Ontheafternoonofthateventfulday,Istoodontheporch,dumb,expectant.Iguessedvaguelyfrommymother’ssignsandfromthehurryingtoandfrointhehousethatsomethingunusualwasabouttohappen,soIwenttothedoorandwaitedonthesteps.Theafternoonsunpenetratedthemassofhoneysucklethatcoveredtheporch,andfellonmyupturnedface.Myfingersfingeredalmostunconsciouslyonthefamiliarleavesandblossomswhichhadjustcomeforthtogreetthesweetsouthernspring.Ididnotknowwhatthefutureheldofmarvelorsurpriseforme.Angerandbitternesshadpreyeduponmecontinuallyandadeeplanguorhadsucceededthispassionatestruggle.
Haveyoueverbeenatseainadensefog,whenitseemedasifatangiblewhitedarknessshutyouin,andthegreatship,tenseandanxious,gropedherwaytowardtheshorewithplummetandsounding-line,andyouwaitedwithbeatingheartforsomethingtohappen?Iwaslikethatshipbeforemyeducationbegan,onlyIwaswithoutcompassorsounding-line,?andhadnowayofknowinghowneartheharbourwas.“Light!Givemelight!”wasthewordlesscryofmyoil,andthelightofloveshoneonmeinthatverytour.
Ifeltapproachingfootsteps,IstretchedoutmyhandasIsupposedtomymother.Someonetookit,?andIwascaughtupandheldcloseinthearmsofher?whohadcometorevealallthingstome,and,morethanallthingselse,toloveme.
Themorningaftermyteachercamesheledmeintoherroomandgavemeadoll.ThelittleblindchildrenatthePerkinsInstitutionhadsentitandLauraBridgmanhaddressedit;butIdidnotknowthisuntilafterward.WhenIhadplayedwithitalittlewhile,MissSullivanslowlyspelledintomyhandtheword“d-o-l-l.”Iwasatonceinterestedinthisfingerplayandtriedtoimitateit.WhenIfinallysucceededinmakingtheletterscorrectlyIwasflushedwithchildishpleasureandpride.RunningdownstairstomymotherIheldupmyhandandmadethelettersfordoll.IdidnotknowthatIwasspellingawordoreventhatwordsexisted;Iwassimplymakingmyfingersgoinmonkey-likeimitation.InthedaysthatfollowedIlearnedtospellinthisuncomprehendingwayagreatmanywords,amongthempin,hat,cupandafewverbslikesit,standandwalk.ButmyteacherhadbeenwithmeseveralweeksbeforeIunderstoodthateverythinghasaname.