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She is always anxious to learn the names of people we meet in the horse-cars or elsewhere, and to know where they are going and what they will do. The following conversation illustrates her interest in those about her, and shows how words of this kind are taught: --

HELEN. What is little boy's name?

TEACHER. I do not know, for he is a little strange boy; but perhaps his name is Jack.

HELEN. Where is he going?

TEACHER. He may be going to the common to have fun with other boys.

HELEN. What will he play?

TEACHER. I suppose he will play ball.

HELEN. What are boys doing now?

TEACHER. Perhaps they are expecting Jack, and are waiting for him.

After the words have become familiar to her, she begins to use them in composition, as shown in the following illustration:

Sept. 26. -- This morning teacher and I sat by the window and we saw a little boy walking on the side walk. It was raining very hard and he had a very large umbrella to keep off the rain-drops.

I do not know how old he was but think he may have been six years old. Perhaps his name was Joe. I do not know where he was going because he was a little strange boy. But perhaps his mother sent him to a store to buy something for dinner. He had a bag in one hand. I suppose he was going to take it to his mother.

Helen A. Keller.

In teaching her the use of language, I have not confined myself to any particular theory or system. I have observed the spontaneous movements of my pupil's mind, and have tried to follow the suggestions thus given to me.

INTELLECTUAL GROWTH.

Owing to the nervousness of Helen's temperament, all attempts to confine her to a regular and systematic course of instruction have been abandoned, and every precaution has been taken to avoid unduly exciting her already very active brain. The greater part of the year has been spent in travel and in visits to different places, and her lessons have been those suggested by the various scenes and experiences through which she has passed. She continues to manifest the same eagerness to learn as at first. She seems never to tire of gathering new facts and ideas. From the time when she rises in the morning until she retires at night, she never rests, and any little scrap of knowledge, which comes within her reach, she seizes with avidity. It is never necessary to urge her to study. Indeed, I am often obliged to coax her to leave an example or a composition.

While not confining myself to any special system of instruction, I have tried to add to her general information and intelligence, to enlarge her acquaintance with things around her, and to bring her into easy and natural relations with her fellow-creatures.

It has been my constant aim to enable her to converse fluently with those familiar with the manual alphabet, and to commit her thoughts to paper. As an aid in this direction, I have encouraged her to keep a diary, from which the following selections have been made: --

March 2nd. -- Mr. Anagnos sent me Geographical Reader. It tells about the world and countries, and people and strong forces and water. The ground is firm, and the water is not solid, and it is moving flowing, and men build our boats and ships to go on water. We build our houses upon ground. People do not build houses on water.

March 7th.-- I played with dolls and read in my book and ate dinner. Then I went to ride with mother. We went to see Leila. Eva is sick, and I saw Mary Winston and Maud Beanprie. They came to see me, and I ran fast with them. Mother saw Doctor and we went home to see teacher. Aunt went home. Teacher had a letter from Mr. Anagnos. He is in Florida. He will climb trees on ladder and pull sweet oranges, and he is going to Macon to see his friend and Mr. Williams does teach little blind boys and girls and I will ask Mr. Anagnos how many blind children. Mr. Anagnos will go to Tuscumbia to see us. He will tell me about Macon and Florida. I will hug and kiss him.

March 9th. -- I read stories to mother after dinner. Book did tell about Fannie Lang. She lived in Boston a few years. She is a little sick girl. She did love poetry. Her sister wrote little songs, and made little book. She was blind but could not go to school. I am sorry for her. Teacher had a letter from Miss Moore. She will write me Braille letter. I went to bed then.

March 22nd, 1888. -- Mr. Anagnos came to see me Thursday. I was glad to hug and kiss him. He takes care of sixty little blind girls and seventy little blind boys. I do love them.

Little blind girls sent me a pretty workbasket. I found scissors and thread, and needle book with many needles in it, and crochet hook and emery, and thimble, and box, and yard measure and buttons, and pin-cushion. I will write little blind girls a letter to thank them. I will make pretty clothes for Nancy and Adeline and Allie. I will go to Cincinnati in May and buy another child. Then I will have four children. New baby's name is Harry. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Mitchell came to see us Sunday. Mr. Anagnos went to Louisville Monday to see little blind children. Mother went to Huntsville. I slept with father, and Mildred slept with teacher. I did learn about calm. It does mean quiet and happy. Uncle Morrie sent me pretty stories. I read about birds. The quail lays fifteen or twenty eggs and they are white. She makes her nest on the ground. The blue-bird makes her nest in a hollow tree and her eggs are blue. The robin's eggs are green. I learned a song about spring. March, April, May are spring.