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The effect of this simple little speech upon the audience was so overwhelming that quivering lips and moist eyes could be seen, and sobs could be beard in all parts of the assembly room. A special correspondent of the Boston Evening Transcript said that "it would be impossible to convey to the mind of the reader any adequate impression of the grace and spontaneity of the child as she stood before the school and in her own voice gave expression to her thoughts." Another witness of this moving and pathetic scene wrote that "as she said these words with her sightless eyes lifted toward heaven, the eyes of all others were nearly blind with tears."

From a detailed account of Helen's visit to Abbot Academy, written for the Boston Transcript by the above-mentioned special correspondent, we copy the following extracts: --

ANDOVER, MASS, May 15, 1891.

This week has been made memorable to the teachers and students of Abbot Academy by a visit from Helen Keller and her teacher, Miss Sullivan. Helen entered immediately into the heart of the school life, greeting with genuine pleasure all of the many new friends. The various rooms of Draper Hall had a special interest for her, as associated with these friends, and every beautiful object to which her attention was directed was examined with enthusiastic eagerness.

During the evening recreation time it was a great pleasure to watch Helen as she shared in the merry spirit of the hour.

In the music room, sitting by the piano, with her hand upon the instrument, she showed, in her face and motions, keen enjoyment of several musical selections, while through the medium of her sensitive hand, placed upon the throat of a singer, she received impressions of a song. A little later, when the pupils were assembled in the drawing-room, the writer was especially impressed with Helen's unconscious grace and beauty.

In the midst of the large circle of friends the child won the loving interest of every heart. She entertained the company by full descriptions of recent visits to Lexington and Concord, entering with earnestness into the patriotic spirit of the places. When she came to the subject of the battles, her face grew sad and she said: "Was it not dreadful for men to kill each other so?" Instantly, however, she added, "but I am glad the brave minute men were not afraid to die when it was their duty to fight. I am sure that my father would have been one of them, if he had been living then."

Her love for Miss Alcott was made evident by her description of a visit to the home of "Little Women." She said of the house, "it is not beautiful, but I love it for the sake of brave, loving Miss Alcott."

Abbot Academy wished to share with others the pleasure of her guests, and for a period of more than two hours Helen entertained, with surprising versatility, many of the people of Andover.

She was much interested in meeting some of the teachers from Phillips Academy, which school was known to her in its association with the early life of her dear poet friend, Dr. Holmes. She enjoyed hearing about his poem of "The School-boy," and, in her turn, she mentioned the names of many of his poems which she had read.

A hearty appreciation of the rich humor of the poet was shown in her partial rendering of "The One-Hoss Shay" and "The Height of the Ridiculous." The many floral tributes brought to Helen afforded themes for conversation, while her instant and tender recognition of them showed her knowledge and love of flowers. A bunch of narcissus blossoms suggested the recital of the beautiful mythological story accounting for their origin. Roses and violets awakened memories of her dear southern home. Her mother's luxuriant garden was very near in thought, and the violets she said, were "blue like her little sister Mildred's eyes." A Jack-in-the-pulpit perched in the centre of one little bouquet caused much merriment by his position and appearance. Of course he was designated as the floral preacher, to whose "sweet sermon" the audience of violets was giving glad attention.

Lilies of the valley were compared to delicate bells, and, as Helen shook the sprays of pearly blossoms, she asked the friends around her if they could hear the beautiful music. She laughed in thinking of a story she had once read, in which a little boy dreamed that these flower bells were the nightcaps of the fairies. Tulips were greeted in the words of Dr. Holmes, --

"See the proud tulip's flaunting cup."

To the children who came to see her, Helen talked of dolls, and of school, gave conundrums for them to guess, or told charming little stories of pets in the animal kingdom. She was glad to know that many of the children had enjoyed with her the pleasure of the Boston dog show.

Rev. C. C. Carpenter of Andover, who, under the nom de plume of Mr. Martin, writes the "Conversation Corner" in the Congregationalist, devoted to the same subject one of his weekly articles, from which we quote as follows: --

Many of the ladies and children brought bouquets of flowers, of which she is passionately fond. Every one she instantly knew by the touch or smell, even detecting the different varieties of roses, saying enthusiastically of one, "it is pink, it is the Catherine Mermet; in my Alabama home it is large," showing the size with her doubled hands. One lady handed her a beautiful narcissus. As soon as she had touched it, she rapidly related the fable of Narcissus in love with his own shadow in the fountain, ending the story, as she flung her arms around her teacher's neck, with, "and he was changed into this flower!" A little girl gave her some apple blossoms, fresh from the tree, and Helen instantly said to her: "You come like spring, with blossoms in your hands." In another bouquet was a Jack-in-the-pulpit, which was a special text for her. She said that "all the other flowers ought to come and hear Jack preach." She placed her hand upon his head again, and remarked that he was "not as big as Mr. Brooks" (Phillips Brooks, whom she greatly admires) "in his pulpit." When some one suggested that Jack was not a bishop yet, she replied, "no, neither is Mr. Brooks yet, -- he is only elected."