Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-11-17

like dead, the capabilities both of
touch and smeNarc exceedingly height
cned. Especially the latter seems al.
most to have acquired the properties Of
new sense. and to transcend even
the sagacity of q spaniel. Yet keep.
ing in view oil the aid which these
limited faculties have the power Of
impar,ing. sOme Of the disco. cries aud
exercises Of her intellect arc still, in q
measure. unaccountable.
As the abodcs which from her earli-
est recollection she had inha bited, were
circu'nscribed and humble, IL was sun.
posed that at her first reception into
the asylum, she would testify surprise
at the comparative spaciousness of the
mansion. But she Immediately busted
herself IN quietly exploring the size Of
The apartments. and the height Of the
staircase she even knelt anil smelied
to the threshold and now as If bv the
union OF a mysterious geometry with
a powerful memory, never makes
false step upon a flight Of stairs, or
enters wrong door, or mistakes her
seat at the table.
Among her various exceilencies,
neatness and love of order are con
spicuous. Her simple wardrobe is sys-
iematically arranged, and il i. impos-
sibie to Misplace a single article in her
drawers without her percei,ing and re
storing II. When the large baskets of
clean linen are weekly brought from
the laundress, she selects her own gar
ments without hesitation, however
widely they may be dispersed among
the mass. II any part of her dress
requires mending. she is prompt and
skillful in repairing it, and her perse-
verance IN this branch Of economy
greatly diminishes the expense Of her
clothing.
Since her residence at the asylum,
the donations Of charitable visitants
have been considerable in amount
These are deposited in q box with an
inscription, and she has been made to
understand that the contents are de-
voted to her benefit. This box she
frequently pOises in her hand, and ex-
presses pleasure when it testifies an
increase OF weight for she has long
since ascertained that money is the
medium for the supply Of her wants.
and attaches to II a propOrtionable
value.
Though her habits are peculiarly
regular and consistent, vet occasional
ly some action occurs which il 10 diff.
ficult to explain. One morning, during
the past summer, while employed with
her needle, she found herself incom.
nodded by the warmth Of the sun. She
arose, opened the window, closed the
blind, and again resumed her work.
At the tea table With the whole fami-
ly. on her sending q cup TO be 70.
plenished,one was accidentally return
ed to her which had been used by q
mother person. This she perceived at
the moment Of her taxing it into her
hand, and pushed it from her with
some slight appearance of disgust, as
If her sense of propriety had not been
regarded. There was not the slight
est difference in the cups. and in this
instance she seems endowed with n
degree OF penetration not possessed by
those IN the full enjoyment Of sight.
Persons most intimately acquainted
with her habits assert that she con-
stantly regards the recurrence of the
Sabbath, and composes herself TO IN.
usual quietness. as If in meditation. -
Her needlework, from which she will
not be debarred on other DAYS, she
never attempts 70 resort to aud this
wholly without influence from those a.
round her.
Julia Brace lives a life of perfect
contentmcnt-and is in this respect,
both an example and reproof 10 those
who for trifiing Inconvenience, indulge
in repining. though surrounded by al
the gifts of nature and Of fortune.
The genial influences Of spring wake
her lone heart 20 gladness-and she
gathers the first flowers, anal even the
young blades Of grass, ard inhaIes
their freshness with a delight border
ing OH transport Sometimes, when
apparently in deep thought, she is oh.
served to burst into laughter, as If her
associations al ideas we're favorable
not only to chrcffulness, but &c mirth.
The society Of her female companions
At the asylum - soothing % her feel.
Iugs; and their habhual kiud Offices.
the guiding Of her arm ~ her walks,
or the afiectionatc pressure oG their
hand, awaken IN her demonstrations Of
gratitude and friendship. Not long
since. one Of the pupils was siok-but
Il was not supposed that AMID tie rnul-
titude who surrounded her. the blind
girl was conscious Of the absence Of a
single individual a physician was
called, and the superintendent of the
femsieideparimcut, who has acquired
great penetration into the idioms 81
JulIa's character, and her modes OF
| communication. inaIs ler nndrr.iani