Page 159 - The Story of My Lif

brave. The little girls were delighted to see the lovely shells.

I told them all I knew about them. Are you very glad that you could make so
many happy? I am. I should be very happy to come and teach you the Braille
sometime, if you have time to learn, but I am afraid you are too busy. A few days

ago I received a little box of English violets from Lady Meath. The flowers were
wilted, but the kind thought which came with them was as sweet and as fresh as
newly pulled violets.

With loving greeting to the little cousins, and Mrs. Hale and a sweet kiss for
yourself,

From your little friend,

HELEN A. KELLER.

This, the first of Helen’s letters to Dr. Holmes, written soon after a visit to him,
he published in “Over the Teacups.”

[Atlantic Monthly, May, 1890]

TO DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

South Boston, Mass., March 1, 1890.

Dear, Kind Poet:—I have thought of you many times since that bright Sunday
when I bade you goodbye; and I am going to write you a letter, because I love
you. I am sorry that you have no little children to play with you sometimes; but I
think you are very happy with your books, and your many, many friends. On
Washington’s birthday a great many people came here to see the blind children;
and I read for them from your poems, and showed them some beautiful shells,

which came from a little island near Palos.