Page 150 - The Story of My Lif

plainly the little elves in their tall pointed hats, dancing down the dusky alleys,

and peeping from between the bushes, and they seemed to come nearer and
nearer; and she stretched her hands up towards the tree in which the doll sat and
they laughed, and pointed their fingers at her. How terrified was the little girl;
but if one has not done anything wrong, these strange little elves cannot harm
one. “Have I done anything wrong? Ah, yes!” said the little girl. “I have laughed
at the poor duck, with the red rag tied round its leg. It hobbled, and that made me
laugh; but it is wrong to laugh at the poor animals!”

Is it not a pitiful story? I hope the father punished the naughty little boy. Shall
you be very glad to see my teacher next Thursday? She is going home to rest,
but she will come back to me next autumn.

Lovingly, your little friend,

HELEN ADAMS KELLER.

TO MISS MARY E. RILEY

Tuscumbia, Ala., May 27, 1889.

My Dear Miss Riley:—I wish you were here in the warm, sunny south today.
Little sister and I would take you out into the garden, and pick the delicious
raspberries and a few strawberries for you. How would you like that? The
strawberries are nearly all gone. In the evening, when it is cool and pleasant, we
would walk in the yard, and catch the grasshoppers and butterflies. We would
talk about the birds and flowers and grass and Jumbo and Pearl.

If you liked, we would run and jump and hop and dance, and be very happy. I
think you would enjoy hearing the mocking-birds sing. One sits on the twig of a
tree, just beneath our window, and he fills the air with his glad songs. But I am
afraid you cannot come to Tuscumbia; so I will write to you, and send you a
sweet kiss and my love. How is Dick? Daisy is happy, but she would be happy
ever if she had a little mate. My little children are all well except Nancy, and she