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

er blow.
But placing her hands pom the ewes
OF tine little girl, and ascer,aining that
she wept. she Immediately took her in
her arms, and with the most pcrscyer-
ing tenderness, soothed her into good
humor and confidence. Her parents
were at length relieved from the bur
den OF her maintenance by some
charitable individuals. who paid the ex-
penses OF her board with an elderly
matron who kept a school for small
children. Here her sagaciiy was con-
tnually on the stretch To comprehend
the nature of their employment, and
as Tar Is possible TO initiate them. Oh
serving that great part of their time
was occupied with books, she often
held one before her sightless eve with
long patience. She would also spread
q newspaper for her favorite kitten,
and putting her finger on its mouth,
and perceiv,ng that il did no, move
like those Of the scholars when reading,
would shake the animal to express dis.
pleasure AT ITS Incidence and obsti.
macy. These circumstances. though
triffing in themselves, reveal a mind
active amid all the obstacles which ma
ture had interposed. Bu, her princi.
pa so'ace was IN the employment of
nee die work aud knitting, which she
had learned at an early age to practice.
She would thus sit absorbed for hours.
until II became necessary to urge her
to that exercise which is requisite to
health. Counterpancs beautiful, made
by her Of small pieces Of calico. were
repeatedly disposed of. TO aid 10 the
purchase OF her wardrobe. And small
portions OF her work were sent by her
benefsctors rs presents into various
parts of the Union to shew of what
neatness Of execution blind girl was
capable.
IL was occasionally the practice Of
gentlemen, who. from pity or curiosi-
~ visited her. to make trial of her So
gacity. by giving her their watches
and employing her TO restore them to
their right owner.
They would change their position
with regard to her. and eac h striving 10
take that which did not belong to him !;
but though she might At the same time
hold two or three, neither stratagem or
persuasion would induce her to WELD
either Of them, except to the person
from whom she had received it. There
seemed to be principle in the tcnacity
with which she adhered to this So stem
to give every one his own. which may
probably be resolved into that moral
honesty which has ever formed a con-
spicuous part Of her character. Tho
nurtured in extreme poverty. and after
her removal from thu parental roof, in
the constant habit of being in csntact
with articles of dress or food, which
strongly tempted her desires. she has
never been known to appropriate to
herself. without permission. the most
thrilling object. In a we'll educated
child this would be no remarkable vir.
tue; but in one who has had the benefit
OF no moral training TO teach her to
respect the rights Of property. and
whose perfect blindness must often
render il Difficult: even to define them,
the incorruptible firinness of this in
nate principle is truly laudable. There
is also connected with il o delicacy Of
feeling or scrupulousness of conscience
which renders IL necessary in present
ing her any gift, to assure her repeat
edly by a sign which she understands,
that il is for her, ere she will consent
to accept il.
Continuing TO become an object OF
increased attention, and her more. re
mote situation not being convenient
Tor the access OF strangers. application
was made for her admission into the
asylum. and permission was granted
by the Directors in the summer OF
1925. After her reception into that
peaceful refuge. some attempts were
made by a benevolent instructor 10
teach her the alphabet, by means Of
letters both raised above aud indented
beneath smooth surface. But il was
IN vain that she punctually repaired tO
the school room. and daily devoted an
hour TO copying their forms with pins
upon a cushion. However accurate her
delincatIons sometimes were. they con
yeyed 40 idea 10 the mind sitting IN
darkness. IL Was therefore DEEMED
wiser 10 cOnfine her attention 20 those
few attalnmcnis which were within her
sphere, than TO open warfare with
Nature ~ those avenues which she
had so decidedly sealed.
Y Il has been observed Of persons who
are deprived of particular sense, that
additional quiekness OF yigor is be.
slowed on those which remain. Thus
blind persons are often distinguished
by particular exquisitsncss 81 touch.
aud the deaf and dumb. who gain al
their knowledge through the eve. con
cenirate, as ~ were, their whole soul
IN that channel Of observation. With
her, whOse eve, ear and tongue arc a.