The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-23

lamp which wns never more to be lighted
Tor my child. The morrow WINS dreadful
day To me; A lphopsine cried almost con-
iinual'y, and her cries pierced my heart,
Tor supposed they must he caused by the
darkness. ! walked with her in nv arms
for hours.-From this sad day my unfur,n-
nate child, till she wns old enough to begin
To speak, fretted almost necessarily; hay-
ing no exterior objects to attn ct her a,ien-
ton and nothing To amuse her. However,
her health WAS good she was fat, and fed
and slept perfectly WELL Leonora always
put n bottle of milk in the basket.
For my part, l soon learned To wash and
dress her nearly as well in the dark MS in
the light. TO make my oil last ms long as
possible, ! only lighted my lamp for about
two hours every evening, after l had put
Aiphonsine to bed, aud | ,hen occupied my
self most indus,riously in sewing for her or
IN washing her clothes. l had obtained
from Leonora some soap which l used
very economically; did all these things
IN the cavern of the fountain, thai might
have the convenience Of the water. Before
! exlingu'shed the lamp, arranged in a
basket whatever things ! should want for
the next day, and then l returned in the
dark to my chamber and m, sleeping child.
and went to bed for the night: having
placed my basket on the table by the bed
side.
Time passed sadly on, and it was uow
four months since had seen my daughter.
! could not look nj her while she slept, lest
the light Of the lamp should awaken her,
My desire 10 see her was so great that I
determiprd one night when put her to
bed, to tie n bandage over her eyes. When
she had been asleep for some time I LIGHT
ed my lamp, and trembling with Joy and
tenderness, ! approached the bed. nnd fell
on my knees beside it. ! placed the light
on the table, and fixed my eyes on the
only object Of my affection. The bandagc
concealed too much of her dear little face
herseyes, her eyebrows, par, of her fore
head, and part Of her nose, were hidden.
But all that saw was beautiful. l could
gaze on her cheeks fresh ms rnses, her
sweet month, her white neck, and her
plump and dinplcd hands and feet. = con-
,inucd to look at her for more than an hour
and then cxtinguished the lamp with sigh
How happy ! Tas when she cut her first
teeth, (Which she did with unusual ease, }
aud when she began TO return my kisses
and cnresses. She attempted to speak very
enrly, for there was nothing to district her
attention, when J took pains to teach her
the words wished her 10 sny. How can
describe what felt when one morr,itg
ms held her in my arms, heard her ar
tculnle distinctly tho words Z" My God"
4 . tv,ah IN tb. II Il
She was but ten months old. She spoke,
and her first words were addressed to her
Creator. clasped her closely To my boz
som ! fell on my knees, and / prayed
mentally, but could not then join MY
voice to that Of this innocent child. Twice
she rcpcased these words; and il seemed
as if this pure and spo,ess infant wns invo-
king for her mother and herself, the COM
passion Of the Almighty.
After she had rendered 10 her Maker
the homage Of her first accents, taught
she pronounced the word distinctly.
She now seldom cried she showed much
intelligence, and conlrived various means
Of amusing her. knew always when she
was wenry, for then she gave gentle sigh,
and let her head fall on my bosom; but "a
kiss was sufficient To revive her.
She wns eleven months old, and never
heard her laugh. Perhaps she often sni-
led, but alas ] could not know il. Azor
having broken his collar, which wns Of siI.
yer, aud had three bells attached To it. ]
made pIuylhing Off for Al lphohsihe, fix
ing il so that il could not hur, her. This
little conirivnnce procured me the pleasure
pf hearing her laugh for The first time. But
great as was my joy, started and wept, 10
think how strange was the sound Of laugh
ter in this dismal place. Next day ssked
Lconorn for dozen little bells, which ar
ranged around an ivory pencil-cnsc, aud this
little playlbng made my poor Alphonsine
happy.
found it difficult 10 teach my child to
walk in utter darkness. She was very tim
id, and it was long before she ventured to.
take step without holding my hand, md
if her foot FILTERED she would start aud
catch by my dress.
When her first birthday arrived, | pass
ed as much time as | could spare from my
daughter in prayer, in The oraiory. In the
morning had given Alphonsine a Iiille
fan, which seemed To charm her. She was
delighted when famed her face having
never before felt any fresh air, but the lit
tie that came through The creyiccs Of The
rock, at the fountain. She kissed aud en-
braced the hundred times; then PIT the
fan into her own hands, and showed her
how TO use it, and for long while it was
her favoritc amusement.
Tint night intended TO Indulge my
self with sigh, of my Alphonsine. But
when was tying on the Landsge before /
put her 10 bed, heard her cry. thought
il barbarous to draw a single tear from her
10 procure myself any qualification, how
ever great, and TOOK off the bandagc and
laid her down In the bed bu, she still cri-
ed, and found !, diffical, to pseify her.