Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-11-03

TIE DEAF. Hind. AND DUMB Girl.


TIE DEAF, BLIND. AND DUMB Girl.
A letter from Hart ford, 10 the editor
Of the Boston Transcript, contains the
following reference to = most interest
ing female, Of whom perhaps most of
our readers have heard. How little do
We understand the causes OF happiness.
ar occasion Tor grief; instead Of settir
our hearts upon an unsttainablc object
aud infiicting misery upon ourselves.
and pain on others, on account Of our
disappointment; if we would make the
most OF our present posse ssions, and
blunt the arrows Of adversely by a look
at those even below ourselves. how few
would repine; how many grades are TO
be found between the enjoyments Of
the readers Of this, and those Of Juiia
Brace-who locks not out upon the
beauties Of nature and art. hears no
sound Of delight. no endcsring appel
lation Of friendship or relation. nor can
she utter a single feeling which kind
ness or unkindncss may inspire. Tears
alone are her language they figure
forth oil that she can express of graft
tude or pain.
"Iti is vacation at the Asylum. but
we visited il, and found many Of the
scholars still remaining there; amongst
them Julia Brace, the young woman
who was born and still continues deaf,
dumb, and blind the second instance.
only, Of such dispensation OF Divine
Providence that has ever been record.
al Il al ~. IL
which overpowercd me as gazed upon
this interesting object. Ny feelings
were SO intense, and my thoughts so
completely wrapt in contemplation Of
the apparent misery and forlornness Of
her condition, that ! should have been
compelled TO leave the room, without
an opportunity Of witnessing tho won
derful acuteness other sense Of feeling,
(Which is her only medium Of commu-
nication with external obiects) had no,
some benevolent tears started TO NV
eyes, and relieved me Of the oppres-
sive sensations that tugged at the heart
strings. l would not, fur any consi-
Iteration, have lost this opportunity Of
seeing her, and observing her mode of
intercourse with those around her. I,
IL indeed miraculous, how easily she
communicates her least wants, and
with what readiness she compartments
the purposes and desires of others.
communicated by the touch, and assist.
ed by the various motions of her arms
and fingers. She is perfectly cheerful,
of docile and kind disposition, and is
much loved by her companions, who,
themselves deaf and dumb, seem i'm :
pressed with an extraordinary feeling
of compassion for the poor unfortunate
who suffers under the additional de.
privation Of sight, and has not even the
consolation Of looking abroad into the
world, and witnessing the wonderful
works Of the Creator.,'
RETURN JONATHAN MEIGS-NEw
VERSION.
We know not the writer Of the follow inv coro
nunieston but as he tells rather plausible story
Ne admit him.
Mr.. Smith: In your paper Of yes
terday I saw copied a foolish story
which went the rounds Of the papers
some eight or ten years since, respect
ing the origin of the name Of the former
Post Master General. II is a matter
ot no consequence except so far as il
Is connected with the early history of
the country. The facts are thcse:-
The grandfather of Mr.. Meigs resided
IN Connecticut in the infancy Of that
colony, at which time il is we'll known
that hostile Indians were no curiosity.
His oldest son, named Jonathan, was
carried OF when young by the Indians,
and after an absence Of several years.
his father, despairing Of his return,
named another son Jonathan. In a
few years the first Jonathan was uuex.
pectedlv recovered from the Indians,
and to distinguish him from the young
er he was called Return Jonathan. lie
was q Colonel in the Connecticut line
during the revolutionary war, and was
esteemed a valuable officer. when
the emigration 70 the North Western
Territory commenced. he removed
there and was one Of the first settlers
of Marietta, Ohio; he was living a few
years since, and was employed az In
dian Agent ia one Of the Western Ter.
ritories. The former Post Master
General was his son, and vas named
after him.
These particulars were received Iii
Tectly from X. J. Meigs. by a friend
OF the writer Of this article. ].
VARIETIES.
Itisa great misfortune not to have