The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-07

ing their forms with pins upon cushion
However accurate her delineations some
times were, they conveyed no idea to tn
mlnd sitting III darkness. 1t was Therefore
deeme'l wiser to confne her attention {,
those few attalnments which were within
her sphere, than to open a warfare with ma
ture to those avenues which she had so de
cldedly sealed.
1t has been observed of persons who ar
deprived OF particular sense. that add
iional qnickness or yigor is bestowed O,
those which remain. Thus blind persons
are often distinguished by particular OK
qulsteness Of touch, and the deaf an,
dumb, who gain all their knowledge through
the eye, concentrate, rs it were, their whole
soul in that channel of observation. Witt
her, whose eye, ear and tongue are alik,
dead, the capabilities both of touch an,
smell are exceedingly heightened. Espe
cIaily the latter seems almost TO have ac
CURED the properties of new sense. an,
to transcend even the sagacity of span
lei. Yet Keeping in view all the aid whic!
these limited faculties have, the power O
lmpartlng some of her discoveries and ex
etclse OF her intellect are still, in meas
ure, unaccountahle.
40 NV ubp'Fto WHICH iION teT carries
recollection she had inhabited. were cir
cumscribcd and humble, it was suppose,
that at her first reception into the ASYLUM
she would testify surprise at the compare
tive spaciousness of the mansion. But she
immediately busted herself in quietly ex
ploring the size of the apartments, and the
height Of the stair-cases; she even knelt
and smelled to the thresholds and now as
if by the union of mysterious geometry
with powerful memory never makes false
step upon flight of stairs, or enters wrong
door, or mistakes her seat at the table.
Among her various excellencies, neat
ness, and love of order are conspicuous
Her simple wardrobe is Systematically ar
ranged, and 1t is impossible to displace IA
single article in her drawers without her
percelving and restoring it. When the
large baskets Of clean linen are weekly
brought iIon the laundress, she selects her
own garments without hesitation, however
widely they may be dispersed among the
mass. If any part of her dress requires
mendlng, she IS prompt and skiltul in re-
pairing 1t, and her perseverance in this
branch OF economy, greatly dlminshes the
expense of her clothing.
Since her residence at the asylum, the
donations Of charitable visitants have been
considerable in amount. These are de-
posted in box with an inscription, and
she has been made TO understand that the
contents are devoted to her benefit. This
box she frequently polses in her hand
and expresses pleasure when it tetifies an
increase of weight; for she has long since
Rscertaned that money is the medium for
the supply of her wants, and attaches to it
ii proportionabie value.
Though her habits are peculiarly regu-
lar and consistent, vet occasionally some
action occurs which it is difficult to ex-
plain. One morning, during the past sum
Iner, while employed with her needle, she
found herself incommoded by the warmth
Of the sun. She arose, opened the win
dow, closed the blind, and again resumed
her work.
At the table with the whole family, on
her sending n cup to be Ieplenished, one
was accidentally returned to her which had
been used by another person. This she
perceived at the moment of taking it into
her hand, and pushed it from her with some
slight appearance of disgust, as if her sense
OF preprlety had not been regarded. There
was not the slightest difference in the cups
and in this instance she seems endowed
with degree of penetration not possessed
by those in the full enjoyment of sight.
Persons most intimately acquainted with
her habits, assert that she constantly re-
CARDS the recurrence of the Sabbath, and
romposes herself to unusual quietness as
If in meditation. Her needle-work. from
which she will not he debarred on other
days, she never attempts to resort to; and
this wholly without influence from those
around her.
Julia Brace leads life of perfect con-
tentment-and is in this respect, both an
example and reproof TO those who for tr-
ling inconvenience indulge in repining,
though surrounded by all the gifts of ma
ture and fortune.
The genial influences Of spring wake her
lone heart to gladness,-and she gathers
the first flowers, and even the young blades
OF grass, and inhales their freshness with
delight bordering on transport Some
times, when apparently in deep thought,
she Is observed to burst into laughter, as if
her associations of ideas were favorable
not only to cheerfulness but to mirth. The
society of her female companions at the
Asylum is soothing to her feelings; and
their habitual kind Offices, the guiding Of
their arm in her walks, or the affectionate
pressure of their hand, awaken in her de-
monstrations of gratitude and friendship
Not long since, one.ef the pupils was sick
hut it was not supposed that amid the null
titude who surrounded her, the blind girl
was conscious of the absence of single
individual A physician was called, and
The superintendent of the female depart
ment, who has acquired great penetration
in the idioms Of Julia's character, and her
modes of communication, made her under
stand his profession by pressing finger on
her pulse. She Immediately arose, and
taking his hand, led him with urgent soc-
itude Of friendship, to the side of the in
valid, and placing his hand upon her pulse,
displayed an affecting confidence in his
power of healing. AS she has herself new
er been sick since early childhood, ii is the
more surprising that she should so readily
comprehend the efficacy and benevolence
ct the medical profession.
From The Journal of Education.
JULIA BRACE. The privaiion Of hearing,
and the CONSIGNMENT losS f,f snsecb lie felt Ia