We walked down the path to the well-house, attracted by the fragrance of the honeysucklewith which it was covered. Some one was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand underthe spout. As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the wordwater, first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of herfingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten-a thrill of returningthought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that"w-a-t-e-r" meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That livingword awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! There were barriers still, it is true,but barriers that could in time be swept away.