ThemostimportantdayIrememberinallmylifeistheoneonwhichmyteacher,AnneMansfieldSullivan,cametome.IamfilledwithwonderwhenIsidertheimmeasurabletrastsbetweewoliveswhichitects.ItwasthethirdofMarch,1887,threemonthsbeforeIwassevenyearsold.

    Oernoonofthateventfulday,Istoodontheporch,dumb,expet.Iguessedvaguelyfrommymnsandfromthehurryingtoandfrointhehousethatsomethingunusualwasabouttohappen,soIwenttothedoorandwaitedoeps.Theafternoonsuedthemassofhoneysucklethatcoveredthepordfellonmyupturnedface.Myfingerslingeredalmostunsciouslyonthefamiliarleavesandblossomswhichhadjusteforthtogreetthesweetsouthernspring.Ididnotknowwhatthefutureheldofmarvelorsurpriseforme.Angerandbitternesshadpreyedupoinuallyforweeksandadeeplanguorhadsucceededthispassioruggle.

    Haveyoueverbeenatseainadensefog,whenitseemedasifatangiblewhitedarknessshutyouin,andthegreatship,tenseandanxious,gropedherwaytowardtheshorewithplummetandsounding-line,andyouwaitedwithbeatiforsomethingtohappen?Iwaslikethatshipbeforemyeducationbegan,onlyIwaswithoutpassorsounding-line,andhadnowayofknowinghowheharbourwas."Light!givemelight!"wasthewordlessysoul,andthelightofloveshoneohatveryhour.

    Ifeltapproagfootsteps,IstretyhandasIsupposedtomymother.Someoookit,andIwascaughtupandheldcloseinthearmsofherwhohadetorevealallthingstome,and,morethanallthingselse,toloveme.

    Themaftermyteachercamesheledmeintoherroomandgavemeadoll.ThelittleblindchildrenatthePerkinsInstitutionhadsentitandLauraBridgmanhaddressedit;butIdidnotkno