ItiswithakindoffearthatIbegintowritethehistoryofmylife.Ihave,asitwere,asuperstitioushesitationinliftingtheveilthatgsaboutmychildhoodlikeagoldenmist.Thetaskofwritinganautobiographyisadifficultone.WhenItrytoclassifymyearliestimpressions,Ifindthatfadfancylookalikeacrosstheyearsthatliwiththepresent.Theaintsthechildsexperienherownfantasy.Afewimpressionsstandoutvividlyfromthefirstyearsofmylife;but"theshadowsoftheprison-houseareo."Besides,manyofthejoysandsorrowsofchildhoodhavelosttheirpoignandmanyisofvitalimportanmyearlyeducationhavebeenfotteniementofgreatdiscoveries.Iherefore,nottobetediousIshalltrytopresentinaseriesofsketchesonlytheepisodesthatseemtometobethemostiingandimportant.

    IwasbornonJune27,1880,inTuscumbia,alittletownofnorthernAlabama.

    ThefamilyonmyfatherssideisdesdedfromCasparKeller,anativeofSwitzerland,whosettledinMaryland.OneofmySwissaorswasthefirstteacherofthedeafinZuridwroteabookonthesubjectoftheireducation--ratherasingularce;thoughitistruethatthereisnokingwhohasnothadaslaveamonghisaors,andnoslavewhohasnothadakingamonghis.

    Mygrandfather,CasparKellersson,"entered"largetractsoflandinAlabamaandfinallysettledthere.IhavebeentoldthatonceayearhewentfromTuscumbiatoPhiladelphiaonhorsebacktopurchasesuppliesfortheplantation,andmyaunthasinherpossessionmanyoftheletterstohisfamily,whichgivecharmingandvividatsofthesetrips.

    MyGrandmotherKellerwasadaughterofoneofLafayettesaides,AlexanderMoore,andgranddaughterofAlexanderSpotswood,anear