The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-07-03
MISCELLANY.
fFOr the Massachusetts Spy.1
ROMANCE.

failing the particulars Of the highly Interest,"
ing fact Of a person, born blind, receiving his
sight, at twenty years Of age, by the operation.
OF an oculist, DIR. Grant.n However true il
may be that such an operations has been sue
cessfully performed, the circumstances which
are said to have attended ii, are probably alto
gether poettcGt.. The young gentleman and
lady who is one of the actors upon the occa-
SION, are made to discourse so much like the
heroes OF a romance, that we must be excused
for thinking the whole story better adapted to
our poetical department, than to our news
columns.
1t seems that when the operation was COM
pleted, the patient, after surveying for few
moments the objects around him, tainted away
from the excess of feeling which they occa.
stoned.
" On his recovery, he heard the voice
of his dear female friend, which had al
surprising effect upon him. Having
called her to him, he appeared to view
her with admiration and delight. and
then asked her what had been done to,
him? Whittier, said he. am. carried2
Is all this about me the thing which l.
have heard so often of? Is this seeing !?
Were you always thus happy when you
said you were glad, to see each other?'
After a. short time C Dr. Grant'' directed
his eyes to he covered and him to be secluded
IN dark room for afew, days, until they should
acquire sufficient strength to bear the light
The account then proceeds thus -
After several days it was thought
proper to unbind his head; and the
young lady to whom he was attached
was instructed to perform this kind of
flce, in order to endear her still more, to
him by so interesting a circumstance,
and that she might moderate his exta-
cies by the persuasion of voice which
had so much power over him as hers.
ever had. When she began to take the
bandage from. his eyes, she addressed
him as follows -
William, ! am now taking the bind
ing of, in order to give you sight. but
when consider what | am. doing, /
tremble with the apprehension, that,
though | have from my childhood loved
you, dark as you acre, and thought you.
had conceived a strong attachment for
me, yet that you will find that there is
such thing. as beauty, which may en-
snare you into a: thousand passions of
which you are now innocent, and take
you from. me forever But, before |
put myself TO that hazard, tell me in
what manner that love you protested
for me entered your. heart for its, usual
admission is at the eyes"
"The young gentleman answered,
Dear Lydia, il, by seeing amsto loose
the soft paintings which have always
felt when heard your voice-if am
no more to distinguish the steps of her |.
love when. she approaches me, but 10.
change that sweet and frequent pleas.
ure for such an Amusement as I.experi--
enced the little time lately SAVIOR if
have any thing besides which. may
take from me the sense of what appear
ed most pleasing to me at that time,
which apparition it seems was you,l
pull out these eyes before they lead me
to be ungratefnl to you, or undo myself.
wish for them but TO see yo,s-pIuck
thera from their sockets, if they are to
make me forget you.''
All this is vey entertaining, no doubt; and
the publick ought to feel much obliged to the
young lady for taking notes of the speeches.
But the whole story may be found narrated
IN much more appropriate manner, in quar-
to volume, printed in London, between fifty
and sixty years since, entitled 6 EDGE-HILI.,
A Poem, by Richard Jago, AMP 1t israth-
er too long to transcribe, but below are some
extracts. The reader viii easily decide which
story is the best told, and which is the true one.
ATlengthagdin the wish'd-for day arriv'd.
The task was LYDIA?s to unbind, alone,
The silken bandage from his guarded eyes,
Which ere she loos'd, her speech she thus adj
dress'd -
Dear youth, my trembling hands bat Ill
essay
This tender task, and, with unusual fear,
My fiuttring heart forebodes some danger nigh.
"'Tis not for thee, but for myself fear.
,Tis true our breasts with mutual passion beat
But then, alas . It's true thou e'er hast known
Thy LYDIA by that subtle sense, throushwhich
Love chiefly gains passage to the heart
That sense which soon may shew thee many
maid
Fairer than LYDIA, though more faithful none Z.
And may she not cease then to be BELOVED.
May she not soon, ah soon be spurn'd aside
For some new charmer.'
Sand canst thou then, he cry,d.
Want aught that might endear. thee to my
soul
Art thou not excellence
m hat kafpn IN anh 9TH = \