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"Now melts the snow.
The warm winds blow
The waters flow
And robin dear,
Is come to show
That Spring is here."

James killed snipes for breakfast. Little chickens did get very cold and die. I am sorry. Teacher and I went to ride on Tennessee River, in it boat. I saw Mr. Wilson and James row with oars. Boat did glide swiftly and I put hand in water and felt it flowing.

I caught fish with hook and line and pole. We climbed high sill and teacher fell and hurt her head. I ate very small fish for supper. I did read about cow and calf. The cow loves to eat grass as well as girl does bread and butter and milk. Little calf does run and leap in field. She likes to skip and play, for she is happy when the sun is bright and warm. Little boy did love his calf. And he did say, I will kiss you, little calf, and he put his arms around calf's neck and kissed her. The calf licked good boy's face with long rough tongue. Calf must not open mouth much to kiss. I am tired, and teacher does not want me to write more.

March 23rd. -- I learned to write one, two three, seven and nine on my type slate. Teacher told me story about selfish boy. Boy's name was Eddie Smith. When Eddie had a new toy he would not let his little sister May play with it. None loved Eddie, for he was selfish boy. My dear little sister. She loves to whirl and jump and sing. She laughs and cries and loves to dance with me. She hops and runs and falls down. She can hold still to have mother sew buttons on her dress, and tie bows and brush her hair, and Mildred is as sweet as a rose. Lucien came to see me yesterday. He brought me bunch of hyacinths. I will go to see him to-morrow and he will show me birds' nests and eggs. Quiet means to be still and rest. When Mildred is sleeping I do keep very quiet. Mild means gentle and kind. Fierce lion is not mild. The cows and sheep are mild animals. Separate means not connected. I do separate the words when I write. I separated teacher's watch from the chain. I will learn more to-morrow. I hope Robert will come to see me Sunday if the sun shines.

March 24th. -- I learned to write two, four, five, six and eight on type slate, and I wrote some sentences very carefully with pencil. I will write about geography. A book which tells about the earth and the countries upon it and the people who live in the countries is called a geography. When we look around us we see land and the water. The land is firm and solid. We walk and ride over it, we build our houses upon it, we sow seeds in it and soon it is covered with young plants, trees, and flowers and grass grow out of the ground. The water is not solid and it is not firm, we cannot walk or ride in carriages over it and we do not build houses upon it. But we can build ships and boats to carry people upon the water. The earth is round like a very large ball. It is always whirling round. It never stops for a minute. Geography tells about strong fierce animals and strange plants which live on the land and in the water. Day is calm. The breeze does move trees gently, and the river flows smoothly. Little birds are happy to sing in the bright sun. Night was not calm. The wind did blow, and rain fell and thunder did shake the house and bed. Teacher and I went down stairs to mother for we were afraid. Rain killed thirty little chickens. Night was stormy.

March 26th. -- I had letter from Mr. Anagnos. He does love me. He saw thirty-four little blind girls and forty-one little blind boys in Nashville Tennessee. There are thirty girls and forty boys in school for blind children in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Anagnos sent me four hugs and five kisses. Today I did learn to write examples on the type slate and I learned many new words. Flock does mean many birds near together. Brood means six little chickens. Herd does mean many cows, and calves, and horses near together. Litter is four little kittens, or three little puppies or six little pigs. Family is father and mother and brothers and sisters. Daughter does mean girl child, son does mean boy child. Observe means to look at everything very carefully. I observed teacher's hair was coiled this morning.

She has been given every opportunity to broaden her mind, and to learn something about the numerous and diverse interests of those around her. In the autumn she went to a circus, and was greatly interested in the animals. She learned their names, homes and habits, what they do, and how they are caught and taken from place to place for exhibition. While we were standing before his cage, the lion roared, and Helen felt the vibration of the air so distinctly that she was able to reproduce the noise quite accurately.

I tried to describe to her the appearance of a camel, but, as we were not allowed to touch the animal, I feared that she did not get a correct idea of its shape. A few days afterwards, however, I became satisfied, that she had made a very good mental picture of it; for, hearing a commotion in the schoolroom, I went in and found Helen on all fours with a pillow so strapped upon her back as to leave a hollow in the middle, thus making a hump on either side. Between these humps she had placed her doll, to which she was giving a ride around the room. I watched her for some time as she moved about, trying to take long strides in order to carry out the idea I had given her of the camel's gait. When I asked her what she was doing, she replied, "I am a very funny camel."