American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-07-30

Tor sacred music-and thus every hour was turned
to account. Allan repined not Dow--nay OF times
he felt as if his blindness were a bessing-ior 1t
forced him to trust ohis own soul-to turn Tor COM
fort to the best and purest human affections-and
to see God always.
Whatever misgivings Of mind Allan Bruce might
have experienced whatever Paintings and sicknngs
and deadly swoons of despair might have overcome
his heart, it was not long before he was freedman
from all their slavery. He Was not immured, like
many as worthy as he, in an Asylum; he was not
an ncumbrance upon poor father, sitting idle and
in the way of others, beside i'll fed fire, and a
scanty board; he was not forced to pace step by
step along the lamp lighted streets and squares of
a city forcing out beautiful music to gain few
pieces of coin from passers by, entranced for a
moment by sweet sounds, paintive or jocund; he
was not boy-led beggar along the highway under
the sickning sunshine or the chilling slee with an
AFFECT hat abjecty pro,ruded with a cold heart for
colder charity; but he was, although he humby
elt and acknowledged, that he was in nothing more
worthy than these, man loaded with many bles-
sings, warmed by constant ingle, laughed round
by flock of joyful children, love lighted BY wife,
who was to him at once music and radiance, while
his house stood in the mi die Of village OF which
all the inhabitants were his friends, and of all whose
hands the knock was known when 1t touched his
door and Of all whose voices the tone was felt when
it kindly accosted him in wood. in the field in the
garden, by the river side, by the hospitable board
OF neighbour, or in the church yard assembage
before entering into the house of God
Thus did " ars pass along. Children were born
to then-liyed-were healthy, and we'll behaved
A blessing rested upon them, and all that belonged
10 them, and the name of "Blind Allan carried
with it far and near authority, that could belong
only TO virtue, piety. and faith tried by affection, s.
found to stand fast
,.L. II
and Fanny Raeburn were among the poorest of the
poor, land had 1t pleased God to send sickness among
them, hard had been their lot. But now they lived
in better house-with large garden-and few
fields, with two cows OF their own-Allsn had
workmen under him, basket maker now on a con-
siderable scae-and his wife had her apprentices
too, the best dress maker in all the country round
They we're rich. Their children were at school
and all things, belonging both to outer and inner life
had prospered to their hearts DESIRE. Allan could
walk about many familiar places unattended but
that seldom happened, for while his children were
at school he was engaged in his business; and when
they came home there was always loving contest
among them who should be allowed to take hold of
their fathers hand when he went out on his evening
walk. Well did he know the tread of each loving |
creatures tootstep --thcr very breath when theirI
voices were silent. Ono touch of head as it dan |
ced past him, or remained motonless by his side
me pressure OF an arm upon his knee-one taught
rom corner was enough to tell him which Of his |
hildren was there; and in their most confused
loise and merriment, his ear would have known il
lne romping imp had been away. So perfectly &C
customed had he long been TO his situation, that ii
might almost be said that he was unconscious
ot being blind, or that he had forgotten that his /
eyes once saw. Long had Allan Bruce indeed been
he happlest Of the blind.
Ii CHANGED at this time, that, among party who
we're visiting his straw mandatory, there was al,
surgeon celebrated for his skill in operations upon
he eye, who expressed an opinion that Allans sight
night be at least partially restored, and offered not
'ny TO perform the operation, but il Allan would
esde Tor some weeks in Ednburg, to see him every
lay, till 1t was known whether his case was or was
lot hopeless one. Allans circumstances were
low such as to make few weeks, or even months
confinement of no importance to him; and though
lie said to his wife that he was averse to submit to
IN operation that might disturb the long formed
lulet and contenIment of his mind by hopes never
0 be realized, yet those hopes of once more seeing
heavens dear light, gradually removed all his re-
'ugnance His eyes were couched, and when the
'andagcs were removed, and the soft broken lightlt
ct IN upon him, Allan Bruce was no longer among Il
he number Of the blind.
There was no uncomfortable burst of Joy in III. a
oul OF Allan Bruce when once more communica. q
ION was opened between II and the visible world S
sor ne had learned lessons of Humility and temper c
nee IN all his emotions during ten years of blind 10
Tess, in which the hope Of light too faint to de.
eve the name. He was almost afraid to believe ID
hat his sight was restored Grateful to him was 10
he first uncertain and wavering glimmer, as ale
raught OF water to wretch in crow ed dungeon. C
3ut ne knew not whether it rpen into the per
ect day, or gradually to fade back again into the
ep,h of his former darkness. $
But when his Fanny, she on whom he had so d
owed to look when she was maiden in her teens. b
md who would not foisake him in the first Of mise.
y, OF that great afilc,ion but had been overoyed
o link the sweet freedom of her prime to one Sit |;
ing IN perpetual dark when she now staid and c
ovey ma'ron, stood before him with face pale in
Mss and all drenched in the Aood-lke tears of an n