Helen Keller was born a healthy child in 1880 in Alabama. Stricken by illness at the tender age of nineteen months, Helen lost her ability to see, hear, and speak. Growing up unable to comprehend the world around her, Helen became wild and unruly, until her parents found help.

1880年，海伦·凯勒在美国的阿拉巴马州出生时是个健康的孩子。可在她19个月大时，她得了一场大病，海伦从此失去了视觉、听觉和说话的能力。在成长的过程中，她无法了解周围的一切，变得狂躁而难以管教，最后她的父母只好求助于他人。

(短文节选,本篇始于：海伦·凯勒─奋斗的人)