tO MR. GEORGE R. KREitution for ton, Mass., March 20, 1891.
My Dear Friend, Mr. Kre o buy me a gentle dog, and I to t. It makes me very o kno I makes me t all people are good and loving. I t I am sure it o say t ers. My friends old me about your great and magnificent city, and I deal t en. I o read quot;Enoc; and I kno poets poems by . I am eager to cross t to see my Engliso see me, and old me t tleness and o see a little strange girl coming into your office; but tle girl to tell you o do.
to send me some money for a poor little deaf and dumb and blind commy, and s are too poor to pay to tle fello to scead of giving me a dog, tlemen are going to ommys life as brig not a beautiful plan? Education ommys soul, and t help being happy.
From your loving little friend, hELEN A. KELLER.
tO DR. OLIVER ENDELL on, Mass., April, 1891.] Dear Dr. iful spring , t April days. I love every ;Springquot; and quot;Spring ; I to taugo enjoy and love tiful springtime, even t see ts approac II. Letters(1887-1901)82
; lo! I am not blind any longer, for I see Moture can s from me s in to tell you of my grateful love. I you to see baby tom, ttle blind and deaf and dumb c come to our pretty garden. before anotion ommys life. If you do come, you to ask ton to en tommys whole life. Your loving friend, hELEN KELLER.
tO SIR JOt MILLAIS Perkins Institution for ton, Mass., April 30, 1891.
My Dear Mr. Millais:--Your little American sister is going to e you a letter, because ss you to knoed in our poor little tommy, and some money to e is very beautiful to t people far atle o t your great city, t trangers to me, but noly. It seems to me t all people strangers to eac patiently for time to come ten some lines about England ry to e them for you.
quot;o mountain ised grasp ogete and boo caress reams bettle mother isle, God bless her!”
You o tommy o teac ty, active little fellow.
o climb mucter to spell, but t is because kno imagine ell us s, and ell him how we have loved him so long.
tomorrohey are here.
No say good-bye. Please ttle sister, hELEN KELLER.
tO REV. Pon, May 1, 1891.
My Dear Mr. Brooks: ing t May-day. My teac told me t you your friends everyand very must be good and my dear friend is brave, and . It is very beautiful to t you can tell so many people of tender love for all gentle and noble as o be. I ell ts beat fast oo, t Bistle friend, hELEN KELLER.
Before a teacommy and ion en. At Bise letters to t many generous replies. All of t in letters to tter is to tor of ton e list of tributions amounted to more teen hundred dollars.
tO MR. JOon, May 13, 1891. Editor of ton herald: My Dear Mr.
in t? I to kno so muctle tommy, and t to s II. Letters(1887-1901)83
of ten, and is learning somet t doors little sticks and bits of paper can be got into te easily; but seem very eager to get t after to climb ts and unscreeam valves mucter to spell, but t is because understand t eresting discoveries. I good people inue to ommy until ed, and education ligo tle life. From your little friend, hELEN KELLER.
tO DR. OLIVER ENDELL on, May 27, 1891. Dear, Gentle Poet:--I fear t you roublesome little girl if ses to you too often; but o eful messages, o tell you ed I you o e quot;Baby tom.”
t you forgotten ttle c broug t of tender sympato say t tommy learned any . less little creature it is pleasant to t nerange, eaco spread its beautiful wings and fly away in searc?
I o Andover since I saly interested in all t my friends told me about P it o you. I tried to imagine my gentle poet tle iful ;t; for it is not in our print.
Did you kno to exercises in tremont temple, next tuesday afternoon? I enclose a ticket, you friend. I se about tiful cities of sunny Italy. I oo, and take tom in his arms.
ittle friend, hELEN A. KELLER.
tO REV. Pon, June 8, 1891. My dear Mr. Brooks, I send you my picture as I promised, and I it ts o your tle friend. I used to ures atues, but no often t it because my dear Fatiful pictures, even of t see. If t in your eyes, dear Mr. Brooks, you and better tle eaco t and most beautiful t be seen nor even touc just felt in t. Every day I find out someterday I t for t time iful tion seemed to me t everytrying to get near to God, does it seem t o you? It is Sunday morning, and ter you are teaciful t ther.
Are you not very, very o more people and more and more eacure my dear love. From your little friend hELEN KELLER.
itution closed in June, eac souto tuscumbia, us of several montters, caused by t on ;Frost Kingquot; episode. At time trouble seemed very grave and brougten of it.
Part II. Letters(1887-1901)84
tO MR. ALBERt er, Mar. 10, 1892. My dear Mr. Munsell, Surely I need not tell you t your letter and rangely ever since o Breer. It is evident t somety but I cannot imagine can be. urbulent t I o give music of groir of life in tormy at an end. So toget most despairingly, t gentle Spring urn and fly at t of t lo! tly, and breattlements of t I must put ail again. Please give your dear moteaco say t sograp urn. No t is linked hem. Lovingly yours hELEN KELLER.
tter . Nic is undated, but must ten t was published.
to St. Nic. Nic gives me very great pleasure to send you my autograp t.
Nico knoraigry to tell t is done. e beto e. to lines and end of t is very easy to keep tters are all made in tend above and belo o see t ers correctly. It is very difficult at first to form t if rying it gradually becomes easier, and after a great deal of practice e legible letters to our friends. time t a sco see te. Very sincerely your little friend hELEN KELLER.
In May, 1892, ea in aid of ten for t e er of Mr. Jo and most liberal friends. tea broughe blind children.
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY Souton, May 9, 1892. My dear Miss Carrie:--I ter. Need I tell you t I ed to you are really interested in t;teaquot;? Of course not give it up. Very soon I am going far ao my o t ton did for my pleasure o tle sig kind people cannot ender sympattle ones, iful lig seems to me t all loving sympat express itself in acts of kindness; and ;teaquot; a success, and I am sure I s little girl in all t Bis o be erested. Please give o-morro of our plans. Please give your dear aunt teacell tle visit very much indeed. Lovingly yours, hELEN KELLER.
tO MR. JOon, May 11ttle friend, roublesome I am sure you Part II. Letters(1887-1901)85
blame me I am very anxious about someteacold you Sunday t I ed to tle tea in aid of ten. e t everyt Mrs. Elliott be o let us invite more ty people, because Mrs.
e small. I am sure t a great many people o come to tea, and o brigtle blind c some of my friends say t I so give up tea unless eacerday, t pero let us iful I it. Do you te to ed if my little plans fail, because I ed for a long time to do somettle ones o enter ten.
Please let me kno try to forgive me for troubling you so much.
Lovingly your little friend, hELEN KELLER.
tO MR. EDARD Souton, May 18t:--I am going to e to you tiful morning because my is brimful of you and all my dear friends in transcript office to rejoice ions for my tea are nearly completed, and I am looking foro t. I kno disappoint me, le co my tea and buy ligiful ligtle ones tle blind cing to enter ten. t in my soul. ts sunligy teaco me and taugtle fingers to use tiful key t my spirit free.
It is my earnest o tle blind cer and tle friend, hELEN KELLER.
At t o tuscumbia.
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY tuscumbia, Alabama, July 9th 1892.
My dear Carrie--You are to look upon it as a most positive proof of my love t I e to you to-day. For a ; in tuscumbia, and I must confess tinuous rain and dismalness of ts and makes ting of letters, or any pleasant employment, seem quite impossible. Nevert tell you t eresting letters very muciful visit at on. Everytayed out of doors all day. e even ate our breakfast out on times in teaco me. I rode a fast gallop. O, it fun! Do you like to ride? I ty little cart no ever stops raining teaco drive every evening. And I iful Mastiff- t one I ever saect us. not? I t is Saxon. e expect to go to tains next tle brot ain air little sister and I am sure you see tly amused at ting t e on a Braille tablet, as you suppose, but on a grooved board like t read Braille; for it is ten in dots, not at all like ordinary letters. Please give my love to Miss Derby and tell I est love to Baby Rut me for my birt knoleman, seventy-five years of age. And every stitces, represents a kind tle cousins I tter get upon til after tion; for ties and candidates t I doubt if sucicians ion. Please give my love to Rosy II. Letters(1887-1901)86
loving friend ype-ten letter? h. K.
tO MRS. GROVER CLEVELAND My dear Mrs. Cleveland, I am going to e you a little letter tiful morning because I love you and dear little Ruto t me t suciful lady loves me. I ime, but I did not til your s message came. Please kiss your dear little baby for me, and tell tle broteen monter my dear friend Pter a pretty book you, and my picture. Please accept tuscumbia, Alabama.
November fourto tters on passages are omitted and ted.
tO MR. JOZ tuscumbia, Alabama, Dec. 19, 1892.
My Dear Mr. z, I o begin a letter to you, it ime since your kind letter reac I o e if I could. You must ter teacy indeed. If so, you eacing s e to any one, and I rying to fulfil a promise Boston, I o e a sketcended to e tcion: but I feel able to e even to my friends. But autumn days came, and I felt strong again I began to t tc ime before I could plan it to suit me. You see, it is not very pleasant to e all about ones self. At last, somet by bit t teac about putting toget an easy task: for, alt every day, I did not finis until a urday. I sent tco t kno t it. Since t been , and rest; but to-day I am better, and to-morrow I shall be well again, I hope.
ts true at all. e received t orker e rigo tor to tell it ake. Sometimes I am not I am not a quot;; and t;distressingquot; about my condition.
I enjoyed your dear letter so muced iful t is because my books are full of t I love t realize until I began to e tc precious companions books o me, and o me. I e to me as often as you can.
teaced to to e to Mr. Bell and send ure. I suppose oo busy to e to tle friend. I often t time on last spring.
Noo tell you a secret. I teactle sister, and myself, ason next Marc it be lovely if Mrs. Pratt could meet us te to ell too.... Lovingly your little friend, eac to kno I o of course I cannot iful pony, and Part II. Letters(1887-1901)87
a large dog. And I tle dog to s in tuscumbia) or a parrot. I o feel a parrot talk, it tle creature you send me. h. K.
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY tuscumbia, Alabama, February 18, 1893. ...You en been in my ts during t imes t I on o me! so tender and loving alry not to mourn oo sadly. I do try to t ill near, very near; but sometimes t t I s see o Boston,--t at otimes, June o us about ennyson, and our o Dr. ried to teac, and akes, and afterold my tea, and o come? I can o my ea mig;Of course it cannot fail.quot; I am glad to raise a monument to his memory....
In Marc Nort t feraveling and visiting friends.
In reading tter about Niagara one s Miss Keller knoance and s ter s, crossed tor. Especially important are sucails as er by putting o increase tions.
tO MRS. KAtE ADAMS KELLER Souton, April 13, 1893. ...teact and I very unexpectedly decided to take a journey ervelt, a gentleman t....
Mr. estervelt gave us a reception one afternoon. A great many people came. Some of tions. A lady seemed surprised t I loved floiful colors, and you feel t; But of course, it is not alone for t colors t leman asked me Y meant to my mind. I must confess I first. But after a minute I ans beauty was a form of goodness--and away.
ion back to tel and teac quite unconscious of tore for togets before old teac it. to aking my dear teaco see Niagara Falls!...
tel I could feel it rus by putting my morning t and up quickly for our s expectation.... You can never imagine il you erious sensations yourself. I could it er t I felt rusuous fury at my feet. It seemed as if it o some terrible fate. I as it is, its beauty and aible plunge of its ers over t force. I stood by t ocean and felt its ing against too, ars in tillness of t, do you not?... e doy feet in an elevator t he Falls is a wonderful suspension bridge.
Part II. Letters(1887-1901)88
It is t a of ter and is supported on eaco. o t;God save t; teactle traitor. But I do not try, and besides I honor Englands good queen.
You o a kind lady wo improve my speec I shall speak well some day!...
Mr. Munsell spent last Sunday evening ell about Venice!
iful ures made us feel as if ting in t canal.... I Venice, as I surely s Mr. Munsell is my castle in to me so vividly and so beautifully as he does....
to tter to Mr. Jo.
Nicter. In a prefatory note .
Nic people frequently said to ;; t of tion gave ter: tO tMENtS AND OFFICERS IN CS GENtLEMEN--te inspection of tion in all Departments. S is able to converse, and is introduced to me as one y to understand ts ss, and as being possessed of a elligence and of culture beyond y to examine ts in tments, and extend to esies as may be possible.
t, Very truly yours, (signed) .
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY on, Penn., August 17, 1893.
...Every one at to me... Nearly all of tors seemed perfectly o let me touc delicate t explaining everyto me. A Frencleman, o my touc o trical building, and sorical telepened to t;to be, or not to be,quot; at tennial. Dr. Gillett of Illinois took us to ts and omans buildings. In ted tiffanys ex, and iful tiffany diamond, in King Lud remarked t I s. At t tiful Syrian lady. I liked t to tment urer. I never realized il I sa interesting ex. Japan must indeed be a paradise for co judge from t number of playtured truments, and tiful eresting. ty-seven letters in ts. Prof.
Morse kno deal about Japan, and is very kind and o visit time I go to Boston. But I tranquil lagoon, and to me, more t t on ter, t do, rosy lige City, making it look Part II. Letters(1887-1901)89
more than ever like Dreamland....
Of course, ed t ing place. I into treets of Cairo, and rode on t he hale-back....
In tarted in tuscumbia, of o establis;I e to my friends about ted t to me in a s time, as . tance encouraged ting and buying books ever since, until noable public library in town.”
tO MRS. Con, Penn., Oct. 21, 1893. ...e spent September at uscumbia... and mountain tractive and restful after tement and fatigue of our visit to ty and solitude of than ever.
And noudy ter utor assisted by my dear teacudy Aritic, Latin and literature. I enjoy my lessons very muc is so pleasant to learn about netle I kno I do not feel discouraged since God ernity in erature I am studying Longfellory. I kno deal of it by , for I loved it long before I kneapo say I did not like aritic very noudy it is, t confess my mind sometimes! for, nice and useful as aritic is, it is not as interesting as a beautiful poem or a lovely story. But bless me, ime does fly. I s left in ions about t;; Public Library.
1. I t 3,000 people in tuscumbia, Ala., and per present t in to is starting one. My mot of ablis of a free public library in tuscumbia. t 100 books and about $55 in money, and a kind gentleman o erect a library building. But in time ted a little room in a central part of too all.
3. Only a feon kno t like to trouble trying to get money for poor little tommy, for of course it ant t ed t my people so read. 4. I do not kno is a miscellaneous (I t is tion....
P.S. My teac o say t a list of tributors to and publis;Nort; h. K.
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY on, Penn., December 28, 1893. ...Please tty s me. It is a very interesting souvenir of Columbus, and of te City; but I cannot imagine of all t I is ell explain why I am a discoverer....
tO DR. EDARD EVEREtt on, Pennsylvania, January 14, [1894]. My dear Cousin: I to e to you long before to your kind letter o tiful little book I II. Letters(1887-1901)90
Neion of my little story in t me a large number of letters,--last y-one!--and besides replying to some of tters, I o learn, among tic and Latin; and, you knoill, imperious and tyrannical, and if a little girl and so great a man, and ts of in language, s study mucudy and t require time.
I stle book al only for its o because of its associations is a deligo to s and feelings, and I tiful way....
In February urned to tuscumbia. t t of tudying. In ttended ting at Cauqua of tion for tion of teaco tion.
In tered t-ure. t;singing lessonsquot; o strengtaken a fe titution. t eresting, but of course came to little.
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY t- 76t. Ne. 23, 1894.
...t, and bless you! it is quite fasudy Aritic, Engliserature and United States ory as I did last er. I also keep a diary. I enjoy my singing lessons h Dr.
to take piano lessons sometime....
Last Saturday our kind teacful trip to Bedloes Island to see Bart statue of Liberty enlig cannon, if ty old s.
Liberty is a gigantic figure of a al to torco ty persons, and viey gazes day and nig t Frencist t to be tiful in tober suns like idle dreams; t co gray; t seek t....
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY t-tle in lip-reading, till find it very difficult to read rapid speec I am sure I sill trying to improve my speeco speak like oto o all of my friends to urally!! I and perplexing for a deaf co learn to speak I am sure I sly some time if I am only patient....
Altime to read a good deal.... I ely read quot;ilellquot; by Sc;t Vestal.quot;... No;Nat; by Lessing and quot;King Art; by Miss Mulock.
...You knoeacake us to see everyterest us, and deal in t deligons birt to t croe t caused by ty of sounds made by tra, II. Letters(1887-1901)91
afternoon very muc attention ted tartling liberties o ones arms and ceremony to kisses, apparently unconscious of ty of t.
Dear me, iful little beasts t tured and friendly, one cannot hem.
Dr. eac t t to a reception given by t;Metropolitan Club.quot;... It is sometimes called t;Millionaires Club.quot; t, being built of I must confess, so muco me; and I didnt envy t all to bring them....
tO MRS. KAtE ADAMS KELLER Neernoon at Mr.
tons, and deligime!... e met Mr. Clemens and Mr. time; but I t I salk to t t pleasure , muc I, only a little girl of fourteen, sact inguis I am a very eful for tiful privileges I inguisle and kind, and I could not tell old us many entertaining stories, and made us laugill o Europe in a feo bring er, Jeanne, back to America, because Jeanne, e nom de plume for Mr. Clemens because it sound, and goes ings, and its nautical significance suggests tiful t ten. I teac is to spell told me a little about Venice, ies, and spoke very tenderly of tle girl, innifred, ;Birds Cmas Carol,quot; but s come. I to see I pleasure some otime. Mr. ton gave me a lovely little glass, sle, . e also met Mr. Rogers... w o bring us home.
- South.
tO MRS. LAURENCE tON tuscumbia, Alabama, July 29, 1895. ...I am spending my vacation very quietly and pleasantly at my beautiful, sunny s, my darling little sister and my small broteacoo, and so of course I am tle, tle, e a little and play deal, and tfully!...
My friends are so pleased it for me to continue my studies in Need at t, of spending anot city I used to t I s;at ; in Ne since I ance of so many people, and can look back to suc and successful er to next year, and anticipating still brigter times in tropolis Please give my kindest love to Mr ton, and Mrs Riggs and Mr arner too, alten Veniceons pen dancing over t is a pleasant sound because it is full of promise !
Please pardon me, my dear Mrs ton, for sending you a typeten letter across tried Part II. Letters(1887-1901)92
several times to e tle ing mac I very difficult to do so on account of t ture of my I am compelled to use my typeer altoget is not my quot;Remingtonquot; eit a naugtle t gets out of order on test provocation, and cannot be induced to make a period...
tO MRS. ILLIAM tober 16, 1895. metropolis!
e left on Friday nigurday morning. Our friends ly surprised to see us, as t expected us before t of ted Saturday afternoon, for I ired, and Sunday I visited es, and no I feel quite rested, I am going to e to you; for I kno to mind it mucer eacrain-men in tation if train be called for about fifteen minutes; so doo ; but in a moment teaco go to train at once. Sook us on track and put us on board our train. t visit before train started. as t not very kind? So it alo scatter little acts of kindness along our pat smoot...
e but very pleasant time in on. Mr. ade is just as dear and good as ever! ely ed in England for me, quot;Old Mortality,quot; quot;tle of Otrantoquot; and quot;King of No-land.quot;...
tO MISS CAROLINE DERBY Neeace.
e ton, Mrs. Riggs and many distinguiserry, Sir ockton! erent unate? Miss terry kno; for I feel so astle girl.quot; e also met Mr. and Mrs. terry, Miss terrys brot y angellic, and o a clear, beautiful voice serry again ;King C,quot; a Friday, and after t me feel of t an idea of unes! And ty and fait forgot act affected us most deeply, and , o tear the King from his loving wifes arms.
I finis;Ivan; It ing; but I must say I did not enjoy it very muc Rebecca, rong, brave spirit, and ure, er ;Stories from Scottisory,quot; and thrilling and absorbing!...
t tters ten just after th of Mr. John P. Spaulding.