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Helen's fertile mind is rich in ideas and crowded with thoughts, and some of her single sayings are like flashes of light in the darkness. On being asked once by a clergyman what ministers are, she answered promptly, "they are men who read from a book and talk loud for people to be good." Evidently her definition is not wanting either in originality or in aptness.

Helen's moral qualities are as remarkable for their excellence as are those of her intellect. It is no hyperbole to say, that she is a personification of goodness and happiness. She never repines, and is always so contented and gay, so bright and lively, that

"while we converse with her, we mark
No want of day, nor think it dark."

Of sin and evil, of malice and wickedness, of meanness and perverseness, she is absolutely ignorant. She is as pure as the lily of the valley, and as innocent and joyous as the birds of the, air or the lambs of the field. No germ of depravity can be detected in the soil of her moral constitution, even by means of the most powerful microscope. Her natural feeling of regard for others because they have manifested kindness and admiration towards her, has thus far been a strong protection against the growth of inordinate selfishness. To her envy and jealousy are utterly unknown. She is in perfect harmony and on the best of terms with every one. Her disposition,

"Like a bee in a wild of flowers,
Finds everywhere perfume."

She loves her parents, her baby sister, her teacher, her relatives and friends, her playmates and companions, her dolls, her animals, and all living creatures, with a sympathy so broad and deep that it opens her heart to the noblest inspirations. By her benevolence and good will towards all, she teaches us how to seek the highest goal,

"To earn the true success;
To live, to love, to bless."

As a striking illustration of Helen's intense fondness for all living creatures, and of her great interest in their welfare, we print in full the following description of a touching incident, written by one of our teachers in the girls' department, Miss Fanny S. Marrett: --

Helen is much interested in eleven tadpoles which have their home in a glass globe in one of our schoolrooms. The acquaintance began several weeks ago, when a tadpole was caught and put into her hand. This was her introduction. It was a pleasure to note the wonderful eagerness and tenderness with which she made discoveries concerning the form and structure of this new object. She seemed to realize at once that she had come in contact with a very delicate organism, and that she must deal gently with it. She was soon told why the little creature ought to be put back into the dish, and having learned how essential water is to the life of a tadpole, she did not wish to have any of the eleven taken from their native element. She would plunge her hand into the globe, delighted to feel the tadpoles swimming around in it; and very often she succeeded in catching some of them, but she always held them under water.

One day the tiny creatures were transferred to a more shallow dish, and one of them leaped beyond the margin and fell upon the schoolroom floor.

A teacher found it as she was going with Helen to pay the usual visit to the tadpoles. She gave it to Helen, who examined it very carefully, while her face and language expressed a most loving sympathy. Suddenly the tail moved, and at this faint sign of life Helen gave a quick and joyous spring, and signified her wish that the tadpole should be at once put in water. She then named it "the sick tadpole." For some days afterward, the first question she asked upon entering the schoolroom was, "how is tadpole?" When told that he seemed quite well and strong again, she said to many friends in her happiest way, "tadpole is much better!" Even now, as she realizes the joyous activity of the tadpoles as they swim past her hand, she does not forget that one of them has suffered, and her first inquiries are always for "the one that was sick."

She is fond of modelling in clay, and the phases of the tadpole's life have been, of late, a favorite theme for this work. A bowl is first made, and then, one by one, eleven tadpoles appear in it. She has learned that our tadpoles become frogs by and by, and she often suggests in clay this future state of development. A frog has therefore a place on the board beside the tadpole, and Helen delights in contrasting the two forms of life which she has represented.

The beautiful traits of Helen's character are evenly developed in all directions. They shine from all sides of her nature like brilliant stars. Her loveliness of soul beams through her face. She is so simple and natural, so sweet and affectionate, so charming and generous, so magnanimous and unselfish, that all lovers of poetic childhood cannot help holding her dear, and counting her among the gems of humanity. She certainly is a rare phenomenon, in whom some of the highest intellectual qualities are combined with a spirit whose saintliness makes her life a blessing upon earth. Although her vision, her hearing and her speech are entirely gone, yet, to use the words of Shakespeare, --