Page 303 - The Story of My Lif

We took Helen to the circus, and had “the time of our lives”! The circus people
were much interested in Helen, and did everything they could to make her first
circus a memorable event. They let her feel the animals whenever it was safe.

She fed the elephants, and was allowed to climb up on the back of the largest,
and sit in the lap of the “Oriental Princess,” while the elephant marched
majestically around the ring. She felt some young lions. They were as gentle as
kittens; but I told her they would get wild and fierce as they grew older. She said
to the keeper, “I will take the baby lions home and teach them to be mild.” The
keeper of the bears made one big black fellow stand on his hind legs and hold
out his great paw to us, which Helen shook politely. She was greatly delighted
with the monkeys and kept her hand on the star performer while he went through
his tricks, and laughed heartily when he took off his hat to the audience. One
cute little fellow stole her hair-ribbon, and another tried to snatch the flowers out
of her hat. I don’t know who had the best time, the monkeys, Helen or the
spectators. One of the leopards licked her hands, and the man in charge of the
giraffes lifted her up in his arms so that she could feel their ears and see how tall
they were. She also felt a Greek chariot, and the charioteer would have liked to
take her round the ring; but she was afraid of “many swift horses.” The riders
and clowns and rope-walkers were all glad to let the little blind girl feel their

costumes and follow their motions whenever it was possible, and she kissed
them all, to show her gratitude. Some of them cried, and the wild man of Borneo
shrank from her sweet little face in terror. She has talked about nothing but the
circus ever since. In order to answer her questions, I have been obliged to read a
great deal about animals. At present I feel like a jungle on wheels!

December 12, 1887.

I find it hard to realize that Christmas is almost here, in spite of the fact that
Helen talks about nothing else. Do you remember what a happy time we had last
Christmas?

Helen has learned to tell the time at last, and her father is going to give her a