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.Finally I succeeded in getting her back in her chairagain, and held the spoon in her hand, compelling her to take up the food with it and put it in her mouth.In afew minutes she yielded and finished her breakfast peaceably.Then we had another tussle over folding hernapkin.When she had finished, she threw it on the floor and ran toward the door.Finding it locked, she beganto kick and scream all over again.It was another hour before I succeeded in getting her napkin folded.Then Ilet her out into the warm sunshine and went up to my room and threw myself on the bed exhausted.I had agood cry and felt better.I suppose I shall have many such battles with the little woman before she learns theonly two essential things I can teach her, obedience and love.Good-by, dear.Don't worry; I'll do my best and leave the rest to whatever power manages that which wecannot.I like Mrs.Keller very much.Tuscumbia, Alabama, March 11, 1887.Since I wrote you, Helen and I have gone to live all by ourselves in a little garden-house about a quarter of amile from her home, only a short distance from Ivy Green, the Keller homestead.I very soon made up mymind that I could do nothing with Helen in the midst of the family, who have always allowed her to do exactlyas she pleased.She has tyrannized over everybody, her mother, her father, the servants, the little darkies whoplay with her, and nobody had ever seriously disputed her will, except occasionally her brother James, until Icame; and like all tyrants she holds tenaciously to her divine right to do as she pleases.If she ever failed to getwhat she wanted, it was because of her inability to make the vassals of her household understand what it was.Every thwarted desire was the signal for a passionate outburst, and as she grew older and stronger, thesetempests became more violent.As I began to teach her, I was beset by many difficulties.She wouldn't yield apoint without contesting it to the bitter end.I couldn't coax her or compromise with her.To get her to do thesimplest thing, such as combing her hair or washing her hands or buttoning her boots, it was necessary to useforce, and, of course, a distressing scene followed.The family naturally felt inclined to interfere, especiallyher father, who cannot bear to see her cry.So they were all willing to give in for the sake of peace.Besides,CHAPTER III.125her past experiences and associations were all against me.I saw clearly that it was useless to try to teach herlanguage or anything else until she learned to obey me.I have thought about it a great deal, and the more Ithink, the more certain I am that obedience is the gateway through which knowledge, yes, and love, too, enterthe mind of the child.As I wrote you, I meant to go slowly at first.I had an idea that I could win the love andconfidence of my little pupil by the same means that I should use if she could see and hear.But I soon foundthat I was cut off from all the usual approaches to the child's heart.She accepted everything I did for her as amatter of course, and refused to be caressed, and there was no way of appealing to her affection or sympathyor childish love of approbation.She would or she wouldn't, and there was an end of it.Thus it is, we study,plan and prepare ourselves for a task, and when the hour for action arrives, we find that the system we havefollowed with such labour and pride does not fit the occasion; and then there's nothing for us to do but rely onsomething within us, some innate capacity for knowing and doing, which we did not know we possessed untilthe hour of our great need brought it to light.I had a good, frank talk with Mrs.Keller, and explained to her how difficult it was going to be to do anythingwith Helen under the existing circumstances.I told her that in my opinion the child ought to be separated fromthe family for a few weeks at least--that she must learn to depend on and obey me before I could make anyheadway.After a long time Mrs.Keller said that she would think the matter over and see what Captain Kellerthought of sending Helen away with me.Captain Keller fell in with the scheme most readily and suggestedthat the little garden-house at the "old place" be got ready for us.He said that Helen might recognize theplace, as she had often been there, but she would have no idea of her surroundings, and they could come everyday to see that all was going well, with the understanding, of course, that she was to know nothing of theirvisits.I hurried the preparations for our departure as much as possible, and here we are.The little house is a genuine bit of paradise.It consists of one large square room with a great fireplace, aspacious bay-window, and a small room where our servant, a little negro boy, sleeps.There is a piazza infront, covered with vines that grow so luxuriantly that you have to part them to see the garden beyond.Ourmeals are brought from the house, and we usually eat on the piazza.The little negro boy takes care of the firewhen we need one, so I can give my whole attention to Helen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]