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Perkins Report of 1888

Creator: Michael Anagnos (author)
Date: 1888
Source: Perkins School for the Blind

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The king was very angry with the people and they were sorry and they said, we will go away to a strange country to live and leave very dear home and friends and naughty king. So, they put all their things into big boxes, and said, Good-bye. I am sorry for them because they cried much. When they went to Holland they did not know any one; and they could not know what the people were talking about because they did not know Dutch. But soon they learned some Dutch words; but they loved their own language and they did not want little girls and boys to forget it and learn to talk funny Dutch. So they said, We must go to a new country far away and build schools and houses and churches and make new cities. So they put all their things in boxes and said, Good bye to their new friends and sailed away in a large boat to find a new country. Poor people were not happy for their hearts were full of sad thoughts because they did not know much about America. I think little children must have been afraid of a great ocean for it is very strong and it makes a large boat rock and then the little children could fall down and hurt their heads. After they had been many weeks on the deep ocean where they could not see trees or flowers or grass, but just water and the beautiful sky, for ships could not sail quickly then because men did not know about engines and steam. One day a dear little baby-boy was born. His name was Peregrine White. I am very sorry that poor little Peregrine is dead now. Every day the people went upon deck to look out for land. One day there was a great shout on the ship for the people saw the land and they were full of joy because they had reached a new country safely. Little girls and boys jumped and clapped their hands. They were all glad when they stepped upon a huge rock. I did see the rock in Plymouth and a little ship like the Mayflower and the cradle that dear little Peregrine slept in and many old things that came in the Mayflower. Would you like to visit Plymouth some time and see many old things.

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Now I am very tired and I will rest.

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With much love and many kisses, from your little friend,

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Helen A. Keller.

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Early in July she went to Brewster, where she spent the remainder of the summer. This visit at the seaside was a novel experience to her. When first taken into the water she ran fearlessly forward, dancing along with the same happy freedom she manifests on land, and delighted with the splashing of the water around her. Unfortunately striking her foot against a stone, she stumbled and fell forward, and the salt water filled her mouth. The shock of the fall, by which she was instantly submerged, the coldness of the water, -- and especially the seeming violence with which the salt waves rushed into her mouth, --terrified her, and seemed to arouse in her a feeling of indignation. As soon as she had sufficiently recovered to use her fingers, she asked, excitedly, "who put salt in water?" For several days afterwards she manifested great timidity about bathing, but by degrees she regained her former fearlessness. She would wade in until the water was up to her ears; and, though at first she would be frightened when a wave caught her and swept her back, she soon came to think this the greatest fun of all. She also learned to float. In short, she thoroughly enjoyed her stay at the seashore. In the following letter she mentions the happy days spent there: --

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So. Boston, Mass. Sept. I888.

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My dear Miss Moore

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Are you very glad to receive a nice letter from your darling little friend? I love you very dearly because you are my friend. My precious little sister is quite well now. She likes to sit in my little rocking-chair and put her kitty to sleep. Would you like to see darling little Mildred? She is a very pretty baby. Her eyes are very big and blue, and her cheeks are soft and round and rosy and her hair is very bright and golden. She is very good and sweet when she does not cry loud. Next summer Mildred will go out in the garden with me and pick the big sweet strawberries and then she will be very happy. I hope she will not eat too many of the delicious fruit for they will make her very ill.

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Sometime will you please come to Alabama and visit me? My uncle James is going to buy me a very gentle pony and a pretty cart and I shall be very happy to take you and Harry to ride. I hope Harry will not be afraid of my pony. I think my father will buy me a beautiful little brother some day. I shall be very gentle and patient to my new little brother. When I visit many strange countries my brother and Mildred will stay with grandmother because they will be too small to see a great many people and I think they would cry loud on the great rough ocean.

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When Capt. Baker gets well he will take me in his big ship to Africa. Then I shall see lions and tigers and monkeys. I will get a baby lion and a white monkey and a mild bear to bring home. I had a very pleasant time at Brewster. I went in bathing almost every day and Carrie and Frank and little Helen and I had fun. We splashed and jumped and waded in the deep water. I am not afraid to float now. Can Harry float and swim? We came to Boston last Thursday, and Mr. Anagnos was delighted to see me, and he hugged and kissed me. The little girls are coming back to school next Wednesday.

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