CHAPTER V.

  LITERARYSTYLENoonehavereadMissKellersautobiographywithoutfeelingthatshewritesunusuallyfineEnglish.Anyteapositionknowsthathebringhispupilstothepointofwritingwithouterrorsinsyntaxorinthechoiceofwords.ItisjustthisaccuracywhichMissKellersearlyeducatiohepointtowhiyhealthychildbebrought,andwhichtheanalysisofthateducationatsfor.Thosewhotrytomakeheraionnottobeexplainedbyanysualysisofherearlyeducation,fortifytheirpositionbyaotheremarkableexcellenceofheruseoflanguageevenwhenshewasachild.

  Thisappealistoacertaindegreevalid;for,ihoseadditionalharmoniesoflanguageaiesofthoughtwhichmakestylearethegiftsofthegods.NoteachercouldhavemadeHelenKellersensitivetothebeautiesoflanguageandtothefierplayofthoughtwhichdemandsexpressioninmelodiouswroupings.

  Atthesametimetheinbiftofstylebestarvedorstimulated.Noinnategeniusventfinelanguage.Thestuffofwhichgoodstyleismademustbegiventothemindfromwithoutandgivenskilfully.

  AchildofthemusesotwritefineEnglishunlessfineEnglishhasbeenitsnourishment.Inthis,asinallotherthings,MissSullivanhasbeenthewiseteacher.IfshehadnothadtasteahusiasmfoodEnglish,HelenKellermighthavebeenbroughtuponthe"Juveerature,"whichbelittlesthelanguageunderpretenseofbeingsimplyphrasedforchildren;asifachildsbookcouldnot,like"TreasureIsland"or"RobinsonCrusoe"orthe"JungleBook,"beingoodstyle.

  IfMissSullivanwrotefineEnglish,thebeautyofHelenKellersstylewould,inpart,beexplicableatonce.

  ButtheextractsfromMissSullivaersandfromherreports,althoughtheyareclearandaccurate,havenotthebeautywhichdistinguishesMissKellersEnglish.HerserviceasateacherofEnglishisnottobemeasuredbyherownskillinposition.Thereasonwhyshereadtoherpupilsomanygoodbooksisdue,insomemeasure,tothefactthatshehadsoretlyrecoveredhereyesight.WhenshebecameHelenKellersteachershewasjustawakeningtothegoodthingsthatareinbooks,fromwhichshehadbeenshutoutduringheryearsofblindness.

  InCaptainKellerslibraryshefoundexcellentbooks,Lambs"TalesfromShakespeare,"aerstillMontaigerthefirstyearorsoofelementaryworkshemetherpupilonequalterms,andtheyreadandenjoyedgoodbookstogether.

  Besidestheseleofgoodbooks,thereisohercauseforMissKellersexcellenwriting,forwhichMissSullivandeservesunlimitedcredit.Thatishertirelessanduingdiscipline,whichisevidentinallherwork.Sheneverallowedherpupiltosendoffletterswhitainedoffensesagainsttaste,butmadeherwritethemoveruntiltheywerenotonlycorrect,butcharmingandwellphrased.

  AnyonewhohastriedtowriteknowswhatMissKellerowestotheendlesspracticewhichMissSullivandemandedofher.Letateacherwithalikingfoodstyleinsistonachildswritingaparagraphoverandainuntilitismorethancorredhewillbetraining,evenbeyondhisownpowerofexpression,thepowerofexpressioninthechild.

  HowfarMissSullivancarriedthisprocessofrefiaionisevidentfromthehumorousentofDr.Bell,thatshemadeherpupilalittleoldwoman,toowidelydifferentfromordinarychildreurityofthought.WhenDr.Bellsaidthishewasarguinghisowncase.ForitwasDr.BellwhofirstsawtheprinciplesthatunderlieMissSullivahod,andexplaiheprocessbywhichHelenKellerabsorbedlanguagefrombooks.

  Thereis,moreover,areasonwhyHelenKellerwritesgoodEnglish,whichliesintheveryabsenceofsightandhearing.Thedisadvantagesofbeingdeafandblindwereovereandtheadvantagesremained.Sheexcelsotherdeafpeoplebecauseshewastaughtasifshewerenormal.Oherhand,thepeculiarvaluetoheroflanguage,whichordinarypeopletakefrantedasanecessarypartofthemliketheirrighthand,madeherthinkaboutlanguageandloveit.Languagewasherliberator,andfromthefirstshecherishedit.

  TheproofofMissKellersearlyskillintheuseofEnglish,andthefinalentontheexcellehiswholemethodofteag,istainedinani,which,althoughatthetimeitseemedunfortunate,olongerberegretted.Irefertothe"FrostKing"episode,whichIshallexplaiail.MissKellerhasgivenheratofit,andthewholematterwasdiscussedinthefirstVoltaBureauSouvenirfromwhichIquoteatlength:MISSSULLIVANSATOFTHE"FROSTKING”

  HON.JOHNHITZ,SuperinteoftheVoltaBureau,Washington,D.C.

  DearSir:SincemypaperreparedforthesededitionoftheSouvenir"HelenKeller,"somefactshavebeenbroughttomynoticewhichareofiinewiththesubjectoftheacquisitionoflanguagebymypupil,andifitisnotalreadytoolateforpublicationinthisissueoftheSouvenir,IshallbegladifImayhaveopportunitytoexplainthemiail.

  Perhapsitwillberememberedthatinmypaper*,whereallusionismadetoHelensremarkablememory,itishatsheappearstoretaininhermindmanyformsofexpressionwhich,atthetimetheyarereceived,sheprobablydoesnotuand;butwhenfurtherinformationisacquired,thelanguageretainedinhermemoryfindsfullorpartialexpressioninherversationorwriting,accasitprovesofgreaterorlessvaluetoherinessofitsapplicationtothenewexperience.Doubtlessthisistrueinthecaseofeveryintelligentchild,andshouldnot,perhaps,besideredworthyofespecialmentioninHelenscase,butforthefactthatachildwhoisdeprivedofthesensesofsightandhearingmightnotbeexpectedtobeasgiftedmentallyasthislittlegirlprovestobe;heisquitepossiblewemaybeinedtoclassasmarvelousmanythingswediscoverinthedevelopmentofhermindwhieritsuexplanation.

  *InthispaperMissSullivansays:"Duringthiswinter(1891-92)Iwentwithherintotheyardwhilealightsnowwasfalling,aherfeelthefallingflakes.Sheappearedtoenjoyitverymudeed.Aswewentinsherepeatedthesewords,Outofthecloud-foldsofhisgarmentsWintershakesthesnow.Iinquiredofherwhereshehadreadthis;shedidnotrememberhavi,didoknowthatshehadlear.AsIhadneverheardit,Iinquiredofseveralofmyfriendsiftheyrecalledthewords;nooorememberit.TheteachersattheInstitutionexpressedtheopinionthatthedescriptiondidnotappearinanybookinraisedprintinthatlibrary;butonelady,MissMarrett,tookuponherselfthetaskofexaminingbooksofpoemsinordinarytype,andwasrewardedbyfindingthefollowinglinesinoneofLongfellowsminorpoems,entitledSnowflakes:Outofthebosomoftheair,Outofthecloud-foldsarmentsshakehewoodlandsbrownandbare,Overtheharvest-fieldsforsaken,Silent,andsoft,andslowDesdsthesnow."ItwouldseemthatHelenhadlearnedandtreasuredthememoryofthisexpressionofthepoet,andthisminthesnow-stormhadfounditsapplication.”

  InthehopethatImaybepardonedifIappeartooverestimatetheremarkablementalcapacityandpowerofprehensionanddiscriminationwhichmypupilpossesses,Iwishtoaddthat,whileIhavealwaysknownthatHelenmadegreatuseofsuchdescriptionsandparisonsasappealtinationandfiiature,yetretdevelopmentsinherwritingsvihefactthatIhavenotibeenfullyawaretowhatextentsheabsorbsthelanguageofherfavouriteauthors.IntheearlypartofhereducationIhadfullknowledgeofallthebooksshereadandofnearlyallthestorieswhichwerereadtoher,andcouldwithoutdifficultytracethesourceofanyadaptationsnotedinherwritingorversation;andIhavealwaysbeenmuchpleasedtoobservehoropriatelysheappliestheexpressionsofafavouriteauthorinherownpositions.

  Thefollowiractsfromafewofherpublishedlettersgiveevidenceofhowvaluablethispowerofretainingthememoryofbeautifullanguagehasbeentoher.Onewarm,sunnydayinearlyspring,ereattheNorth,thebalmyatmosphereappearstohavebroughttohermiimentexpressedbyLongfellowin"Hiawatha,"andshealmostsingswiththepoet:"Thegroundwasallaquiverwiththestirofnewlife.Myheartsangforveryjoy.Ithoughtofmyowndearhome.Ikhatinthatsunnylandspringhadeinallitssplendour.Allitsbirdsandallitsblossoms,allitsflowersandallitsgrasses.“

  Aboutthesametime,iertoafriend,inwhichshemakesmentionofherSouthernhome,shegivessocloseareprodufromapoembyoneofherfavouriteauthorsthatIwillgiveextractsfromHeleerandfromthepoemitself:EXTRACTSFROMHELEER[Theeerispublishedonpp.245and246oftheReportofthePerkinsInstitutionfor1891]Theblue-birdwithhisazureplumes,thethrushcladallinbrown,therobinjerkinghisspasmodicthroat,theorioledriftinglikeaflakeoffire,thejollybobolinkandhishappymate,themog-birdimitatiesofall,thered-birdwithhisorill,andthebusylittlewren,areallmakireesinourfrontyardringwiththeirgladsong.

  FROMTHEPOEMENTITLED"SPRING"BYOLIVERWENDELLHOLMESThebluebird,breathingfromhisazureplumesThefragranceborrowedfromthemyrtleblooms;Thethrush,poorwanderer,droppingmeeklydown,Cladinhisremnantofautumnalbrown;Theoriole,driftinglikeaflakeoffireRentbyawhirlwindfromablazingspire;Therobin,jerkinghisspasmodicthroat,Repeatsimperious,hisstacote;Thecrack-brainedbobolinkcourtshiscrazymate,Poisedonabullrushtipsywithhisweight:Nay,inhiscagethelonearysings,Feelsthesoftair,andspreadshisidlewings.

  OdayofAprilsheusesanotherexpressionfromthesamepoem,whichismoreanadaptationthanareprodu:"To-morrorilwillhidehertearsandblushesbeheflowersoflovelyMay.”

  IertoafriendatthePerkinsInstitution,datedMay17,1889,shegivesareprodufromoneofHansChristianAndersensstories,whichIhadreadtohernotlongbefore.ThisletterispublishedinthePerkinsInstitutio(1891),p.204.Theinalstorywasreadtoherfromacopyof"AndersensStories,”

  publishedbyLeavitt&AllenBros.,andmaybefoundonp.97ofPartI.inthatvolume.

  HeradmirationfortheimpressiveexplanationswhichBishopBrookshasgiveheFatherhoodofGodiswellknown.Inoneofhisletters,speakingofhowGodineverywaytellsusofHislove,hesays,"Ithiesitevenuponthewallsofthegreathouseofnaturewhichwelivein,thatheisourFather."TheyearatAndovershesaid:"Itseemstometheworldisfullofgoodness,beauty,andlove;andhowgratefulwemustbetoourheavenlyFather,whohasgivenussomuchtoenjoy!Hisloveandcarearewrittenalloverthewallsofnature.”

  Intheselateryears,sinceHelenhaseintactwithsomanypersonswhoareabletoversefreelywithher,shehasmadetheacquaintaneliteraturewithwhichIamnotfamiliar;shehasalsofoundinbooksprintedinraisedletters,inthereadingofwhichIhavebeenuofollowher,muchmaterialforthePartI.inthatvolume.172

  cultivationofthetasteshepossessesforpoeticalimagery.Thepagesofthebookshereadsbeetoherlikepaintings,towhichherimaginativepivelifeandcolour.Sheisatoransportedintothemidstoftheeventsportrayedioryshereadsoristold,andthecharactersanddescriptionsbeerealtoher;sherejoiceswhenjustis,andissadwhenvirtuegoesunrewarded.Thepicturesthelanguagepaintsonhermemoryappeartomakeanindelibleimpression;andmanytimes,erienestohersimilarincharacter,thelanguagestartsforthwithwonderfulaccuracy,likethereflefromamirror.

  Helensmindissogiftedbynaturethatsheseemsabletouandwithonlythefaiouchofexplanationeverypossiblevarietyofexterions.OnedayinAlabama,asweweregatheringwildflowershespringsonthehillsides,sheseemedtouandforthefirsttimethatthespringsweresurroundedbymountains,andsheexclaimed:"Themountainsarecrowdingaroundthespringstolookattheirowifulrefles!"Idonotknowwheresheobtaihislanguage,yetitisevidentthatitmusthaveetoherfromwithout,asitwouldhardlybepossibleforapersondeprivedofthevisualseinatesuidea.IioningavisittoLexington,Mass.,shewrites:"Aswerodealongwecouldseetheforestmonarchsbendtheirproudformstolistentothelittlechildrenofthewoodlandswhisperingtheirsecrets.Theanemohewildviolet,thehepatidthefunnylittlecurled-upfernsallpeepedoutatusfrombehebrownleaves."Sheclosesthisletterwith,"Imustgotobed,forMorpheushastouchedmyeyelidswithhisgoldenwand."Hereagain,Iamuatewheresheacquiredtheseexpressions.

  Shehasalwaysseemedtopreferstorieswhichexercisetheimagination,andcatchesaaiicspiritinallsuchliterature;butnotuntilthiswinterhaveIbeensciousthathermemoryabsorbedtheexaguagetosuextentthatsheisherselfuracethesource.

  ThisisshowninalittlestoryshewroteinOctoberlastatthehomeofherparentsinTuscumbia,whichshecalled"AutumnLeaves."Shewasatworkuponitabouttwoweeks,writingalittleeachday,atherownpleasure.Whenitwasfinished,andwereaditinthefamily,itocuentonatofthebeautifulimagery,andwecouldnotuandhowHelencoulddescribesuchpictureswithouttheaidofsight.Aswehadneverseenorheardofanysuchstoryasthisbefore,weinquiredofherwhereshereadit;shereplied,"Idid;itismystoryforMr.Anagnossbirthday."WhileIwassurprisedthatshecouldwritelikethis,IwasnotmoreastohanIhadbeenmanytimesbeforeattheuedachievementsofmylittlepupil,especiallyaswehadexgedmaifulthoughtsonthesubjectofthegloryoftheripeningfoliageduriumnofthisyear.

  BeforeHelenmadeherfinalcopyofthestory,itwassuggestedtohertogeitstitleto"TheFrostKing,”

  asmoreappropriatetothesubjectofwhichthestorytreated;tothisshewillinglyassehestorywaswrittenbyHeleninbraille,asusualandcopiedbyherinthesamemaheninterlihemanuscriptfreaterveniehosewhodesiredtoreadit.Helenwrotealittleletter,and,enclosingthemanuscript,forwardedbothbymailtoMr.Anagnosforhisbirthday.

  ThestoryriheJanuaryheMentorand,fromareviewofitintheGoodsoe,Iwasstartledtofindthataverysimilarstoryhadbeenpublishedin1873,sevenyearsbeforeHelenwasborn.

  Thisstory,"FrostFairies,"appearedinabookwrittenbyMissMargaretT.by,entitled"BirdieandhisFairyFriends."ThepassagesquotedfromthetwostoriesweresomuchalikeinthoughtandexpressionastoviMissbysstorymustatsometimehavebeeoHelen.

  AsIhadneverreadthisstory,orevenheardofthebook,IinquiredofHelenifsheknewanythingaboutthematter,andfoundshedidnot.Shewasutterlyuorecalleitherthehestoryorthebook.

  CarefulexaminationwasmadeofthebooksinraisedprintinthelibraryofthePerkinsInstitutiontolearnifaractsfromthisvolumecouldbefoundthere;butnothingwasdiscovered.Ithencludedthatthestorymusthavebeeoheralongtimeago,ashermemoryusuallyretainswithgreatdistinessfadimpressionswhichhavebeenittedtoitskeeping.

  PartI.inthatvolume.173

  Aftermakingcarefulinquiry,Isucceededinobtainingtheinformationthatourfriend,Mrs.S.C.Hopkins,hadacopyofthisbookin1888whichreseoherlittledaughterin1873or1874.HelenandIspentthesummerof1888withMrs.Hopkinsatherhomeier,Mass.,whereshekindlyrelievedmeapartofthetime,ofthecareofHelen.SheamusedaertainedHelenbyreadingtoherfromacolleofjuvenilepublications,amongwhichwasthecopyof"BirdieandhisFairyFriends";and,whileMrs.Hopkirememberthisstoryof"FrostFairies,"sheisfidentthatshereadtoHeleracts,ifirestories,fromthisvolume.Butasshewasnotabletofindhercopy,andapplicationsforthevolumeatbookstoresinBoston,NewYork,Philadelphia,Albany,andotherplacesresultedonlyinfailure,searchwasinstitutedfortheauthorherself.Thisbecameadifficulttask,asherpublishersinPhiladelphiahadretiredfrombusinessmanyyearsago;however,itwaseventuallydiscoveredthatherresideWilmington,Delaware,andcopiesofthesededitionofthebook,1889,wereobtainedfromher.Shehassincesecuredandforwardedtomeacopyofthefirstedition.

  ThemostgenerousandgratifyiershavebeenreceivedfromMissbybyHelensfriends,afewextractsfromwhicharegiven:UeofFebruary24,1892,aftermentioningtheorderofthepublicationofthestoriesinthemagazine,shewrites:"Allthestorieswererevisedbeforepublishingtheminbookform;additionsweremadetothenumberasfirstpublished,Ithink,andsomeofthetitlesmayhavebeenged.”

  Inthesamelettershewrites:"IhopethatyouwillbeabletomakeheruandthatIamgladsheenjoyedmystory,andthatIhopethenewbookwillgiveherpleasurebyrenewingherfriendshipwiththeFairies.Ishallwritetoherinashorttime.IamsomuchimpressedwithwhatIhavelearnedofherthatIhavewrittenalittlepoementitledASilentSinger,whichImaysendtohermotherafterawhile.youtellmeinerthearticleappearedacgHelenofplagiarism,andgivingpassagesfrombothstories?Ishouldlikemuchtoseeit,andtoobtainafewcopiesifpossible.”

  UeofMarch9,1892,Missbywrites:"Ifindtraces,intheReportwhichyousokindlysentme,oflittleHelenhavingheardotherstoriesthanthatofFrostFairies.Onpage132,ier,thereisapassagewhichmusthavebeensuggestedbymystorycalledTheRoseFairies(seepp.13-16ofBirdie)andonpages93and94oftheReportthedescriptionofathuormisverymuchlikeBirdiesideaofthesameintheDewFairiesonpage59and60ofmybook.

  Whatawonderfullyactiveaivemindthatgiftedchildmusthave!Ifshehadrememberedandwrittendownaccurately,ashortstory,andthatsoonafterhearingit,itwouldhavebeenamarvel;buttohaveheardthestoryohreeyearsago,andinsuchawaythatherherparentsnorteachercouldeveralludetoitorrefreshhermemoryaboutit,aohavebeeoreproduceitsovividly,evenaddingsometouchesofherowninperfectkeepingwiththerest,whichreallyimprovetheinal,issomethingthatveryfewgirlsofriperage,andwitheveryadvantageofsight,hearing,andevealentsforposition,couldhavedoneaswell,ifatall.Uhecircumstances,Idonotseehowanyonebesounkindastocallitaplagiarism;itisawonderfulfeatofmemory,andstandsALONE,asdoubtlessmuchofherworkwillinfuture,ifhermentalprowanddevelopwithheryearsasgreatlyasinthefeast.Ihaveknownmanychildrenwell,havebeensurrouhemallmylife,andlovenothierthantotalkwiththem,amusethem,andquietlynoticetheirtraitsofmindandcharacter;butIdonotrecollectmorethanonegirlofHelensagewhohadtheloveandthirstforknowledge,aoreofliteraryandgeneralinformation,andtheskillinposition,whichHelenpossesses.SheisindeedaWonder-Child.ThankyouverymuchfortheRepazette,andHelensJournal.Thelastmademerealizethegreatdisappoiothedearchildmorethanbefore.Pleasegivehermywarmlove,andtellhernottofeeltroubledaboutitanymore.I.inthatvolume.174

  shallbeallowedtothinkitwasanythingwrong;andsomedayshewillwriteagreat,beautifulstoryorpoemthatwillmakemanypeoplehappy.Tellherthereareafewbitterdropsineveryonescup,andtheonlywayistotakethebitterpatiently,andthesweetthankfully.Ishalllovetohearofherreceptionofthebookandhowshelikesthestorieswhichareoher.”

  Ihavenow(March,1892)readtoHelen"TheFrostFairies,""TheRoseFairies,"andaportionof"TheDewFairies,"butsheisuhrowanylightoer.Shereizedthematonceasherownstories,withvariations,andwasmuchpuzzledtoknowhowtheycouldhavebeenpublishedbeforeshewasborhinksitiswonderfulthattwopeopleshouldwritestoriessomuchalike;butshestillsidersherownasinal.

  IgivebeloortionofMissbysstory,"TheRoseFairies,"andalsoHeleertoMr.Anagnostainingher"dream,"sothatthelikenessesanddifferencesmaybestudiedbythoseiedinthesubject:THEROSEFAIRIES[From"BirdieandhisFairyFriends,"byMargaretT.by]OnepleasantmlittleBirdiemighthavebeetingquietlyonthegrass-platatthesideofhismothershouse,lookingveryearlyattherose-bushes.

  Itwasquiteearly;greatMr.Sun,whoissuearlyriserinsummertime,hadnotbeenupverylong;thebirdswerejustbeginningtochirptheir"good-ms"toeachother;andasfortheflowers,theywerestillasleep.ButBirdiewassobusyallday,trottingaboutthehouseandgarden,thathewasalwaysreadyforHISnight,beforethebirdsandflowershadthoughtofseekingTHEIRS;andsoitcametopassthatwhenMr.Sunraisedhisheadabovethegreenwoodsandsmiledlovinglyupoh,Birdiewasoftenthefirsttoseehim,andtosmilebackathim,allthewhilerubbinghiseyeswithhisdimpledfists,untilbetweensmilingandrubbing,hewaswideawake.

  Andwhatdoyouthinkhedid!Why,thelittleroguerolledintohismammasbed,andkissedhereyelids,hercheeks,andhermouth,untilshebegantodreamthatitwasrainingkisses;andatlastsheopenedhereyestoseewhatitallmeant,andfoundthatitwasBirdie,tryingto"kissherawake,"ashesaid.

  Shelovedherlittleboyverydearly,andlikedtomakehimhappy,andwhenhesaid,"Pleasedressme,dearmamma,amegoouttoplayinthegarden,"shecheerfullysented;and,soonafter,Birdiewentdownstairsinhism-dressofcoollinen,andwithhisroundfacebrightandrosyfromitsbath,andranoutonthegravelpathtoplay,untilbreakfastwasready.

  Hestoodstillamomenttolookabouthim,andthinkwhatheshoulddofirst.Thefreshmairblewsoftlyinhisface,asiftowelehimandbehismerryplaymate;andthebrighteyeofMr.Sunlookedathimwithawarmandglowingsmile;butBirdiesoonwalkedontofindsomethingtoplaywith.Ashecameinsightoftherose-bushesthatgrewhesideofthehouse,hesuddenlyclappedhishands,andwithalittleshoutofjoystoppedtolookatthem;theywereallcoveredwithlovelyrosebuds.Somewerered,somewhite,andotherspalepink,andtheywerejustpeepingoutofthegreenleaves,asrosy-facedchildrefromtheirwarmbedsinwiimebeforetheyarequitewillingtogetup.Afewdaysbefore,Birdiespapahadtoldhimthatthegreenballsontherose-busheshadbeautifulflowersshutupwithinthem,butthelittleboyfoundithardtobelieve,forhewassoyoungthathedidnotrememberhowprettytheroseshadbeenthesummerbefore.Nowhefoundoutthathisfatherswordsweretrue,forafewdaysofwarmweatherhadturhegreenballsintorosebuds,andtheywereSObeautifulthatitwasenoughtomakeBirdiestandstillbeforethem,hisblueeyesdangwithdelightandhislittlehandsclaspedtightlytogether.

  PartI.inthatvolume.175

  Afterawhilehewentnearer,andlookingcloselyatthebuds,foundthattheywerefoldedup,leafoverleaf,aseyelidsarefoldedoversleepingeyes,sothatBirdiethoughttheymustbeasleep."Lazyroses,,"saidhe,givingthebranchesagentleshake;butonlythedewfelloffinbrightdrops,andtheflowerswerestillshutup.AtlastBirdierememberedhowhehadawakenedhismotherwithkisses,andthoughthewouldtrythesameplanwiththeroses;sohedrewuphisredlipsuntilTHEYlookedlikearosebud,too,andbendingdownabranchwithalovelypinkbuduponit,hekisseditsoftlytwoorthreetimes.

  Herethesimilarityinthelanguageofthestorytothatierceases.

  HELEERTOMR.ANAGNOS(WrittenFebruary2and3,1890.)[ThisletterwasenclosedinanotherwritteninFrench,datedLe1fevrier1890.]MyDearMr.Anagnos:YouwilllaughwhenyouopenyourlittlefrieerahequeermistakesshehasmadeinFrench,butIthinkyouwillbepleasedtoknowthatIwriteevenashortletterinFrench.

  Itmakesmeveryhappytopleaseyouandmydearteacher.IwishIcouldseeyourlittlenieceAmelia.Iamsureweshouldloveeachother.IhopeyouwillbringsomeiniaEvanghelidespoemshomewithyou,andtranslatethemforme.TeacherandIhavejustreturnedfromourwalk.Itisabeautifulday.Wemetasweetlittlechild.Shelayingonthepierwithaweebrother.Shegavemeakissandthenranaway,becauseshewasashylittlegirl.IwonderifyouwouldliketohavemetellyouaprettydreamwhichIhadalongtimeagowhenIwasaverylittlechild?Teachersaysitwasaday-dream,ahinksyouwouldbedelightedtohearit.Onepleasantminthebeautifulspringtime,IthoughtIwassittingograssundermydearmotherswindow,lookingveryearlyattherose-busheswhichweregrowingallaroundme.

  Itwasquiteearly,thesunhadnotbeenupverylong;thebirdswerejustbeginningtosingjoyously.Theflowerswerestillasleep.Theywouldnotawakeuntilthesunhadsmiledlovinglyuponthem.Iwasaveryhappylittlechildwithrosycheeks,andlargeblueeyes,abeautifulgoldenrisyouimagihefreshmairblewgentlyinmyface,asiftowele,andbemymerryplaymate,andthesunlookedatmewithawarmandtendersmile.IclappedmychubbyhandsforjoywhenIsawthattherose-busheswerecoveredwithlovelybuds.Somewerered,somewhite,andothersweredelicatepink,andtheywerepeepingoutfrombetweenthegreenleaveslikebeautifullittlefairies.Ihadneverseenanythingsolovelybefore,forIwasveryyoungandIcouldnotrememberhowprettytheroseshadbeenthesummerbefore.Mylittleheartwasfilledwithasweetjoy,andIdancedaroundtherosebushestoshowmydelight.

  AfterawhileIwentveryoabeautifulwhiterose-bushwhichwaspletelycoveredwithbudsandsparklingwithdewdrops;Ibentdowhebrahalovelypurewhitebuduponit,andkisseditsoftlymanytimes;justthewolovingarmsstealgentlyaroundme,andlovinglipskissingmyeyelids,mycheeks,andmymouth,untilIbegantothinkitwasrainingkisses;andatla松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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