Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-29
BY far the most interesting subject at

BY far the most interesting subject at
present IN the institution, is the poor, deaf,
dumb, and blind girl, whose situation has
been described in so beautiful and aflec-
ting a manner by Mrs. SiGouRNEY. A
charity box, the proceeds OF which are
designed exclusively for her support, is
placed at the main entrance, which it is
certain no stranger can pass, after view
ing the utter desolation in which she has
been left by nature, without dropping
his mite. Her name is JULIA BRACE, s.
she is native OF the immediate neigh
borhood of tire Asylum. She is the only
instance of so great misfortune, of which
any record is extant, except, one Euro
pean boy by the name ofJAs. MITCHELL.
He was so irritable, that few experiments
could be tried for his benefit; but Julia
Brace, it is said, has been mild and doc
lie from her childhood; although when l
saw her, from some temporary vexation
or indisposition, she was evidently some
what out of temper She was seated at
the table, her needle work in her lap
tThere is nothing disagrceab'e in her
countenance, but her eyes forever clos
ed, create deficiency Of expression. Her
complexion is fair, her smile gentle and
sweet, tho of rare occurrence; and her
person somewhat bent when sitting, from
her habits of fixed attention to her work.
Many strangers have waited long time
to see her thread her needle, which is
quite my sterous process, and never ac-
complished without the aid other tongue
She was the daughter Of exceedingly
poor parents, who had several younger
children to whom she was in the habit Of
showing such Offices Of kindness as her
afflicted state admitted. Nothwithstand-
ing her blindness, she early evinced a
close observation with regard to articles
of dress, preferring, amung those which
were presented her as gifts, such as were
of the finest texture.
When the weather became cold, she
would occasionally knecl on the floor OF
their humble dwelling, to feel whether
the other children Of the family were fur
nished with shoes and stockings, while
she was without, and would express un-
easiness at the contrast
Seated on her little block, weaving
strips of thin bark with pieces of leather
and thread, which her father, in his pro-
cesses of making shoes, rejected, she a
unused herself in constructing bonnets &
vandykes, not wholly discordant with the
princip pies oftaste. Notwithstanding her
peculiar helplessness, she was occasion
ally left in the care Of the younger chill
dren, while her mother went out to the
occupation of washing. 1t was on such
occasions that little Julia evinced not on
ly maternal solicitude, but skill in do
mestic legislation, which could not have
been nationally expected. On one occa-
sion, she discovered that her sister had
broken piece of crockery, and, imita-
ting what she supposed would be the dis
cipline Of her mother, gave the offender
blow: But, placing her hands upon the
eyes Of the little girl, and asccrtaining
that she wept, she Immediately took her
into her arms, and, with the most pcrse-
vering tenderness, soothed her into good
humor and confidence. Her parents
were at length relieved from the burden
of her maintenance, by some charitable
individuals, who paid the expenses OF her
board with an elderly matron who kept
school for small children. Here her sa-
gacity was continually on the stretch, to
comprehend the nature of their employ
ment, and, as far as possible, to initiate
them. Observing that a great part OF
their time was occupied with books, she
often held one before her sightless eyes,
with long patience. She would also
spread a newspaper for her favorite kit
ten, and putting her fingers on its mouth,
and perceiving that it did not move ike
those ofthc scholars when reading, would
shake the animal to express displeasure
at its incidence and obstinacy. These
circumstances though trifling in them
selves, reveal mind active amid all the
obstacles which nature had interposed.-
But her principal solacc was in the en-
ployment of needle work and knitting,
which she had learned at an early age to
practice. She would thus sit absorbed
for hours; until it became necessary to
urge her to that exercise which ~ regul-
site to health. Countcrpanes beautifully
made by her of small pieces of calico,
were repeatedly disposed Of to aid in the
purchase Of her wardrobe. And small
portions of her work were sent by her