Page 307 - The Story of My Lif

Hopkins.” She had a trunk and clothes for Nancy, and her comment was, “Now

Nancy will go to party.” When she saw the braille slate and paper, she said, “I
will write many letters, and I will thank Santa Claus very much.” It was evident
that every one, especially Captain and Mrs. Keller, was deeply moved at the
thought of the difference between this bright Christmas and the last, when their
little girl had no conscious part in the Christmas festivities.

As we came downstairs, Mrs. Keller said to me with tears in her eyes, “Miss
Annie, I thank God every day of my life for sending you to us; but I never
realized until this morning what a blessing you have been to us.” Captain Keller
took my hand, but could not speak. But his silence was more eloquent than
words. My heart, too, was full of gratitude and solemn joy.

The other day Helen came across the word grandfather in a little story and asked
her mother, “Where is grandfather?” meaning her grandfather. Mrs. Keller
replied, “He is dead.” “Did father shoot him?” Helen asked, and added, “I will
eat grandfather for dinner.” So far, her only knowledge of death is in connection
with things to eat. She knows that her father shoots partridges and deer and other
game.

This morning she asked me the meaning of “carpenter,” and the question
furnished the text for the day’s lesson. After talking about the various things that
carpenters make, she asked me, “Did carpenter make me?” and before I could
answer, she spelled quickly, “No, no, photographer made me in Sheffield.”

One of the greatest iron furnaces has been started in Sheffield, and we went over
the other evening to see them make a “run.”

Helen felt the heat and asked, “Did the sun fall?”

January 9, 1888.