Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-11-10
From the National Gazette.
JULIA Bruce;
DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND GIRL:
AT THE HARTFORD ASYLUM.

scribeu IN so beautiful and affecting manner
By Mrs. Sogourney. A charity box, the pro.
! ceeds Of which are designed exclusively for
her support, is placed at the main entrnnce.
which IT is certain no stranger can pass, az
ter viewing the utter desolation in which she
has been left by nature, without dropping his
mite. Her name is Julia Brace, and she is a
| native Of the immediate neighborhood of the
| asylum. She is the only instance of so great
| misfortune, Of which any record is extant,
except one European boy, by the name of
James Mitchell. He was so irritable that
| few experiments could be tried for his benefit:
but julia Brace, il is said, has been mild and
dscile from her childhood; although when
saw her, frem some temporary vexation or
indisposition, she was evidently somewhat
| out OF temper. She was seated at a table, her
needle work in her lap "There is nothing
disagrecabie Ia her countenance, but her eyes.
forever closed, create deficiency of express
sion Her complexion is fair, her smile gen
tie and sweet, though of rare occurrence; and
her person somewhat bent, when sitting, FROM
her habits of fixed attention to her work.
Many strangers have waited 4 long time to
see her thread her needle, which Is quite a
mysterious process, and never accompllsbeci
without the aid of the tongue +"
She was the daughter OF exceeding poor
| parents, who had several younger chllJrea,
! to whom she was in the habit of showing such
| Offices Of kindness as her own afflicted state
admitted. Notwithstanding her blndne IS,
she early evinced close observation with re
gard 10 articles Of dress, preferring among
those which were presented her as gifts, such
as were OF the finest texture. When the
weather became cold, she would occasionally
I'm fha IF ~.
TO feel whether the other children OF The fam
| Ny were furnished with shoes ana stockings
while she was without, and would express
| uneasiness at the contrast
| Seated On her little block, weaving stripes
OF thin bark with pieces Of leather aud thread,
which her father in his processes of makir .
shoes rejected, she amused herself in con
str1cting Tor her cot bouaets ans vandyIles
! not wholly discordant with The principles OF
! taste. Notwithstanding her pecuj,r help
lessness, she was occasionally left with the
care OF the young children, while her mother
| went out to the occupation of washing. Ii
| was on such occasions, that little Julia evin-
ced not only maternal solictude, but skill
an domestic Legislation, which could not have
, been nationally expected On one occasion
I sac discovered that her sister had broken a
piece OF crockery, and initiating what she
supposed would be the discipline of her mo-
( ther gave the offender blow.
I But placing her hand upon the eyes OF the
little gifI, and ascertaining that she wept, she
! immediately took her into her arms, and with
the most Perseverlng tenderness, soo,hed her
into good humour and confidence Tier pa
rents were at length relieved from the bur
den oil her maintenance by some charitable
| individuals who paid the expenses OF her
board with an elderly matron who kept school
| Tor small children. Here her sagaci,y was
continually on the stretch TO compreh bend the
nature OF their emplot ment, and as far as
! possible to initiate them. Observing that a
great part Of their time was occupied with
I books, she often held one before her s,ghtiess
eyes with long patience She would also
spread newspaper for her iaFour,te kitten,
and putting her finger on its mouth, and per
ceivIng that it did not move like those OF the
scholars when reading would shake the ami
NAL TO express disp'easure at lis Incidence
and obstinacy Observation-Disclosures though
triillng in themselves, reveal mind active
amid all the obstacles which nature bad In-
terposed But her principle solaee was in the
employment OF needle work and knitting,
which she had learned at an early age to
tpractice. She would thus sit absorbed for
hours. until 1t became necessary TO urge her
TO that exercise which is requisite TO health.
Counterpanes beautifully made by her OF
small pieces OF calico, were repeatedly dis
posed OF, to aid IN the purchase Of her ward
robe. And small portions Of her work were
sent by her beneiactors as presents into vari-
Gus parts of the Union, TO shew of what neat.
ness OF execution blind girl was capable.
| IL was occasionally the practice Of gentle
men, who, from pity or curiosity visited her
to make trial OF her sagacity, by giving her
their watches and employing her 10 restore
them to their right owner
They would change their position with re
gard to her, and each strive to take the watch
which did not belong TO him--but though she
might at the same time hold two or three,
neither stratagem nor persuasion would in
duce her to yield either of them, except to
the person from whom she had received it.
There seemed to be principle in the tenaci
give every one his own, which may probably
be resolved into that moral honesty which
has ever formed a conspicuous part of her
character. Though nurtured Ia extreme 20
verify, and after her removal from the pater
nal roof, in the constant habit of being IN con
tact with articles OF dress or food, which
strongly tempted her desires, she has never
been known to appropriate TO herself, With
out permission, the most tIIflIng object. La
a well educated child this would be no re
markable virtue; but in enc who had the ben
eft OF no moral training TO teach her to re
spect the rights of property, and whose per
,