Chapter 10

Just before the Perkins Institution closed for the summer, it was arranged that my teacher and I should spend our vacation at Brewster, on Cape Cod, with our dear friend, Mrs. Hopkins. I was delighted, for my mind was full of the prospective joys and of the wonderful stories I had heard about the sea.

Just before the Perkins Institution closed for the summer, plans were made for my teacher and me to spend our vacation with our dear friend, Mrs. Hopkins. We would stay with her in Brewster, on Cape Cod. I was delighted because I was thinking of all the joys ahead and the wonderful stories I had heard about the sea.

My most vivid recollection of that summer is the ocean. I had always lived far inland and had never had so much as a whiff of salt air; but I had read in a big book called "Our World" a description of the ocean which filled me with wonder and an intense longing to touch the mighty sea and feel it roar. So my little heart leaped high with eager excitement when I knew that my wish was at last to be realized.

My clearest memory of that summer is the ocean. I had always lived far inland and had never even smelled salt air. But I had read a description of the ocean in a big book called "Our World." It filled me with wonder and a deep longing to touch the mighty sea and feel it roar. So my little heart leaped with excitement when I knew my wish was finally going to come true.

No sooner had I been helped into my bathing-suit than I sprang out upon the warm sand and without thought of fear plunged into the cool water. I felt the great billows rock and sink. The buoyant motion of the water filled me with an exquisite, quivering joy. Suddenly my ecstasy gave place to terror; for my foot struck against a rock and the next instant there was a rush of water over my head. I thrust out my hands to grasp some support, I clutched at the water and at the seaweed which the waves tossed in my face. But all my frantic efforts were in vain. The waves seemed to be playing a game with me, and tossed me from one to another in their wild frolic. It was fearful! The good, firm earth had slipped from my feet, and everything seemed shut out from this strange, all-enveloping element—life, air, warmth and love. At last, however, the sea, as if weary of its new toy, threw me back on the shore, and in another instant I was clasped in my teacher's arms. Oh, the comfort of the long, tender embrace! As soon as I had recovered from my panic sufficiently to say anything, I demanded: "Who put salt in the water?"

As soon as I was helped into my bathing suit, I sprang onto the warm sand. Without a thought of fear, I plunged into the cool water. I felt the great waves rock and sink. The water lifted me, filling me with a wonderful, trembling joy. Suddenly, my joy turned to terror. My foot struck a rock, and the next moment water rushed over my head. I reached out for something to hold onto. I grabbed at the water and the seaweed the waves tossed in my face. But all my desperate efforts were useless. The waves seemed to be playing a game with me, tossing me from one to another in their wild play. It was terrifying! The solid ground had slipped from under my feet. Everything seemed shut out by this strange water surrounding me: life, air, warmth, and love. At last, though, the sea threw me back onto the shore, as if tired of its new toy. A moment later, I was in my teacher's arms. Oh, how comforting that long, tender embrace was! As soon as I had recovered enough from my panic to speak, I demanded: "Who put salt in the water?"

After I had recovered from my first experience in the water, I thought it great fun to sit on a big rock in my bathing-suit and feel wave after wave dash against the rock, sending up a shower of spray which quite covered me. I felt the pebbles rattling as the waves threw their ponderous weight against the shore; the whole beach seemed racked by their terrific onset, and the air throbbed with their pulsations. The breakers would swoop back to gather themselves for a mightier leap, and I clung to the rock, tense, fascinated, as I felt the dash and roar of the rushing sea!

After I recovered from my first experience in the water, I found it great fun to sit on a big rock in my swimsuit. Wave after wave crashed against the rock, sending up a shower of spray that completely covered me. I felt the pebbles rattling as the waves hurled their great weight against the shore. The whole beach seemed to shake under their fierce assault, and the air throbbed with their pulses. The breakers swept back to gather themselves for an even greater leap. I clung to the rock, tense and fascinated, as I felt the crash and roar of the rushing sea!

I could never stay long enough on the shore. The tang of the untainted, fresh and free sea air was like a cool, quieting thought, and the shells and pebbles and the seaweed with tiny living creatures attached to it never lost their fascination for me. One day Miss Sullivan attracted my attention to a strange object which she had captured basking in the shallow water. It was a great horseshoe crab—the first one I had ever seen. I felt of him and thought it very strange that he should carry his house on his back. It suddenly occurred to me that he might make a delightful pet; so I seized him by the tail with both hands and carried him home. This feat pleased me highly, as his body was very heavy, and it took all my strength to drag him half a mile. I would not leave Miss Sullivan in peace until she had put the crab in a trough near the well where I was confident he would be secure. But next morning I went to the trough, and lo, he had disappeared! Nobody knew where he had gone, or how he had escaped. My disappointment was bitter at the time; but little by little I came to realize that it was not kind or wise to force this poor dumb creature out of his element, and after awhile I felt happy in the thought that perhaps he had returned to the sea.

I could never spend enough time on the shore. The sharp, pure, fresh, and free sea air was like a cool, calming thought. The shells, pebbles, and seaweed with tiny living creatures attached to it never stopped fascinating me. One day Miss Sullivan drew my attention to a strange creature she had caught while it was basking in shallow water. It was a huge horseshoe crab, the first I had ever encountered. I felt him and thought it very strange that he carried his house on his back. Suddenly I thought he might make a delightful pet. So I grabbed his tail with both hands and carried him home. I was very pleased with myself because his body was so heavy. It took all my strength to drag him half a mile. I gave Miss Sullivan no peace until she put the crab in a trough near the well. I was sure he would be safe there. But when I went to the trough the next morning, he had disappeared! Nobody knew where he had gone or how he had escaped. I was bitterly disappointed at the time. But little by little, I realized that it was neither kind nor wise to force the poor, speechless creature out of his natural home. After a while, I felt happy thinking that perhaps he had returned to the sea.