If You Give Me Three Days of Light: The Best Collection of Helen Keller

Chapter 15 My Life (13)
So, isn't it fair to say that it is my life, with all its limitations, that perceives the beauty of everything in the world from many angles?Everything has its magic, even things like darkness and silence.Moreover, I have realized the true meaning of life, so no matter what situation I am in, I will face it with joy.

Indeed, there are times when loneliness hangs over me like a cold mist, and I seem to be sitting alone outside a closed door to life.There is light and music and warm friendship in the door, but I can't get in.The cruel god of fate blocked the door mercilessly.So, I have to question its (fate) domineering nature, because I still have a heart that is unrestrained and full of passion.But my tongue will make no sound of suffering.When vain words reach my lips, they recede again into my heart like unshed tears, and a boundless silence weighs on my heart.Then hope will smile and whisper: "Joy lies in self-forgetfulness." Therefore, I will make the light seen by other people's eyes my sun, the music heard by other people's ears be my music, and the corners of other people's mouths be my music. smile as my happiness.

people engraved in my life

The reason why I did not hesitate to mention the names of many people is because they have brought me endless happiness!Some of them have been documented and brought into the limelight of the world.There are others who are completely unknown to my readers, whose positive and noble attitudes to life have had an everlasting influence on me though their obscurity.They are as touching as beautiful poems. When I shake hands with them, I will be filled with an indescribable sense of happiness. Their humorous and interesting characters make our restless hearts calm, and the things that once bothered us Anger, annoyance and worry are swept away.Let us wake up refreshed and see again the beauty and harmony of God's real world.

The trivial mediocrity that fills our daily lives suddenly turns into magic.In a word, we feel immensely fulfilled by the company of such friends.Maybe we have never met them before, and after meeting by chance, they may never meet us again, but their quiet and mature temperament will definitely have a profound impact on us, and all our unhappiness will follow their worship of heaven and earth. Drank the wine in the glass.

I am often asked, "Does anyone bother you?" I don't quite understand what he means.I think some stupid people with too much curiosity, especially journalists, are often not likable.I also don't like people who judge my understanding and try to shorten their own stride when walking with you, just to match your walking speed.In fact, I am equally disgusted by the hypocrisy and exaggeration displayed by both types of people.

The variety of hands I have been exposed to speaks volumes.Among them, some hand touches are arrogant and disrespectful.I've met people who were so joyless that when I squeezed their frosty fingertips, it felt like I was shaking hands with a snowstorm from the Northeast.

But there are others who are lively and cheerful, whose hands seem to have the residual warmth of the sun, so shaking hands with them warms my heart.Maybe only children's hands will hold you, because they have a strong sense of trust in you. I can feel that children's hands have stored a lot of sunshine for me, just as they have prepared love for others. The eyes are the same.In short, I take real pleasure from a warm handshake or a friendly letter.

I have many friends who are thousands of miles apart and never meet.There are so many of them that I cannot answer their letters one by one, but I would like to reiterate here that I am always grateful for their sincere words, although I know little about them.

I have had the privilege of meeting and interacting with so many talented people.For example: Bishop Brooks, only those who know Bishop Brooks can appreciate the fun of making friends with him.When I was a child, I liked to sit on his lap and hold his big hand tightly with one of my little hands while Mrs. Sullivan spelled in the other hand. He spoke to me vividly. Talk about God and the spiritual world.I listened to him with the curiosity and joy of a child. Although my spiritual realm could not reach his height, he did let me realize what a truly happy life is.In the process of growing up, without his careful teaching, I would not understand the charm and profound connotation of outstanding ideas.

Once, when I asked him why there are so many religions in the world, he said: "Helen, there is a religion that is omnipresent—the religion of love. Love God and every child of God with your whole body and mind. , and remember well that the power of evil is far less powerful than the power of good, and the key to heaven is in your hands." In fact, his life is a perfect portrayal of this great truth.In his lofty thoughts of fraternity and extensive knowledge, he has been deeply integrated into the power of faith.He saw that in the process of human beings striving for liberation and freedom, God is everywhere, and in front of all the humble, God will give a loving helping hand to the wounded.

Bishop Brooks never taught me any particular creed or doctrine, but he imprinted on my mind two great ideas, that of God the Father of all, and that all men are brothers, and made me feel that this is The basis of all creeds and teachings.God is love, God is our Father, and we are His children.With such faith, even the darkest clouds will be blown away, and there will be no place for crime and injustice.

I live very happily in this world, and rarely think about the things behind me, but I can't help but often think of the spirits of my friends who are in heaven.Time flies, although they have passed away for many years, they still seem to be close to me. If they hold my hand and talk to me as affectionately as before, I will not be surprised at all.

Since the death of Bishop Brooks, I have read the whole Bible, and other works of religious philosophy.These include Swedenborg's "Heaven and Hell" and Jamond's "The Ladder of Man", but I find that these people hold no creeds or teachings compared with Bishop Brooks' "faith of love". Get spiritual satisfaction.

I also had the honor of making the acquaintance of Mr. Henry Drummond, for whose warm and firm handshake I am grateful.He is one of the warmest friends I have ever known.His every pore is full of heat.His knowledge was so vast, his temperament
And so kind, you never get bored when he's around.

I still vividly remember the first time I met Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes.It was on a Sunday afternoon, and he invited me and Mr. Sullivan to visit his home.It was early spring, and I was just learning to speak.Once inside we were led into his library, where he sat in an armchair by the fireplace, with the fire roaring and the coals crackling, and he said he was lost in reminiscences.

"Still listening to the murmur of the Charles River," I said tentatively.

"Yes," he replied, "my relationship with the Charles River is very close." The house smelled of ink and leather, and it was evidently full of books, so I groped involuntarily.My fingertips accidentally landed on a collection of poems by Tennyson. When Mr. Sullivan told me the name of the collection, I began to recite:
O sea, strike, strike,

Hit your gray reef!
But I stopped suddenly, and I felt tears dripping on my hands.It disturbed me that the lovely poet should have wept.He seated me in his arm-chair, and brought me all sorts of interesting things to admire, and I complied with his request, and read aloud "The Nautilus with the Back of the Room," which was my favorite poem at the time.Later, I met Dr. Holmes many times, and I learned not only poetry from him, but also love.

One sunny summer day shortly after my meeting with Dr. Holmes, Mr. Sullivan and I visited Mr. Whittier on board the Merrimac.His gentle manner and good conversation won me over.He once published a collection of poems printed in Braille, and I chose to read "School Time" from it.He was amazed at how accurate my pronunciation was and said he had no trouble understanding it.I asked him many questions about the poem and "listened" to his answers by putting my hand on his lips.He said that the little boy in the poem was himself, and that the girl's name was Sally, and other details I don't quite remember.I also recited "Losdio" to him, and when I reached the last verse, he placed in my hand a statue of a slave, curled up, with chains around his ankles, as if he had just been released from prison by an angel. The appearance of being rescued from the middle - the slave suddenly collapsed under Peter's wings.Later, when we walked into his study, he not only signed his autograph for Mrs. Sullivan, but also expressed his admiration to her."She is the savior of your soul," he said to me. At last he led me to the door, and kissed me softly on the forehead.I promised to visit him again the following summer.But before I could fulfill my promise, he died.

One of my oldest friends is Dr. Edward Everett Hale, whom I have known since I was eight years old.As I've grown older, so has my respect for him.His wisdom and compassion have been a strong support to Mrs. Sullivan and me whenever suffering and sorrow befell us.And, not just for us, but for anyone in a difficult situation.He used love to give new meaning to old dogma, and taught people how to believe, how to live, and how to be free.He not only speaks positively, but also leads by example, loves the country, loves the poorest compatriots, and diligently pursues progress.He preached and agitated, but also practiced, may God bless him!
I have previously described my first meeting with Dr. Bell.I have spent many pleasant days at his Washington home since then.His beautiful home is situated in the hinterland of the headland of Brighton Island, next to Baddeck, the small village famously written about by Charles Dudley Warner.In Dr. Bell's laboratory, and in the fields beside Lake Brassdale, I listened quietly to his account of his experiments, and my heart was filled with joy.I also help him fly a kite, which he hopes will discover the laws of flight for future spaceships.

Dr. Bell is not only proficient in various subjects, but also has the ability to turn those knowledge into magic. He can easily decipher even the most profound theories.With him, you couldn't help but feel that, if you had so little time, you, too, could be an inventor.He is humorous and has the temperament of a poet. He is full of love for children, and holding a deaf child in his arms is the happiest thing for him.His contribution to the deaf will live on forever and benefit future generations of children.His personal achievements, as well as the achievements of others under his inspiration, are equally worthy of our admiration.

During the two years I lived in New York, I had many opportunities to talk to familiar and famous people, but I would never ask to meet them.Many of them became good friends after meeting me once, like Mr. Laurence Hughton.I have had the great honor of visiting him and his virtuous wife, visiting his family library, and reading the emotional and insightful messages written to them by his gifted friends.You could really say that Mr. Hughton has a knack for evoking the best thoughts and feelings in every human being, and it's -- not bad at all.You don't have to read "Boys I Know" to get to know him—he was the most open-minded, generous man I've ever known, a friend who could share adversity, and who not only , Even treating dogs is full of love.

Mrs. Hughton was also that kind of friend who finds a friend in need.I am surrounded by great friendship and I have the most precious gift, all thanks to her.She taught me tirelessly and helped me through college.Whenever I am in a difficult situation in my studies and feel discouraged, she will write to me to encourage me and let me rekindle my fighting spirit.From her, we have learned such a truth - only when the immediate difficulties are overcome, the next step will be smooth and easy.

Mr. Hughton introduced me to many of his literary friends, the most famous of whom were Mr. William Dean Howes and Mr. Mark Twain.I also met Sir Richard Watson Gilder and Edmund Clarence Steadman.Mr. Charles Dudley Warner is a most fascinating novelist and my dearest friend.He has an incomparably deep compassion and loves his neighbor as himself.

I remember once, Mr. Warner took me to visit the respectable "Woodland Poet" - Mr. John Burroughs.They seemed to me good-natured and compassionate men, whose personalities shone as brightly as their prose and poetry.Of course, I can't argue with these literary masters, especially when they are juggling between different topics, or when the debate is in full swing and witty.I was like little Escaignus hobbling behind the heroic father Enius, I could only barely keep up with their thinking, and I dared not relax in the slightest.

They also said many wise words to me.Mr. Gilder told me how he set out across the desert to the pyramids on a moonlit night, and he deliberately made a debossed mark under his signature on a letter to me so that I could easily feel it.And Dr. Hale also has his own way of greeting, and he will stamp the signature on the paper in Braille.I also "read" a novel or two of Mr. Mark Twain by touching his lips.Mark Twain has his own unique way of thinking, no matter what he says or does, he has a distinctive personality.I could even feel the sparkle in his eyes when I shook his hand.As he sarcastically sarcasm in an indescribably comical tone, you could feel that his soul was a humanistic Iliad personified.

In New York I also met a lot of interesting people: like Mrs. Mary Maples Dodge, the editor of the lovely St. Nicholas Magazine.And Mrs Riggs (i.e. Kate Douglas Wizin), who is the author of Pat Hey.They sent me affectionate gifts of books that reflected their thoughts, heartwarming letters, and photographs that I would love to tell people about over and over again.However, due to limited space, it is impossible to describe all the friends. In fact, many of their noble and pure qualities cannot be fully expressed by pen and ink.

I should also mention two other friends of mine here.One was Mrs. William Shaw of Pittsburgh, to whom I was a frequent visitor at her house in Lyndhurst.She is passionate and always does something to make people happy.In the years we have been with her, Mrs. Sullivan and I will never forget her persuasion and uninterrupted generosity.

Another friend also benefited me a lot.His strong corporate leadership made him famous, and his decisive ability won the unanimous respect of all.He was kind to everyone, generous, and silently doing good.Because of his position, I should not speak of him.But it should be pointed out that my admission to the university would not have been possible without his enthusiastic help. (According to Helen's description, this mysterious patron should be Mr. J.P. Morgan, the most influential financier at that time)

It may be said that it is my friends who have made my life and life.They contrived to transform my handicap into a glorious privilege, enabling me to move forward with ease and joy in the shadow of doom.

(End of this chapter)