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Of Nature's works； to me expunged and rased；
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out。〃
Surely for this loving and lovely child does
〃the celestial Light
Shine inward。〃
Anthropologist； metaphysician； most of all theologian； here is a
lesson which can teach you much that you will not find in your
primers and catechisms。 Why should I call her 〃poor little Helen〃？
Where can you find a happier child？
SOUTH BOSTON； MASS。； March 1； 1890。
DEAR KIND POET；I have thought of you many times since that bright
Sunday when I bade you goodbye； and I am going to write you a letter
because I love you。 I am sorry that you have no little children to
play with sometimes； but I think you are very happy with your books；
and your many； many friends。 On Washington's Birthday a great many
people came here to see the little blind children； and I read for
them from your poems； and showed them some beautiful shells which
came from a little island near Palos。 I am reading a very sad story
called 〃Little Jakey。〃 Jakey was the sweetest little fellow you can
imagine； but he was poor and blind。 I used to think； when I was
small and before I could read； that everybody was always happy； and
at first it made me very sad to know about pain and great sorrow； but
now I know that we could never learn to be brave and patient； if
there were only joy in the world。 I am studying about insects in
Zoology； and I have learned many things about butterflies。 They do
not make honey for us； like the bees； but many of them are as
beautiful as the flowers they light upon； and they always delight the
hearts of little children。 They live a gay life； flitting from
flower to flower； sipping the drops of honey…dew； without a thought
for the morrow。 They are just like little boys and girls when they
forget books and studies； and run away to the woods and the fields to
gather wild…flowers； or wade in the ponds for fragrant lilies； happy
in the bright sunshine。 If my little sister comes to Boston next
June； will you let me bring her to see you？ She is a lovely baby and
I am sure you will love ＇her＇。 Now I must tell my gentle poet good…
bye； for I have a letter to write home before I go to bed。 From your
loving little friend；
HELEN A。 KELLER。
The reading of this letter made many eyes glisten； and a dead silence
hushed the whole circle。 All at once Delilah； our pretty table…maid；
forgot her place；what business had she to be listening to our
conversation and reading？ and began sobbing； just as if she had
been a lady。 She could n't help it； she explained afterwards；she
had a little blind sister at the asylum； who had told her about
Helen's reading to the children。
It was very awkward； this breaking…down of our pretty Delilah； for
one girl crying will sometimes set off a whole row of others；it is
as hazardous as lighting one cracker in a bunch。 The two Annexes
hurried out their pocket…handkerchiefs； and I almost expected a semi…
hysteric cataclysm。 At this critical moment Number Five called
Delilah to her； looked into her face with those calm eyes of hers；
and spoke a few soft words。 Was Number Five forgetful； too？ Did she
not remember the difference of their position？ I suppose so。 But
she quieted the poor handmaiden as simply and easily as a nursing
mother quiets her unweaned baby。 Why are we not all in love with
Number Five？ Perhaps we are。 At any rate； I suspect the Professor。
When we all get quiet； I will touch him up about that visit she
promised to make to his laboratory。
I got a chance at last to speak privately with him。
〃Did Number Five go to meet you in your laboratory； as she talked of
doing？〃
〃Oh； yes； of course she did；why； she said she would！〃
〃Oh； to be sure。 Do tell me what she wanted in your laboratory。〃
〃She wanted me to burn a diamond for her。〃
〃Burn a diamond！ What was that for？ Because Cleopatra swallowed a
pearl？〃
〃No； nothing of that kind。 It was a small stone； and had a flaw in
it。 Number Five said she did n't want a diamond with a flaw in it；
and that she did want to see how a diamond would burn。〃
〃Was that all that happened？〃
〃That was all。 She brought the two Annexes with her； and I gave my
three visitors a lecture on carbon； which they seemed to enjoy very
much。〃
I looked steadily in the Professor's face during the reading of the
following poem。 I saw no questionable look upon it；but he has a
remarkable command of his features。 Number Five read it with a
certain archness of expression； as if she saw all its meaning； which
I think some of the company did not quite take in。 They said they
must read it slowly and carefully。 Somehow； 〃I like you〃 and 〃I love
you〃 got a little mixed； as they heard it。 It was not Number Five's
fault； for she read it beautifully； as we all agreed； and as I knew
she would when I handed it to her。
I LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOU。
I LIKE YOU met I LOVE YOU； face to face；
The path was narrow； and they could not pass。
I LIKE YOU smiled； I LOVE YOU cried； Alas！
And so they halted for a little space。
〃Turn thou and go before；〃 I LOVE YOU said；
‘ 〃Down the green pathway； bright with many a flower
Deep in the valley； lo！ my bridal bower
Awaits thee。〃 But I LIKE YOU shook his head。
Then while they lingered on the span…wide shelf
That shaped a pathway round the rocky ledge；
I LIKE YOU bared his icy dagger's edge；
And first he slew I LOVE YOU；then himself。
VII
There is no use in burdening my table with those letters of inquiry
as to where our meetings are held； and what are the names of the
persons designated by numbers； or spoken of under the titles of the
Professor； the Tutor； and so forth。 It is enough that you are aware
who I am； and that I am known at the tea…table as The Dictator。
Theatrical 〃asides〃 are apt to be whispered in a pretty loud voice；
and the persons who ought not to have any idea of what is said are
expected to be reasonably hard of bearing。 If I named all The
Teacups； some of them might be offended。 If any of my readers happen
to be able to identify any one Teacup by some accidental
circumstance；say； for instance； Number Five； by the incident of her
burning the diamond；I hope they will keep quiet about it。 Number
Five does n't want to be pointed out in the street as the extravagant
person who makes use of such expensive fuel； for the story would soon
grow to a statement that she always uses diamonds； instead of cheaper
forms of carbon； to heat her coffee with。 So with other members of
the circle。 The 〃Cracked Teacup；〃 Number Seven； would not； perhaps；
be pleased to recognize himself under that title。 I repeat it；
therefore； Do not try to identify the individual Teacups。 You will
not get them right； or； if you do； you may too probab