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I put my little babies to sleep in Florence's little bed, and I take them to ride in her carriage. Poor little Florence is dead. She was very sick and died. Mrs. H--- did cry loud for her dear little child. She got in the ground and she is very dirty, and she is cold. Florence was very lovely like Sadie and Mrs. H--- kissed her and hugged her much. Florence is very sad in big hole. Doctor gave her medicine to make her well, but poor Florence did not get well. When she was very sick she tossed and moaned in bed. Mrs. H--- will go to see her soon.

Notwithstanding the activity of Helen's mind, she is a very natural child. She is fond of fun and frolic, and loves dearly to be with other children. She is never fretful or irritable, and I have never seen her impatient with her playmates because they failed to understand her. She will play for hours together with children who cannot understand a single word she spells, and it is extremely pathetic to watch the eager gestures and excited pantomime through which her ideas and emotions find expression. Occasionally some little boy or girl will try to learn the manual alphabet. Then it is beautiful to observe with what patience, sweetness and perseverance Helen endeavors to bring the unruly fingers of her little friend into proper position. Her own heart is so full of love and sympathy, that it responds quickly to the needs of others, and her affectionate nature endears her to all with whom she comes in contact. She had never known anything of the merry Christmas season until last year, and it would he difficult to describe with what joyful surprise she hailed the revelation of its existence. She entered happily into the spirit of giving and receiving. During this time we had many manifestations of the unselfishness and goodness of the child's disposition. One evening, while going about among the children at a Christmas-tree festival, she discovered a little girl, who had been overlooked in the distribution of presents. Helen searched for the child's gifts, but not finding them, she flew to her own and selected a mug, a thing which she prized most highly, and gave it to the little stranger with abundant love. In the following letter to a little friend she expresses her delight in the Christmas festivities: --

Tuscumbia, Ala. Jan. 2nd 1888.

Dear Sarah

I am happy to write to you this morning. I hope Mr. Anagnos is coming to see me soon. I will go to Boston in June and I will buy father gloves, and James nice collar, and Simpson cuffs. I saw Miss Betty and her scholars. They had a pretty Christmas-tree, and there were many pretty presents on it for little children. I had a mug, and little bird and candy. I had many lovely things for Christmas. Aunt gave me a trunk for Nancy and clothes. I went to party with teacher and mother. We did dance and play and eat nuts and candy and cakes and oranges and I did have fun with little boys and girls. Mrs. Hopkins did send me lovely ring, I do love her and little blind girls.

Men and boys do make carpets in mills. Wool grows on sheep. Men do cut sheep's wool off with large shears, and send it to the mill. Men and women do make wool cloth in mills.

Cotton grows on large stalks in fields. Men and boys and girls and women do pick cotton. We do make thread and cotton dresses of cotton. Cotton has pretty white and red flowers on it. Teacher did tear her dress. Mildred does cry. I will nurse Nancy. Mother will buy me lovely new aprons and dress to take to Boston. I went to Knoxville with father and aunt. Bessie is weak and little. Mrs. Thompson's chickens killed Leila's chickens. Eva does sleep in my bed. I do love good girls.

Good by

Helen Keller

One day, while Helen was wearing a little jacket of which she was very proud, her mother said, "there is a poor little girl, who has no cloak to keep her warm; will you give her yours?" The response came instantly. Helen began to pull off the jacket, saying, "I must give it to a poor little strange girl."

She is very fond of children younger than herself, and a baby invariably calls forth all the motherly instincts of her nature. She will handle the infant as tenderly as the most careful nurse could desire. It is pleasant, too, to note her thoughtfulness for little children, and her readiness to yield to their whims.

She has a very sociable disposition, and delights in the companionship of those, who can follow the rapid motions of her fingers; but, if left alone, she will amuse herself for hours at a time with her knitting or sewing.

She reads a great deal, and a story is an unfailing source of pleasure to her. She bends over her book with a look of intense interest, and as the forefinger of her right hand runs along the line, she spells out the words with the other hand; but often her motions are so rapid as to be unintelligible even to those accustomed to reading the swift and varied movements of her fingers.

Those who watch her are astonished to see how every shade of feeling finds expression through her motile features. There is none of that artificial politeness about my little pupil, which restraint invariably produces. Her behavior is easy and natural, and it is charming because of its frankness and evident sincerity. Her little heart is too full of unselfishness and affection to allow a dream of fear or unkindness. She does not realize that one can be anything but kind-hearted and tender. Even in a crowd she is always her own sweet self. She is not conscious of any reason why she should be awkward or uneasy; consequently, her movements are as free, unconventional and graceful as those of the birds of the air.