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

Chapter 37 Helen Keller Letters (5)
I am amazed at the language skills you display in your letters.I even wonder if the world would be a better place if people could neither see nor hear.We can also say that human beings who live in this way will be happier, then they will not fight each other like they are now.Imagine an army of blind men, even with guns!Think again of the poor drummer!What will they use as weapons in war?Can't you use drumsticks?Although you endure pain that you can't see or hear, you also gain spiritual happiness and satisfaction because of it.

You have to hold the belief that as long as there are people living in the world, the heart of benevolence will not be lost.Everyone will care about the lovely little Helen.Everyone will be willing to help her.If one day she becomes an old lady with gray hair, she still has to believe that people's meticulous care for her will last forever.

Your parents and friends will be overjoyed at your progress.This is a great honor, not just for you, but for your mentors as well.It is because of their help that your vision becomes wider and more beautiful, and you see more things than even children who can see and hear.They are the ones who tear down the walls that keep you locked up.

Goodbye, dear little Helen!Here is my sincere congratulations.

Oliver Wendell Holmes
letter 31
To Mr. Brad Strait

Tuscumbia, Alabama, June 1890, 7

My dear friends, thank you very much for naming your beautiful new boat after me.I am very lucky to have so many kind and good friends in far away Maine.I sometimes can't help thinking that while I was learning about the distribution of forests in Maine, a powerful and beautiful ship was sailing around the world, loaded with wood from great forests, used by people in faraway countries Wood is used to build lovely homes, schools and churches.I hope the sea welcomes the "Helen Keller" as well, and sails her calm and safe on the blue waves.Please tell the brave sailors to take good care of the "Helen Keller", little Helen who stays at home will miss them.I hope to have the opportunity to see you one day, and of course, my beautiful "Helen Keller".

Sending my love, your little friends
Helen A. Keller
letter 32

In early November, Helen Keller and Miss Sullivan returned to the Perkins Institute for the Blind.

To John Greenleaf Whittier
South Boston, October 1890, 12

dear poet:
My first thought when I woke up this morning was: Today is your birthday, so I thought with joy that I was going to write you a letter, and I wanted to tell you how much these little friends love to read beautiful poetry.This evening they will entertain their friends with your poetry and music.I hope that the swifts that can carry the message of love will fly here and bring you a beautiful melody that you can hear in your little study on the Merrimac.

This morning, I was actually very sad, because I found that the sun put away its shining smiling face and hid behind the dark clouds.But then I found out why it did this. It turned out that the sun knew that you like to see the world covered in snow, so it hid all the light, and it also filled the sky with small crystals.When these are all ready, these small crystals will fall gently to cover the ground.Then the sun will reveal all its light again, filling the world with light again.After knowing this, I was happy again.

If only we could be together today, so that I can send you 83 kisses, each kiss represents a year.Do you think 83 is a long time, at least it is a long time for me.I'd love to know how many years eternity is, but I'm afraid I can't imagine how long it is that long.I received your summer letter and I want to thank you for your concern.At present I am studying at the School for the Blind in Boston, but as my dearest friend, Mr. Ananos, wants me to rest for a while, I have not yet begun my classes,
The teacher is also very good, don't worry about it, she wants to send you sincere greetings.Makes me feel like Christmas is coming!I can't wait any longer, I can't wait to start the holidays now!I wish you a very merry Christmas and I wish you and everyone a very happy new year.

your little friend

Helen A. Keller
Whittier's reply
My sweet little friend, I am so happy that you wrote such a warm letter on my birthday.I have received a total of two or three hundred blessings from friends, but your blessings are the ones that make me feel the most happy.Of course I'll tell you what it was like in Oak Hill.The sun is really weak here, but we have a roaring fire in the house, and I can smell roses and other flowers here, which are sent by friends far away.I also have a variety of fruit here from California and elsewhere.

Many relatives and friends came to celebrate my birthday.I'm not surprised you see '83 as a long time.Though this seems to me to be a very brief time, I have had the idea ever since when I was a little boy younger than you and used to play on the old farm in Haverhill.I thank you for your heartfelt wishes and I send you the same.I am very glad that you are studying at the Perkins Institute for the Blind, it is an institution of excellent quality of education.Please give my best regards to Miss Sullivan.

your old friend

John G. Whittier

letter 33

The following letters show Tommy Stringer, who was blind and deaf at the age of four.His father was too poor to take care of him, and his mother died early.A general hospital in Allegheny took him temporarily, and he was sent to an asylum.There was no other place for him in Pennsylvania at the time.Helen learned of Tommy's experience from Mr. J. G. Brown of Pittsburgh.Brown wrote to Helen Keller that he had been unable to find a tutor for Tommy.So Helen Keller wanted Tommy to come to Boston.

When someone told Helen Keller that it would cost money to find a teacher for Tommy, she replied, "We'll raise the money." Then she tried to save every penny herself.And implored her friends to lend a helping hand.At the same time, Dr. Alexander Graham Bell suggested to Tommy's friends that he should be sent to Boston.The directors of the board of directors of the Perkins Institute for the Blind have agreed to let little Tommy enter the kindergarten for blind children.

It was just winter, and Helen’s pet dog died unexpectedly. Friends around were going to raise money to buy another dog for her. Helen Keller thought that this was an opportunity to raise funds for Tommy’s education, so she took Tommy’s dog. After telling these friends about it, her plea was answered, and people sent donations from all over the UK and the US, willing to contribute money and efforts for Tommy's education.So the money increased rapidly, and it was enough to pay for Tommy's schooling.Finally, Tommy started Kindergarten on April 4th.

Helen Keller wrote about the incident: "I will never forget the deep compassion of people from all walks of life. Although I never met them, they still provided selfless assistance to a weak soul who cried out silently. And I'll never forget that there are a lot of poor kids sending their little savings, 'just for little Tommy'."

To George R.Mr. Claire
The College of Hundreds, South Boston, Massachusetts, March 1891, 3 My dear friend, Mr. Clare, Mr. Wade has just told me that you will buy me a docile puppy especially for me.I am very grateful for your kindness.It does make me very happy to have so many friends who care and love me on another continent.I think there will be kindness and love in everyone's heart.I've read that the British and Americans are cousins, but I think it's more appropriate to call us cousins.

I have read many books written by learned Englishmen, such as Enoch Arden, and I have memorized poems by several great poets.My friends have told me of your great and magnificent country, and I would very much like to cross the sea to meet my English friend and wise Queen.

The Earl of Meath once came to see me, and he told me that the Queen was a kind and wise person, and therefore loved by the people.Maybe one day, you will be surprised to see a strange little girl walk into your office.This is the little girl who loves dogs and all animals and will laugh out loud when you know.I wish you would give her a kiss, as Mr. Wade did.Mr. Wade brought me another dog, which he thought would be as loyal and brave as my fair lioness.Now I'm going to tell you something about dog lovers in America.They're sending me some money, and they're doing it to help a poor little boy named Tommy, who's deaf, dumb, and blind.Only five years old, his parents had no money to send him to school.So the gentlemen who want to buy me a dog have a beautiful plan.They wanted to save their money and fill Tommy's life with light and joy as they had helped me.This education will bring light and music into Tommy's soul, and then he will feel genuine happiness.

your faithful little friend

Helen A.keller

letter 34

To Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes

South Boston, Massachusetts, April 1891

Dear Dr. Holmes, I love every word in "Spring" and "Spring Comes" and your enchanting description of spring plays like music in my heart. April is bright and moving, you know?You will be glad to hear that these poems of yours have taught me to appreciate and love the beauty of spring.Although I can't see the process of flowers blooming and falling, and I can't hear the singing of birds returning to their nests, but after I read "Spring is Coming", oh!I am no longer blind, for I have seen the beauty with your eyes and heard the good news with your ears.When the poet is by my side, the "gentle Mother Nature" keeps no secrets from me.Because I want the violet in the corner to tell you how grateful I am, I'm telling you these words.

Poor little Tom who is deaf, dumb and blind has just arrived in our beautiful garden.If you could come here, you would be sure to ask the good people of Boston to lend a helping hand to Tommy.Although he is lonely, pitiful and helpless now, light and happiness will be integrated into Tommy's life before next April.

your faithful friend
Helen Keller
letter 35

To Sir John Everett Millais
Perkins Institute for the Blind, South Boston, Massachusetts, April 1891, 4

Dear Mr. Millais, because your little American sister wants you to know that she was overjoyed when she heard that you cared for our poor little Tommy and sent money to help him go to school, so she wants to give You write such a thank you letter.And some gentleman of hers far away in England is helpless to the two.Little American boy sympathizes, the idea is beautiful and touching.Because I have read in books about your great cities, I used to think that if I visited your places, I would be dealing with strangers.But now, I don't think so at all.It seems to me that all loving and sympathetic people are not strangers to each other.I can hardly wait any longer, and I want to see my esteemed British friends, and their beautiful island nation, at once.I love verse about England best, and I think you do too, so I'm going to show you these.

The waves roll on each other,

From the edge of the sea apple to the heather among the hills,

The British oak has deep roots and leaves
Her slender figure contains cohesive strength,
Accompanied by green pavilions and white cliffs,

The sea tightened its body and kissed her softly,
Between endless mountains and trickling streams,
It's our island mother, God bless her!

Tommy is really a cute and energetic little guy. You must be very happy to hear that a kind lady has become Tommy's teacher. He prefers climbing to spelling because he Still don't understand the magic of language.How, how happy he feels when he can tell us what's on his mind, or when we tell him how much we love him, he just doesn't know it yet.Tomorrow, April will hide with her blushing face, because May is coming.I wonder if Mayday in England is as beautiful as it is here.

Now I must say goodbye.

your ever faithful little sister

Helen Keller
letter 36

To Mr. Phillips Brooks

South Boston, October 1891, 5

Dear Mr. Brooks:
Helen sends her greetings to you on this sunny May day.First of all, congratulations on becoming an archbishop, this is the good news that my teacher just told me.I hope the life of Bishop Brooks will be as joyous as the flowers and singing birds in May.

Your friends everywhere will be happy for you, as their loved one has been honored with great honor.I don't quite understand what a bishop's job is, but I believe it must be beneficial to people, and I'm glad that my dear friend will do it with his grace, wisdom, and enough love.You will tell many, many people that a loving God loves all of his children, even if they are not as gentle and noble as he would have them be.I hope your good news will make their hearts pound with joy.

your faithful little friend

Helen Keller
letter 37

Because Tommy didn't find a teacher at the beginning, his life has been taken care of by Helen Keller and Miss Sullivan, who held a welcome party for Tommy in the kindergarten.At the invitation of Helen Keller, Bishop Brooks delivered a speech at the meeting.The letter written by Helen Keller to the newspaper was well received, and enthusiastic replies came one after another.Helen Keller not only wrote a public thank-you letter to the newspaper, she also personally answered all the letters.So far, Helen Keller has raised more than $[-] in donations.Here's a letter to the editor of the Boston Courier-Journal with a full list of donors.

To Mr John 11 Holmes
South Boston, October 1891, 5

Editor of the Boston Courier-Journal:

I think the newspaper readers will be glad to know that there are so many people doing things for sweet little Tommy, and they will love to share the joy of helping others.So, dear Mr. Holmes, will you, please, have the list in your letter published in the Courier-Journal?Tommy is having a great time in Kindergarten and he learns something new every day.He prefers climbing bedposts and twisting steam valves to phonics, and I think this is because he doesn't yet understand that languages ​​can help him learn new and interesting things.Now, he had found that every door was locked, and he could easily insert sticks and rolls of paper into the keyholes.But he doesn't seem eager to get out what's been plugged in.Because education will send music and light into his young life.So I hope well-wishers will continue to contribute to Tommy's education fund.

your little friend

Helen Keller
letter 38

To Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes

South Boston, October 1891, 5

Hello, my esteemed poet, I cannot tell you how much I am moved when Mr. Ananos tells me that you have sent some money to help little Tom go to school.I know you have not forgotten this lovely child, and your gift is not only money, but also a deep compassion.

I'm afraid you'll think of Helen as a nasty little girl, because she's always writing to you.But you know how much she wants to send you words of gratitude. Isn't it because of your great help that she becomes so happy?However, I must regret to tell you that Tommy has not learned any words yet.Whenever you see him, he's a restless brat.But the thought of him being able to play happily in his bright new home is also a joy.I believe that it won't be long before Tommy's "thought" will spread its beautiful wings and fly to the distant "Continent of Knowledge".Words are the wings of thought, right?I went to Andover after I saw you, because I knew you went to school there, and I thought it must be a place for you to miss.So I would love to hear from my friends about Phillips Academy, trying to imagine what the poet I admired would have been like as a school boy.I wonder if he learned the bird song at Andover, and if he knew the secret of the shy woodland boy.When I got home, the teacher read "School Boy" to me because it wasn't printed in Braille.I believe his heart is always full of music, and in the beautiful world God has created, he must be able to hear the echo of love.

(End of this chapter)