Page 299 - The Story of My Lif

Miss Sullivan’s first report, which was published in the official report of the
Perkins Institution for the year 1887, is a short summary of what is fully
recorded in the letters. Here follows the last part, beginning with the great day,

April 5th, when Helen learned water.

In her reports Miss Sullivan speaks of “lessons” as if they came in regular order.
This is the effect of putting it all in a summary. “Lesson” is too formal for the
continuous daily work.

One day I took her to the cistern. As the water gushed from the pump I spelled
“w-a-t-e-r.” Instantly she tapped my hand for a repetition, and then made the
word herself with a radiant face.

Just then the nurse came into the cistern-house bringing her little sister. I put
Helen’s hand on the baby and formed the letters “b-a-b-y,” which she repeated
without help and with the light of a new intelligence in her face.

On our way back to the house everything she touched had to be named for her,
and repetition was seldom necessary. Neither the length of the word nor the
combination of letters seems to make any difference to the child. Indeed, she
remembers HELIOTROPE and CHRYSANTHEMUM more readily than she
does shorter names. At the end of August she knew 625 words.

This lesson was followed by one on words indicative of place-relations. Her
dress was put IN a trunk, and then ON it, and these prepositions were spelled for
her. Very soon she learned the difference between ON and IN, though it was
some time before she could use these words in sentences of her own.

Whenever it was possible she was made the actor in the lesson, and was
delighted to stand ON the chair, and to be put INTO the wardrobe. In connection