CHAPTER XXII

Varied pleasures and amusements

Helen refers to her love of the country and outdoor sports. She learnt to row
and swim quite early. She used to spend entire summer in her boat at Wrentham
She was greatly pleased to take her friends out rowing when they visited her As
she could not guide the boat well, someone would sit in the stern and manage
the rudder as she rowed. Sometimes she would go rowing without the rudder.
She used oars with leather bands which kept them in position in oarlocks.
She could know by the resistance of the water when the oars were evenly
balanced. In the same way she could tell when she was pulling against the
current.

Canoeing and sailing-a passion

Helen liked canoeing on moonlit nights. She could feel the presence of the
moon. She would put her hand in the water and fancy that she felt the "shimmer
of her garments as she passes. Sometimes a fish slipped between her fingers
and sometimes her hand would touch a pond-lily. She would also sometimes
become conscious of the "spaciousness of the air about her. Besides canoeing
she loved sailing. She became familiar with the sea in the summer of 1901 when
she visited Nova Scotia. Along with Miss Sullivan she spent the greater part of
the summer at Halifax where the harbour was like a paradise to her. They
enjoyed sailing in a sail-boat. One day they were in their sail-boat along with
many others to watch a regatta-boat races-in the Northwest Arm. Suddenly
their boat was caught in a storm. The wind rose and drove them from side to
side with great fury. Luckily their skipper was "master of the situation." He ably
steered the boat through the storm. The seamen applauded him for his skill.

Out in the countryside

Helen loved spending her time in the countryside. One summer she lived
with the family of Mr. J.E. Chamberlin in a charming village in Wrentham in
New England. She greatly enjoyed the company of their children.
In Wrentham, she had many tree friends. A splendid oak was the special pride of
her heart. She took all her friends to see that king-tree. A linden that grew in the
doorvard at Red Farm was another tree friend of her. Later, after her examinations
were over, she and Miss Sullivan came to spend their time in a cottage on one of
the three lakes for which Wrentham is famous. In Wrentham they came to hear
many disturbing news in the world-war, alliance, social conflict. But in the
peaceful atmosphere they paid little attention to these happenings.

The country and city life

Helen was able to distinguish between walking in city streets and in country
roads. She could easily feel the rumble and roar of the city. She was aware of
Nature's fair works in the country as also of the cruel struggle for mere existence
going on in the crowded city. She had visited the narrow, dirty streets where the
poor lived. She felt angry to think that "good" people lived in fine houses while
others were condemned to live in sunless tenements. In the city dingy alleys, she
saw, the sun did not rise and the children failed to grow stately like trees.

Some other pastimes of Helen

Besides a leisure walk Helen also enjoyed a "spin" on her tandem bicycle.
She felt happy when the wind blew in her face. Then she liked the company of
dogs. She had had many dog friends. A bull terrier was once the lord of her
affection. The dog understood her limitations, and always kept close to her when
she was alone. Then when a rainy day kept Helen indoors, she would amuse
herself by doing such tasks as knitting and crocheting. When she was all alone
in an idle mood, she would play a game of solitaire. If there were children
around, she would love to frolic with them. She loved to play with them a dumb
show. She would tell them stories or teach them a game.

Visits to museums and art stores

Museums and art stores were also sources of pleasures and inspiration to
Helen. She derived genuine pleasure from touching great works of art. As her
fingers touched lightly trace line and curve, she would become aware of the thought and emotion the artist had portrayed. A medallion of Honor hung on
the wall of her study so low that she could touch it easily. Whenever she touched
it she could visualize the face of the poet and recall some of his poetic lines. In
imagination she could hear Homer singing of love, love and war.

Love for the theatre

Helen loved to go to the theatre and enjoyed having a play described to her
while it was being enacted on the stage. She met a few great actors and actresses
She touched the face and costume of Miss Ellen Terry. Beside her stood Sir
Henry Irving. She also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Jefferson wherever he
was acting. She saw him act in the plays "Rip Van Winkle" and then in "The
Rivals" in Boston he acted the most striking parts of "The Rivals" for her. She
remembered the first time she went to the theatre. It was twelve years ago. Elsie
Leslie, the little actress, was in Boston, and Miss Sullivan took Helen to see her
in The Prince and the Pauper". Helen met the actress in her royal costume after
the play was over She was delighted when Elsie understood the few words she
spoke to her.

Feeling of isolation

Helen admits that she is often covered by a sense of isolation like a cold
mist" as she sits alone and "waits at life's shut gate. She knows that she may
not enter the world of light and music, as her cruel fate bars her way. Silence sits
upon her soul. She comes to blame her fate but she checks herself from uttering
any bitter futile words. Then she is filled with hope and whispers, "There's joy in
self-forgetfulness." So she tries to make the light in others eyes her sun.