Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-28


he had written in his presence, and which
concluded with the following remarkable
words: !" Promise, q promise me. that
YOU viii speak for us 10 the chief consul:
they say he loves those men who labor for
the happiness of others; surely then he
must love Sicard, whose sole happiness it
is to render The poor deaf and dumb hap.
.py!"
This touching language of nature ex-
cited the admiration of all present, and
produced the most lively emotion. Mas
sieu observed this; Immediately he flung
one arm round the neck of Joseph Bona
parie. and the other round Bouilly; and
all three melted into tears. Joseph b.
naparte, who was most aifeGcd, pressed
the amiable pupil of Sicard TO his heart,
and requested his worthy friend to sigpi-
fy TO him, that he would ON the same even.
ing present his letters 10 the CONSUL
and ':,at he could venture 10 promise him
that it would have the wished for eE,eet.
Massieu's hopes were not disappointed !:
the consul ordered Sicard's name to be
erased from the list of the prescribed and
soon after he was restored TO the right
of again giving instructions 10 his pupils.
The 18th of Feb. 1900, wa. the day in
which this good father appeared again in
the midst Of his children. --s
1t was about eleven in the morning al.
ready was the hall appropriated for the
public exercises of the deaf and dumb fill.
ed Nth celebrated men; among whom,
those in particular were observed who de-
dictate their talents and labors TO the in,
struction of youth, and the promotion of
the happiness of the human race. In the
midst of the hall stood the deaf and dumb
pupils, of both sexes and different ages.
| The vivacity of their looks, and the rapi.
dily of their signs, by which they mutual
| ly communicated their sentiments, indica-
ted that this day was the happest of their
life.
The friends Of the venerable proscript,
among whom was likewise the excellent
man who had sheltered him from the storm
OF party rage, entered the hall in crouds ;
and a number of beautiful ladies embel-
Iished the company by the lustre of their
charms.
AT once penetrating cry of Joy es-
capes Masseu every one rises up "a res.
pectinl silence reigns throughout the whole
assembly-Sicarda appears --Massieu is al
ready in his arms-his mouth is Joined
to the mouth of Sicard--his whole soul
seems to be transGused into the soul of
his preceptor-he tak"s him by the hand
and conducts him 10 his chair. Imme.
dia,ely the male pupils rush towards
him. The more adult among them sur
round their adofetl master, press him to
their hearts, and hold. him i'm their arms.
The little ones kiss his hands, cling to
his garment, ard climb to his breast and
his head.-He is covered with the most
affecting signs, with the tears of the adults
and OF the children.
Sicardendeavors 10 speak, but his emoii-
on deptives him of the power of utter
ance. He wishes to communicate to each
OF his pupils what passes in his heart, but
all at once Fix their ewes upon him EN-.
brace him, caress him 10 extend over
them his beneiicent hands, to tell
by signs that he loves them all with the
psternal affection, that he receives them
all into his bosom, is all he has power to
do, all that the blissful intoxicalion of his
soul inspires him with.
AS, however, nothing escapes his pen
etrating glance, he now observed that his
female pupils, restraineJby the bashfuIness
peculiar TO their sex, venture not wholly
to give way to the emotion which eradi.
aies from their eyes, and glows in every
feature of their expressive cDuntenances.
Affected by this struggle of modes,y and
sentiment, he gcss towards them, stops
tor moment, then stretches our his arms,
and receives their caresses with tone
that seems to say" should father blush
to embrace his children :"
While these basfful maidens are eS.
pressing 10 their teacher the 10Y which
his return occasions them, the boys who
have made the greatest progress, ap.
proach the table, and delneatc with let
tiers Of fire, and the rapid. of lightning,
the emotions which animate them. One
ofthem thanks the consul and his brother
for having restored to them the man from
whom they received their moral exist.
ence another describes the anxiety and
melancholy with which they were over.
whelmed during the absence Of their be.
loved preceptor third writes down the
sentences" tina, rirtue and truth sooner
or later will triumph over the articles of
the wicked" Al last Massieu himself
appears at the table, and while he pre-.
sents TO the eyes ofthe admiting spectators
the profoundest truths fthe physical and