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

Chapter 16 The Second Half of My Life (Continued) (1)
college life
What I have described before is the life in the first year of college, now I will talk about the life after the second year of college.

Girlhood is a collection of essays I wrote as a freshman at Radcliffe College.At that time, when I was in the composition class of Mr. Ke Lan, I wrote an article every week.At the beginning, I didn’t intend to compile and publish them, until the editor-in-chief of "Lady Daily" came to visit unexpectedly one day, and he said: "The president of this agency hopes to publish your biography in our magazine, and publish it serially. Come out, please help."

At that time, I politely rejected him on the grounds that I was busy with homework, but he insisted: "Didn't you already write a lot in the composition class?"

When I heard this, I was startled, and asked, "Ah! how do you know these things?"

"Haha, that's what I do?" the editor-in-chief said with a somewhat smug smile.

Immediately afterwards, he told me that it is very easy to make the manuscript required by the magazine by simply polishing the school composition a little.Therefore, I had no choice but to agree to serialize the original manuscript of "Girls' Generation" in "Ladies Daily" at a price of 3000 US dollars, and signed the contract.To be honest, I was so tempted by $3000 at the time that I forgot that the manuscript was only half-finished, and I didn't consider the troubles that might arise if I didn't write the second half.At that time, I was indeed a little carried away and complacent.

And so it settled down.At the beginning, everything went smoothly, but the more I wrote it, the more difficult it became.Because I don’t know what to write, what’s more, I’m not a professional writer, and I don’t know how to properly process the existing materials into the words required by the magazine, and I don’t even care about the deadline. The concept is completely an outsider.When I received a telegram from the magazine, such as "Please send the next chapter immediately", or "The relationship between page 6 and page 7 is not clear, please call back immediately to explain", etc., I didn't even think about it. Know how to do it.

Fortunately, my classmate Renoia introduced me to someone. She told me: "He is a classmate of the landlord. He is not only clear-headed, but also very generous, full of chivalry, and kind to others. If you need anything, he will definitely I won't say no." That's how I met Mr. Macy.Mr. Macy was a professor at Harbart University, and he was part-time at Radcliffe College, but I didn't know that.After listening to Renoir's introduction, I had a preliminary and perfect impression of Mr. Messi. From the future exchanges, I deeply realized that, as Renoah said, Mr. Messi is not only smart and intelligent, but also a good person. enthusiastic.After he understood my difficulties, he immediately browsed through the materials I brought, and then sorted them out for me very neatly.In this way, I was finally able to deliver the manuscript on time.

Mr. Massey is an outstanding writer, with keen wit and rich emotion.For me, he is not only a good friend, but also a trustworthy brother, and an indispensable person to consult when I encounter problems.I wouldn't be surprised if the part I'm writing now isn't as good as it was then, because I don't have Mr. Macy to help me this time.

As I said before, when I was studying at Radcliffe College, I felt that the biggest problem was that I didn't have Braille books to read, and another problem was that I didn't have enough time to allocate.At that time, teacher Sullivan told me the extracurricular homework word by word in sign language, so I often had to study until late at night, while others had already fallen asleep at this moment.

Ms. Lodge and Ms. Vidu also wrote Braille for me in my textbooks, but some teachers didn't teach me how to study until the class, so I often fell behind.

The Red Cross has now published thousands of Braille books for the blind, and there are so many books that the blind can read!And all the braille books I had at the time were less than 30, so each one was a priceless treasure for me.I lowered my head and "read" these books with my own hands to collect my thesis materials and prepare for exams.Whenever I read a book in Braille, I often think: "Now I can learn by myself without the help of others." This makes me feel very relieved.

In terms of studies, I can read and understand literature and history without difficulty.This point may have something to do with my earlier life experience, because before entering university, I was exposed to many beautiful, imaginative and informative articles.Therefore, I have a strong interest in these courses, and my grades are very good.Looking back now, I am really glad for my luck.

The only thing I regret is that I didn't get to communicate more with my college professors.For me, most professors' lectures are like a gramophone, and I can only listen to them mechanically.Although the home of Dean Bridges is right next to me, I never took the initiative to visit him.Even Dr. Aliwater who signed my diploma, I have never had a chance to meet.Only Professor Cobran who taught my writing class, Dr. Nelson who taught "Elizabeth Literature", and Professor Padret who taught German occasionally invited me to drink tea. They met me outside the school. Also very kind.

Because my physical condition is different from others, I can't play with my classmates smoothly, but everyone still communicates with me in various ways.The classmates in the class often go out to the restaurant to eat sandwiches and drink cocoa milk. They often surround me and tell some interesting things to make me laugh. The classmates even elected me to be the deputy monitor.If I don't feel very strenuous because I have to spend more time on study than others, I think my college life will be as colorful as other students.

My friends asked me out one day: "Helen, would you like to hang out at a friend's house in downtown Brooklyn?" But I ended up at a pet store in Boston full of Tyrells.The dogs welcomed me very warmly, and one of them, Earl Thomas, was especially affectionate to me.Although this puppy is not particularly beautiful, it is very good at acting like a baby, and it looks tame and obedient when standing beside me.When I stretched out my hand to touch it, it wagged its tail violently and let out a low cry of joy.

"Ah! Earl Thomas, do you like Helen very much? Helen, do you like this puppy too?" My friends asked me in unison, and I replied simply: "Yes, I like it very much!"

"Then we'll give it to you as a gift from everyone," said the friends.

Earl Thomas, circling around me, seemed to understand what was being said about it.

When Earl Thomas calmed down a bit, I said, "I don't like the title of an earl, it sounds unattainable."

After I said these words, the dog sat quietly aside as if enlightened, and became silent.

"What do you think of the name 'Fitz'?" As soon as he finished speaking, Earl Thomas seemed to agree completely, and rolled three times on the ground excitedly.So, I took this puppy back to Cambridge's home.

At the time we were living at 14 Kulitsstrasse, renting part of the house.It is said that this house was originally a high-end residence. It is located on a beautiful mound surrounded by lush and green trees.Although the main entrance of the house faces the road, the house is very deep, and the noise of vehicles on the road is almost completely inaudible.There is a large garden at the back of the building. The owner has planted pansies, geraniums, carnations and other flowers and plants in the garden, so the house is always full of the fragrance of flowers.

Every morning, Italian girls in bright clothes come to pick flowers and sell them in the market.We often wake up to the lively laughter and singing of those Italian girls. It's a bit like being in an idyllic village in Italy.

During our stay at Cullitz Street we met several students and young lecturers at Harbart University, and we got along very well and became very good friends.One of them is Mr. Philip Smith, who is now the director of the Alaska Branch of the National Geological Survey in Washington. His wife, Renoia, is one of my best classmates.Renoia was very friendly to me. Whenever Teacher Sullivan was unwell, she would help me with my homework for Teacher Sullivan and take me to the classroom.

Mr. John Macy was also one of the members at that time. He was once the pillar of my life and spirit. Later, he married Mr. Sullivan.

At that time, we often walked more than ten miles of country roads in one breath, but we didn't feel tired at all.Sometimes I ride a three-seater bicycle for 40 miles, and I don’t want to go home until I have fun.What a carefree age!Happy to do anything, happy to play anything.In the eyes of young people, everything in nature is so wonderful, such as the warm autumn sun shining on the treetops, migratory birds flying south in groups, squirrels busy carrying walnuts to store food for the rainy season, everything from apples The ripe fruits falling from the trees, the pink flowers on the meadow by the river, and the emerald green water.Everything is so pleasing to the eye and intoxicating.

On cold winter nights, we will rent a covered carriage and wander around casually, or go sledding on the mountain, or play in the wild, or sit quietly in the coffee shop and drink the fragrant coffee. Or have a delicious late night snack.Our life is as happy as a fairy.

The winter nights are long, and sometimes we will gather around the raging fire for several consecutive nights, drinking Coke and eating popcorn, talking and discussing various issues in society, literature or philosophy.No matter what the subject is, we always like to get to the bottom of it.A group of young people began to know how to think independently and have a strong sense of justice. They are very disgusted with the evil forces and dark sides in society. Everyone is completely consistent in their love for peace and human beings.However, pure discussions are mostly useless, unable to solve fundamental problems, and only build an ideal utopia.The brilliance of youth is so bright that people dare not look directly at it, and the fearless spirit is indeed enviable.

I remember once, we went to a far place on foot.It was March, and the wind was still so strong that it blew my hat off.Another time, probably in April, we also went out on foot, and suddenly it rained heavily halfway, and several of us had to hide under a small raincoat.In May, everyone meets to go to the field to pick strawberries, and the air is filled with the aroma of strawberries.

well!I am not yet the age of an old woman, why am I so obsessed with reminiscing about the past!
Four years of college life passed in the blink of an eye in these happy days, and we finally ushered in the graduation ceremony.At that time, some newspapers reported Mr. Sullivan and me at the graduation ceremony, and one of the newspapers published such a message: "On this day, the auditorium of the graduation ceremony was packed. Of course, every graduate present The graduation certificate will be accepted, but the focus of the guests' eyes is on one student, she is the beautiful, high-achieving but blind Helen Keller. For a long time, teacher Sullivan, who has worked tirelessly to assist the girl, also shared In her honor. When the host read the name of Helen Keller, the audience burst into thunderous applause. The young girl not only completed all the college courses with honors, but also performed particularly well in English literature , so it has been praised by teachers and classmates."

Mrs. Sullivan was very happy that I was able to get a high grade in English Literature, which was all due to her.But apart from these two facts, the other reports in the newspaper are all nonsense.The number of guests who came that day was not as many as the reporter reported; in fact, there were only five or six friends who came to my graduation ceremony exclusively.The most regrettable thing is that my mother was unable to attend the ceremony because of illness; and the headmaster just gave a routine speech, and he didn't specifically mention me and Mr. Sullivan.Not only that, but the other teachers didn't come over to say hello to me either.In addition, when I went to the stage to receive my graduation certificate, there was no "thunderous applause" as the newspaper said.In short, the graduation ceremony was not as grand and unprecedented as described in the newspapers.

Some students were also upset because of what happened to Mr. Sullivan. While taking off their academic uniforms, they said angrily: "It's too hasty. Teacher Sullivan should also be awarded a degree."

After the graduation ceremony, the teacher took me out of the auditorium and drove directly to Lianshan, New England, where we planned to move to live.In the evening, my friends and I went canoeing on Poyaga Lake in Oromona. Under the peaceful and peaceful starry sky, I temporarily forgot all the troubles of the world.The newspaper that exaggerated the report on the graduation ceremony also said that Lian Shan's house was given to me by the Boston city government. The huge library with tens of thousands of books, sitting in the book city, makes life very comfortable.

What nonsense.Why did Teacher Sullivan and I live in such a luxurious house?In fact, it was an old farmhouse bought a long time ago, surrounded by 7 acres of fields, which had been abandoned for a long time.Mrs. Sullivan opened up the milking parlor and the pottery storeroom to make it into one big room, which served as my study.There were about a hundred volumes in Braille in the study, and although they were rather crude, I was already content.Because there is plenty of light here, bonsai can be placed on the east and west window sills, and there are two floor-to-ceiling glass doors overlooking the pine forest in the distance.Teacher Sullivan also specially set up a small balcony next to my bedroom so that I can go out for a walk when I am happy.

It was on this balcony that I first heard the birds sing "the song of love".That day, I was enjoying the warm breeze on the balcony, and I didn't want to enter the room, and stayed there for more than an hour.The south side of the balcony is covered with ivy, whose branches and leaves climb around the railing; the north side is planted with apple trees, and when the apple trees bloom, the scent is simply intoxicating.

Suddenly, my hand holding the railing felt a slight vibration. This vibration gave me the same feeling as putting my hand on the throat of a musician.The vibration came and went, and stopped suddenly. At a certain moment of pause, a flower or petal fell down, brushed my cheek and fell to the ground.I immediately guessed that the petals would fall because of the birds flying or the breeze blowing.

Just as I was guessing, the railing began to vibrate again.

"What on earth is this?" I stood there quietly, feeling and thinking intently.At this time, Teacher Sullivan stretched out his hand from the window and quietly hinted to me not to move.She grabbed my hand and told me, "There's a gnat nesting right next to you on the railing. If you move, it will fly away, so it's best to stand still."

Teacher Sullivan told me in sign language: The song of this bird sounds like "Fei-Pu-ah-Wei, Fei-Pu-Ah-Wei".I concentrated on distinguishing the call of this bird, and finally felt its rhythm and mood, and felt

Seeing that its whining sound is gradually increasing and speeding up.

Teacher Sullivan sent me a message again: "The bird's lover is responding to it in the apple tree. The bird may have stopped there a long time ago. Oh! Look, they are now singing a duet."

After a short pause, she added: "Now, these two birds are already whispering to each other among the apple blossoms!"

I bought this farmhouse with shares in the Sugar Company.These shares were gifted to me by Mr. Sperling 10 years ago.Mr. Spurling was there for us in our worst times.

I was 9 years old when I first met Mr. Spurling, and he brought his child actor Wright to play with us.At that time, the child star was participating in the performance of "Little Princess".Since then, as long as we have difficulties, Mr. Springing has tried his best to help us, and he often visits us at the Perkins Institute for the Blind.

Every time he comes, he will bring some roses, biscuits, and fruits for everyone.Sometimes he invited everyone out for lunch, or rented a carriage and took us out for fun, and the child star Wright often accompanied us.Wright is a beautiful, lively and lovely little girl. Mr. Sperling often said to us: "You are my two most beloved little ladies." Then he watched us play together very happily.

I was learning how to talk to people at the time, and I was very sorry that Mr. Sperling never understood me.One day I was deliberately practicing saying the name "Wright" so as to surprise Mr. Spurling.However, no matter how much I

Try hard, just can't say Wright's full name.I was so anxious that I cried.When Mr. Sperling came, I couldn’t wait to show my practice results, repeated it over and over again, and finally let Mr. Sperling understand what I meant. I was happy and moved, that kind of excited mood I can't forget it to this day.

From then on, whenever I couldn't express myself clearly, or Mr. Spurling couldn't communicate with me because of the noise around, he would hug me tightly and comfort me softly, saying: "Although I am not very I know what you mean, but I love you, and always will always love you."

Until his death, Mr. Spurling always sent me and Mr. Sullivan monthly living expenses.Later, when he gave us the Sugar Company stock, he told us to sell it if we needed it.Because of this, when Mrs. Sullivan and I first stepped into this house and began our new life, we could always feel that Mr. Spurling was with us.

(End of this chapter)