Helen Keller’s Early Life: Milestones and Discoveries
Helen Keller’s First Christmas & Early Joys
Helen continued her learning journey under the expert guidance of Miss Sullivan as Christmas approached. It was her first Christmas with Miss Sullivan. Both prepared surprises for everyone. Helen’s greatest amusement and happiness lay in the mystery surrounding the gifts she was to receive. Her curiosity was further piqued by her friends. She continued playing the guessing game with Miss Sullivan.
On Christmas Eve, the Tuscumbia School children invited Helen to a beautiful Christmas tree, which brought her immense joy. She was told there was a gift for everyone. She was very excited, but she kept waiting for the real gift she would receive on Christmas Day. The next morning, with her first ‘Merry Christmas,’ she was presented with a canary—a bird that made her extremely happy. She took great care of the bird. But one day, while she was away, a cat rushed upon it, and the bird was gone.
Helen Keller’s Journey to Boston & Perkins Institution
In May 1888, Helen visited Boston with Miss Sullivan. The journey to Boston was very different from her journey to Baltimore, which she had made two years prior. She sat quietly beside Miss Sullivan, who described everything she saw out of the car window. Miss Sullivan described the beautiful Tennessee River, the vast cotton fields, the hills, woods, and even the joyful sounds of people—in fact, every detail. Helen also took her rag doll, Nancy, to Boston. On the way, she made Nancy, the doll, ‘eat’ the remains of mud pies, which covered her with dust. Nancy was then taken for a bath at the Perkins Institution, which left her in a heap of cotton. It was a rough experience for Nancy.
Learning and Friendship at Perkins
When they reached the Perkins Institution for the Blind, Helen quickly became friendly with the little blind children. She cherished the idea of being with other blind children and felt a profound connection with them. She found them all so happy and contented, despite being deprived of sight. In their company, she herself seemed to lose her sense of isolation.
Historical Discoveries & New Connections
She had her first history lesson when they visited Bunker Hill and experienced her first voyage when they traveled to Plymouth by water. She visited Miss William Endicott’s house, with whom she had become friends. She enjoyed her visit to Miss Endicott’s Beverly Farms. Mr. Endicott was also a kind-hearted man and became one of Helen’s cherished friends.
Summer at Cape Cod: Helen’s Sea Encounter
The Perkins Institution closed for the summer. As summer vacation approached, it was decided that Helen and Miss Sullivan would spend their time at Brewster, on Cape Cod, with Mrs. Sophia Hopkins, a matron at the institution. Helen was delighted to hear about her vacation. She had long wished to touch the mighty sea and feel its roar.
First Dip in the Ocean & A Horseshoe Crab
Upon arrival, she was helped into a bathing suit. Without a thought of fear, she plunged into the cool water and felt the great billows rock and sink. The movement of the water filled her with immense joy. But suddenly, her joy turned to terror when her foot struck a rock, and she felt a rush of water over her hand. She struggled desperately to escape, but all went in vain. Suddenly, the sea threw her back onto the shore. It was a terrifying experience, but she quickly recovered and sat on a large rock to feel the waves crash against it. It was a wonderful experience. One day, while enjoying the waves, Miss Sullivan drew her attention to a horseshoe crab.
Helen was amazed when she felt the crab ‘carrying his house on his back’. She took it home, intending to make it her pet. When she reached home, she placed the crab in a trough near the well, confident it was secure. The next morning, she went to check on her little pet, only to realize it had disappeared. There was no explanation for where or how it had escaped. She was disappointed but later felt it was better for the creature, as perhaps it had returned to the sea where it belonged.