Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-27

attention to her work. Many strangers have wait !
cd for along time see her thread her needle, ,
which is quite mysterious process, and ac-
complishcd without the aid of tho tongue.
Sho tho daughter Of exceedingly poor pa-
rents, who had several younger children, TO whom
she in the habit of showing such offices OF
kindness her afflicted state admitted. Not
withst0ndpg her blindness, she early svlnc"d
c. &c observation with regard 10 a-t;cos Of dress.
| preierring among those which presented hec
| as gifts, such were of the finest texture. When
tho weather became cold, she would occasionally
kneci on tho floor OF their humble dwelling, to feel
whether tho other children had shoes and stock
'ngs, wh.c sh, without, and would express un-
cas- ness at tho con ros
Scared .cr iiltlc block weaving strips Of thin
bark, with pieces of athcr and thread, which her
.athor, iii his process of making shoes rejected she
amused herself by constructing for her cat honncts
and vandykes, not wholly discordant with tho prin-
cplcs Of taso. Notw .thstanding her peculiar
hclplcssncss, sho was occasionally left with the
care Of the young children, whiio hcr mother went
out to the occupation of washing. TWAS such
occasions that little Julia cvncci not only mater
nal soliciudo, but skill in domestic legislation
which could not have been nationally expected. On
ono occasion she discovered that hcr sisters had
broken piece of crockcry, and initiating what she
supposed would be the discipline Of their mother,
gave the offender blow. But placing her hand
upon the eyes OF the little girl, and aiming that
she wcp, she immediately took her in her arms.
an "a ~ most pcracvcring tenderness soothcd her
! gao" good '.snior and confidence.
/ he burden OF rel maintenance, by some char
stable 'na..ljy,is, who Paid tho expenses of her
board il ar elderly matron, who kept a school
: 70 me s.!u-cn. Hero her e,gacity Wis continu-
ally or j. fetch to ascertain the nature of their
employ .rr-, and, as far possible, to initiate
Them Observing that great part of their time
was occupied with books sl,o often held before
her slightlc's eyes with long patience. She would
also spread newspaper for her ftvoritc kitten, and
putting her finger its mouth, and pcrccving
that it dill not like those of the other scholars
when reading, would shake the animal TO cxrrnss
disPc 1surc at its Incidence and ohsinacy- These
circumstances, though triGing in themselves,
veal mind active amidst all the obstacles which
na'uro had intcrposcd But her rrincip. solacc
was IN the cmp'oymcnts OF nccdlu- york and knit
! ting, which rio had learned al early aye 10
Practise. she would thus sit absorbed for hours,
until ithecane necessary to urge her 10 that cxcr-
ciso that is requisite to health Couu.rrpanos boa
tituily made by hcr Of small pieces Of calico we're
repe redIy disposed Of, To aid in the purchase OF her
wardrobe. And SNAIL! portions of her wor.; have
been sent by her toncfacfors, presents. into VA
rious pats Of the Union, show of what ncatncss
of execution hliuG girl vas capaha.
! IT vas occasionally tho pract.c, of gentlemen
VITO, tom niiy curiosity visited ccr to make
tfial OF her 7gacity by giving her their watches
AID employing her TO restore them To The right
owner: They woad change their positions with
regard 70 her, and each strive 10 take tho watch
which did not belong to him; but though she might
at the same time hold two three, neither srata-
aom or persuasion would induce her to Weld al
th'r OF thom, except to the person from whom
7ie had received ii. rharo seemed to he prin-
ciple IN tic tcRac!ty with Which she adhered to
this system to give every ono his own, which may
probably be resolved into that moral honesty which
has over formed conspicuous part of her character
rho nnrnrcd in extreme poverty, and, after her
| removal from the parental roof, in the constant
habit of being in contact with articles Of dress
which strongly tempted her desires, she has he.
yer bccn known 10 appropriate 10 herself, without
PERMISSION the most trifg object. In a we'll elu-
! IN
| but in one who has had the benefit of no moral
training to teach her to respect the right of pro
perry, and whose perfect blindness mrst often re-
der 1t difficult even TO define them, the incorrupt
bic iTFmncss OF TINS innate principle lis truly lauda
bic: There is also connected with it. delicacy
oftcelng, or scruPulousnoss o. conscience, which
renders necessary in presenting her any giit to
assure her repeatedly by sign, which she under
accept ;t.
Application was made for her admission INTO
tho Asylum; and permission accorded by the d.
rectOrs in 1925.
| AS TIC abOdcs which from her earliest rccollcc
toa she had inhabited were circumscribcd and
humble, 1t was supposed that at her first reception
INTO the Asylum she would testify surprise at tho
SPaciousncss of the mansion nut shc imncdia G.
ly bascd herself in quietly dnp!oring the size of
the apartments, and the height of the star-cases;
she even knet and sncllcd TO the thresholds: and
now, as It by the union Of mysterious geometry
with powerful memory, never makes false step
upon z :GhI OIL Stars, or enters wrong door,
mistakes her scat al the table.
Among her various cxceIlencics ncatncss and
love OF order are conspicuous. Her simple ward
robe Is systematically arranged and it is impossi
bic to dsplacc single article in her drawers, With
oGt hes pcrccIvInG and restoring it. When the
largo baskets Of clean linen are weekly brought
from tho Iaundrcss, she selects her own garments
without hesitation, however widely they may be
dispersed among the mass If any part OF her dress
requires mending, she is prompt and skilcul in re-
pairing it, and her perseverance, IN that branch of
economy greatly dminislics the expenses of her
clothing.
Since her residence al the Asylum the donations
OF charitable ysitants have been considerable in
amount. These are deposited in box with an in
scriPtlon, and she has been made to understand
that the contents devoted ic her benefit. This
hox she frequently po:scs in her hand, and express
cS pleasure when /, tcstitics an increase of weight
tor she has long since asccraincd that money was
the medium for the supply of her wants, and at
tachos to it a proPortionatc value
Though her habits peculiarly regular and
consistent, yet occasionally action occurs
which it is difficult to explain. One morning du-
ring the past summer, lille employed with her
needle, she found herself inconmoie1 by the heat
| of the She arose, opened the window
closed the blind, and again resumed her work.
AZ the tea-tablc with the whole family, on
sending her cup TO he replen;.hed, one was acct
dcntally returned to her, which had been used by
another person. This she perceived at the moment
OF taknglt into her hand, and pushed it from her
with some slight appearance OF disgust, IT her
sense Of propricty had not been regarded. There
was not the slightest difference in the cups and
IN this instance she seems endowed with a degree
oil penetration not possessed hy lEU e in the full