On the day I was born, Papa announced me to the village: “Here is my son Loo-WEE!” The neighbors came, clucking their tongues, whispering: “Too small, he won’t survive.”
Oh, but I did survive.
I was a curious child, and my eyes studied everything: Mama’s gentle face. Lace draping my cradle. The smooth shape of a bread loaf on the table.
Oh, but I did survive.
I was a curious child, and my eyes studied everything: Mama’s gentle face. Lace draping my cradle. The smooth shape of a bread loaf on the table.
I grew strong and healthy. When I rode to the baker’s on my brother’s broad shoulders or fed the chickens with my sisters, the villagers waved and smiled. “So handsome!” they cried.
“And clever, too,” my sisters said. At three, I knew everyone in Coupvray by name. I counted the eggs in my sister’s basket and the sparrows in the trees. I repeated stories I heard, word for word.
But what I loved most was to watch Papa work. People came from far away to have a harness made or a broken bridle mended. In Papa’s hands, the rough leather strips became smooth and useful.
I wanted to be just like him.
But when I reached for a tool…
N’y touche pas! “Don’t touch that!” Papa warned.
Then, more gently: “You’re too small yet, Louis. Wait till you’re older.”
Too small…Those words!
I wanted to be bigger, stronger, older.
Perhaps if I showed Papa what I could do…
I wanted to be bigger, stronger, older.
Perhaps if I showed Papa what I could do…
The leather was smooth. The awl was sharp.
I knew just how to– “Papa! Papa!!! PaPAAAAAAA!”
My life changed that day.
A healer bandaged my eye.
Again, I heard: N’y touche pas! “Don’t touch!”
Again, I heard: N’y touche pas! “Don’t touch!”
But the bandage itched so much! My hands, like the sparrows in the trees, were small and quick. I couldn’t keep them away. I didn’t mean to make things worse. But– I did. The infection spread to my other eye, until…
…I could see nothing at all. No trees or sparrows.No faces. No lace or loaves of bread. By the time I turned five, I was completely blind.
The villagers whispered: “Poor Louis Braille! Such a clever boy. What will happen to him now?”
My world was dark and dangerous. I stumbled about the house, banging into the chairs, the walls, the door. My body ached. “Where is the sun?” I cried.
My world was dark and dangerous. I stumbled about the house, banging into the chairs, the walls, the door. My body ached. “Where is the sun?” I cried.
Comprehension Questions
1. What does 'touche' mean?
A. touch
B. toucan
C. tree
2. How did Louis lose his eye sight?
A. An eye infection
B. A needle to the eye
C. An awl and the spread of infection
A. An eye infection
B. A needle to the eye
C. An awl and the spread of infection
Your Thoughts
3. Did you like this excerpt? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.