Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-11-23
Correspondence Of the Charleston Courier.
Flat Rock, N. c..
Oct. 10, 1888. {

Oct 10, 1888.
A Young Lady IN North Caroliaa-Be-
fore leaving Ashville, for this place, made
several interesting excursions from the wi
lage, one or Two of which may furnish ma
terinls for a letter. My first excursion was
TO visit an unfortunate female, in humble
life, residing at distance OF miles from
Ashvlle. utterly destitute Of limbs and COM
posed only of head and trunk Her name
is Ester Massey, and she is one of an ilegit-
male family of eleven children. Her father
has also legitimate wife and family Of ten
children. the two families, with their respec-
tive NATIONS. are said TO meet with cordially.
This singular being was horn in her present
limbless- condition, and has now attained
the age OF % years. Her mother and whole
family o. sesr TO regard her with much
tenderness and alfvc,ion and she appears 10
possess cheerful and happy disposition.
which rer1ers her content with the helpless
and apparently hapless lot, which nature
has awarded her.
Although az c5;ect calculated to excite
the woniier and arouse the sympathies Of
fellow teings, many who enjoy the full pro-
portions of humanity and bountiiul dispen-
salon of the good things Of this life, will
find their ungreateful and guilty repinings
shamcd by the equanimity, and cheerful
spirit of this physically imperfect creature
in the midst of privaiion and poverty.
have already said that she is composed Of a
mere head and trunk This is literally
true. She has no arms and neither legs or
thighs. Her shoulders are rounded off, and
capable OF motion and on them she receives
L - |.
her. She is also able 10 move about on a
level, with kind Of waddling motion Her
usual position is that of sitting or rather
standing upright in a chair, by rocking,
which from side 10 side. she moves al out
with great facility. She is able to read and
for this purpose places the book on her
shoulder, [or which she prefers) on table
before her, and turns over the leaves with
her tongue..-Her health has always been
excellent and her mother says, she has
never had occasion for the services Of a
physician, and although she seldom leaves
the house, and therefore takes but little ex-
cercse, she is now in the finest and most
robust health, and is so fat, that her body
(which Us largely pyoporionedl is rs broad
as it is long Her head is very large, and
her features are also large and somewhat
coatse, vet decidedly gool, and forming a
very agreeable tout ensembie--and her lip
is absolutely pretty and of the richest and
ripest red, In addition TO being socinble
and chaity, and even witty, il is said she
possesses the accomplishment of singing a
very sweet song. She received the party
who visited her in company with myself.
very ufIubly and graciously accepted our
farewell offering. Some years ago, a
Yankee, having met with her, Offered to pur.
chase her Of her mother. for the sum oi
$4,000, as a speculation. This tempting
offer was very credlably refused by the par,
ent---nei,her her poverty nor her will con-
scented TO the traffic.
| a BRAUTIruL ipEA.--Mr. Stephens, in
his incidents Of Travel, mentions that the
tomb stones in The ':'urkish burying ground:
IRE all fat. and contain little hollows which
held The waters aAeI rain. and attract The
birds, siho resort thlhef To- slfgs THEN thirs
,cd ctns, aynNnoot thn tr.,ss Z