Itwasinthespringof1890thatIlearospeak.Theimpulsetoutteraudiblesoundshadalwaysbeenstrongwithinme.Iusedtomakenoises,keepingonehandonmythroatwhiletheotherhahemovementsofmylips.Ileasedwithanythingthatmadeanoiseandlikedtofeelthecatpurrandthedogbark.Ialsolikedtokeepmyhandonasihroat,oronapiawasbeingplayed.BeforeIlostmysightandhearing,Iwasfastlearningtotalk,butaftermyillwasfoundthatIhadceasedtospeakbecauseIcouldnothear.Iusedtositinmymotherslapalldaylongandkeepmyhandsonherfacebecauseitamusedmetofeelthemotionsofherlips;andImovedmylips,too,althoughIhadfottenwhattalkingwas.MyfriendssaythatIlaughedandcriednaturally,andforawhileImademanysoundsandword-elements,notbecausetheywereameansofunication,butbecausetheneedofexergmyvocalanserative.Therewas,however,onewordthemeaningofwhichIstillremembered,WATER.Ipronou"wa-wa."EventhisbecamelessandlessintelligibleuntilthetimewhenMissSullivaoteachme.IstoppedusingitonlyafterIhadlearospellthewordonmyfingers.

    Ihadknownforalongtimethatthepeopleaboutmeusedamethodofunicationdifferentfrommine;andevenbeforeIkhatadeafchildcouldbetaughttospeak,IwassciousofdissatisfawiththemeansofunicationIalreadypossessed.Onewhoisentirelydepeuponthemanualalphabethasalwaysasenseofrestraint,ofnarrowhisfeelioagitatemewithavexing,forward-reagsenseofalackthatshouldbefilled.Mythoughtswouldoftenriseauplikebirdsagainstthewind,andIpersistedinusingmylipsandvoice.Friendstriedtodiscethistendency,feariwouldleadtodisappoi.ButIpersisted,andanactsoonoccurredwhichresultedinthe