughter, HELEN A.

 KELLER.

 TO JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER South Boston, Dec. 17, 1890.

 Dear Kind Poet, This is your birthday; that was the first thought which came into my mind when I awoke this m; and it made me glad to think I could write you a letter and tell you how much your little friends love their sweet poet and his birthday. This evening they are going to eain their friends with readings from your poems and music. I hope the swift winged messengers of love will be here to carry some of the sweet melody to you, in your little study by the Merrimac. At first I was very sorry when I found that the sun had hidden his shining face behind dull clouds, but afterwards I thought why he did it, and then I was happy. The sun knows that you like to see the world covered with beautiful white snow and so he kept back all his brightness, ahe little crystals form in the sky. When they are ready, they will softly fall and tenderly cover every object. Then the sun will appear in all his radiand fill the world with light. If I were with you to-day I would give you eighty-three kisses, one for each year you have lived. Eighty-three years seems very long to me. Does it seem long to you? I wonder how many years there will be iy. I am afraid I ot think about so much time. I received the letter which you wrote to me last summer, and I thank you for it. I am staying in Boston now at the Institution for the Blind, but I have not enced my studies yet, because my dearest friend, Mr. Anagnos wants me to rest and play a great deal.

 Teacher is well and sends her kind remembrao you. The happy Christmas time is almost here! I hardly wait for the fun to begin! I hope your Christmas Day will be a very happy one and that the New Year will be full htness and joy for you and every one. From your little friend HELEN A. KELLER.

 WHITTIERS REPLY My Dear Young Friend--I was very glad to have such a pleasaer on my birthday. I had two or three huhers and thine was one of the most wele of all. I must tell thee about how the day passed at Oak Knoll. Of course the sun did not shine, but we had great open wood fires in the rooms, which were all very sweet with roses and other flowers, which were sent to me from distant friends; and fruits of all kinds from California and other places. Some relatives and dear old friends were with me through the day. I do not Part II. Letters(1887-1901)81

 wohee thiy three years a long time, but to me it seems but a very little while since I was a boy no older than thee, playing on the old farm at Haverhill. I thank thee for all thy good wishes, and wish thee as many. I am glad thee is at the Institution; it is an excellent place. Give my best regards to Miss Sullivan, and with a great deal of love I am Thy old friend, JOHN G. WHITTIER.

 Tommy Stringer, ears in several of the followiers, became blind and deaf when he was four years old. His mother was dead and his father was too poor to take care of him. For a while he was kept in the general hospital at Allegheny. From here he was to be sent to an almshouse, for at that time there was no other place for him in Pennsylvania. Helen heard of him through Mr. J. G. Brown of Pittsburgh, who wrote her that he had failed to secure a tutor for Tommy. She wanted him brought to Boston, and when she was told that money would be o get him a teacher, she answered, "We will raise it." She began to solicit tributions from her friends, and saved her pennies.

 Dr. Alexander Graham Bell advised Tommys friends to send him to Boston, and the trustees of the Perkins Institution agreed to admit him to the kindergarten for the blind.

 Meanwhile opportunity came to Helen to make a siderable tribution to Tommys education. The winter before, her dog Lioness had been killed, and friends set to work to raise moo buy Helen an.

 Helen asked that the tributions, which people were sending from all over Amerid England, be devoted to Tommys education. T<big></big>uro this new use, the fund grew fast, and Tommy rovided for. He was admitted to the kindergarten on the sixth of April.

 Miss Keller wrote lately, "I shall never fet the pennies sent by many a poor child who could ill spare them, for little Tommy, or the swift sympathy with which people from far and near, whom I had never seen, respoo the dumb cry of a little captive soul for aid.”

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