Irecallmanyisofthesummerof1887thatfollowedmysoulssuddenawakening.IdidnothingbutexplorewithmyhandsahenameofeveryobjectthatItouched;andthemoreIhahingsandlearheirnamesahemorejoyousandfidentgrewmysenseofkinshipwiththerestoftheworld.

    WheimeofdaisiesandbuttercupscameMissSullivantookmebythehandacrossthefields,wheremenwerepreparihfortheseed,tothebanksoftheTennesseeRiver,andthere,sittingonthewarmgrass,Ihadmyfirstlessonsinthebenefiature.Ilearnedhowthesunandtheraiogrowoutofthegroureethatispleasanttothesightandgoodforfood,howbirdsbuildtheirsandliveandthrivefromlandtoland,howthesquirrel,thedeer,thelionahercreaturefindsfoodaer.AsmyknowledgeofthingsgrewIfeltmoreandmorethedelightoftheworldIwasin.LongbeforeIlearodoasuminarithmeticordescribetheshapeoftheearth,MissSullivanhadtaughtmetofiyinthefragrantwoods,ineverybladeofgrass,andinthecurvesanddimplesofmybabysistershand.Shelinkedmyearliestthoughtswithnature,andmademefeelthat"birdsandflowersandIwerehappypeers.”

    ButaboutthistimeIhadanexperiencewhichtaughtmethatnatureisnotalwayskind.OnedaymyteacherandIwerereturningfromalongramble.Themhadbeeitwasgrowingwarmandsultrywhenatlastweturnedourfaeward.Twoorthreetimeswestoppedtorestureebythewayside.Ourlasthaltwasunderawildcherrytreeashortdistanthehouse.Theshadewasgrateful,areewassoeasytoclimbthatwithmyteachersassistanceIwasabletoscrambletoaseatinthebrawassocoolupireethatMissSullivanproposedthatwehaveourluhere.Ipromisedtokeepstillwhileshewenttothehousetofetchit.

    Suddenlyagepassed