Chapter 5

I recall many incidents of the summer of 1887 that followed my soul's sudden awakening. I did nothing but explore with my hands and learn the name of every object that I touched; and the more I handled things and learned their names and uses, the more joyous and confident grew my sense of kinship with the rest of the world.

I remember many moments from the summer of 1887, after my soul suddenly awakened. I did nothing but explore with my hands and learn the name of every object I touched. The more I handled things and learned their names and uses, the more joyfully and confidently I felt connected to the rest of the world.

When the time of daisies and buttercups came Miss Sullivan took me by the hand across the fields, where men were preparing the earth for the seed, to the banks of the Tennessee River, and there, sitting on the warm grass, I had my first lessons in the beneficence of nature. I learned how the sun and the rain make to grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, how birds build their nests and live and thrive from land to land, how the squirrel, the deer, the lion and every other creature finds food and shelter. As my knowledge of things grew I felt more and more the delight of the world I was in. Long before I learned to do a sum in arithmetic or describe the shape of the earth, Miss Sullivan had taught me to find beauty in the fragrant woods, in every blade of grass, and in the curves and dimples of my baby sister's hand. She linked my earliest thoughts with nature, and made me feel that "birds and flowers and I were happy peers."

When the daisies and buttercups bloomed, Miss Sullivan took my hand and led me across the fields. Men were preparing the soil for seeds there. We went to the banks of the Tennessee River and sat on the warm grass. There I had my first lessons in the kindness of nature. I learned how the sun and rain make trees grow from the ground, beautiful to see and good for food. I learned how birds build their nests and live and thrive from land to land. I also learned how squirrels, deer, lions, and every other creature find food and shelter. As I learned more about things, I felt more and more joy in the world around me. Long before I learned to do an arithmetic problem or describe the shape of the earth, Miss Sullivan had taught me to find beauty in the fragrant woods, in every blade of grass, and in the curves and dimples of my baby sister's hand. She connected my earliest thoughts with nature and made me feel that "birds and flowers and I were happy peers."

But about this time I had an experience which taught me that nature is not always kind. One day my teacher and I were returning from a long ramble. The morning had been fine, but it was growing warm and sultry when at last we turned our faces homeward. Two or three times we stopped to rest under a tree by the wayside. Our last halt was under a wild cherry tree a short distance from the house. The shade was grateful, and the tree was so easy to climb that with my teacher's assistance I was able to scramble to a seat in the branches. It was so cool up in the tree that Miss Sullivan proposed that we have our luncheon there. I promised to keep still while she went to the house to fetch it.

But around this time, I had an experience that taught me nature is not always kind. One day, my teacher and I were returning from a long walk. The morning had been pleasant, but it was growing warm and humid as we finally headed home. Two or three times, we stopped to rest under a tree beside the road. Our last stop was under a wild cherry tree a short distance from the house. The shade felt welcome, and the tree was easy to climb. With my teacher's help, I managed to climb up and sit among the branches. It was so cool in the tree that Miss Sullivan suggested we eat lunch there. I promised to stay still while she went to the house to get it.

Suddenly a change passed over the tree. All the sun's warmth left the air. I knew the sky was black, because all the heat, which meant light to me, had died out of the atmosphere. A strange odour came up from the earth. I knew it, it was the odour that always precedes a thunderstorm, and a nameless fear clutched at my heart. I felt absolutely alone, cut off from my friends and the firm earth. The immense, the unknown, enfolded me. I remained still and expectant; a chilling terror crept over me. I longed for my teacher's return; but above all things I wanted to get down from that tree.

Suddenly, a change came over the tree. All the sun’s warmth left the air. I knew the sky was black because all the heat had faded from the air. To me, heat meant light. A strange smell rose from the earth. I recognized it as the smell that always comes before a thunderstorm. A nameless fear gripped my heart. I felt completely alone, cut off from my friends and the solid ground. The vast unknown surrounded me. I stayed still, waiting, as a chilling terror crept over me. I longed for my teacher to return. But more than anything, I wanted to get down from that tree.

There was a moment of sinister silence, then a multitudinous stirring of the leaves. A shiver ran through the tree, and the wind sent forth a blast that would have knocked me off had I not clung to the branch with might and main. The tree swayed and strained. The small twigs snapped and fell about me in showers. A wild impulse to jump seized me, but terror held me fast. I crouched down in the fork of the tree. The branches lashed about me. I felt the intermittent jarring that came now and then, as if something heavy had fallen and the shock had traveled up till it reached the limb I sat on. It worked my suspense up to the highest point, and just as I was thinking the tree and I should fall together, my teacher seized my hand and helped me down. I clung to her, trembling with joy to feel the earth under my feet once more. I had learned a new lesson—that nature "wages open war against her children, and under softest touch hides treacherous claws."

There was a moment of ominous silence, then countless leaves began to rustle. A shiver ran through the tree. The wind blasted against me, and I would have been knocked off if I had not clung to the branch with all my strength. The tree swayed and strained. Small twigs snapped and showered down around me. I felt a wild urge to jump, but terror kept me where I was. I crouched in the fork of the tree. The branches whipped around me. From time to time, I felt a jolt. It was as if something heavy had fallen and sent a shock up to the branch I sat on. The jolts made the suspense almost unbearable. Just as I thought the tree and I would fall together, my teacher grabbed my hand and helped me down. I clung to her, trembling with joy at feeling the earth under my feet again. I had learned a new lesson: nature "wages open war against her children, and under softest touch hides treacherous claws."

After this experience it was a long time before I climbed another tree. The mere thought filled me with terror. It was the sweet allurement of the mimosa tree in full bloom that finally overcame my fears. One beautiful spring morning when I was alone in the summer-house, reading, I became aware of a wonderful subtle fragrance in the air. I started up and instinctively stretched out my hands. It seemed as if the spirit of spring had passed through the summer-house. "What is it?" I asked, and the next minute I recognized the odour of the mimosa blossoms. I felt my way to the end of the garden, knowing that the mimosa tree was near the fence, at the turn of the path. Yes, there it was, all quivering in the warm sunshine, its blossom-laden branches almost touching the long grass. Was there ever anything so exquisitely beautiful in the world before! Its delicate blossoms shrank from the slightest earthly touch; it seemed as if a tree of paradise had been transplanted to earth. I made my way through a shower of petals to the great trunk and for one minute stood irresolute; then, putting my foot in the broad space between the forked branches, I pulled myself up into the tree. I had some difficulty in holding on, for the branches were very large and the bark hurt my hands. But I had a delicious sense that I was doing something unusual and wonderful so I kept on climbing higher and higher, until I reached a little seat which somebody had built there so long ago that it had grown part of the tree itself. I sat there for a long, long time, feeling like a fairy on a rosy cloud. After that I spent many happy hours in my tree of paradise, thinking fair thoughts and dreaming bright dreams.

After this experience, it was a long time before I climbed another tree. The mere thought filled me with terror. At last, the sweet appeal of the mimosa tree in full bloom overcame my fears. One beautiful spring morning, I was alone in the summerhouse, reading, when I noticed a wonderful, subtle fragrance in the air. I jumped up and instinctively stretched out my hands. It seemed as if the spirit of spring had passed through the summerhouse. "What is it?" I asked. A moment later, I recognized the scent of mimosa blossoms. I felt my way to the end of the garden. I knew the mimosa tree was near the fence, at the turn in the path. Yes, there it was, trembling all over in the warm sunshine. Its branches were heavy with blossoms and almost touched the long grass. Had there ever been anything so exquisitely beautiful in the world before? Its delicate blossoms shrank from the slightest earthly touch. It seemed as if a tree from paradise had been transplanted to earth. I made my way through a shower of petals to the great trunk and stood there, unsure, for a minute. Then I put my foot in the wide space between the branching limbs and pulled myself up into the tree. I had some difficulty holding on because the branches were very large and the bark hurt my hands. But I had a delightful feeling that I was doing something unusual and wonderful. So I kept climbing higher and higher until I reached a little seat. Someone had built it there so long ago that it had become part of the tree itself. I sat there for a long, long time, feeling like a fairy on a rosy cloud. After that, I spent many happy hours in my tree of paradise, thinking beautiful thoughts and dreaming bright dreams.