Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1840-05-16

Gle OF dress, she IS particularly desrouS to go to
meeting or 10 go out with it. If people do not
notice it, she directs their attention placing their
hand upon it.
She seems TO have perception of character, and
to have no esteem for those who have little intel
lect. The following anecdote is significant of her
perception af character, and shows that from her
friends she requires something more than good-na-
tured indulgence
new scholar entered school-a little girl about
Lauras age, She was very helpless, and Laura
took greatpride and great pains in showing her the
way about the house, assisting her to dress and
undress, and doing for her many things which she
could not do herself.
In few weeks it began to he apparent even to
Laura. that the child was not only helpless, but
naturally very stupid, being almost idiot. Then
Laura give her up in despair and avoided her, and
has ever since had an aversion to being with her,
passing by her as if in contempt BY natural as
sociaton of ideas she attributes to this child all
those countless deeds which MIR. Nobody does in
every house-ifa chair is broken or any thing mis-
placed and no one knows who die it, Laura attrib-
utes it at once to this child
With regard to the sense OF touch it is very
acute, even for a blind person. 1t is shown re-
markably in the readiness with which she distin-
gulshes persons there forty inmates in the fe-
male wing, with all Of whom, of course, Laura is
acquainted; whenever she is walking through the
passage way, she perceives by the jar of the floor
or the agitation of the air. that some one is near
her, and it is exceedingly difficult to pass her with
out being recognized. Her little arms are stretched
out, and the instant she grasps hand sleeve, or
even part of the dress, she knows the person and
lets them pass on with some sign of recognition
The innate desire for knowledge, and the in
stlnctive efforts which the human faculties make to
exercise their functions, is shown most remarka-
bly, in Laura. Her tiny fingers are to her as eyes
and ears and nose, and most deity and necessarily
does she keep them in motion; like feeleTs of some
insects which are continually agitated, and which
touch every grain of sand in the path so Laura's
arms and hands are continually in play; and when
she is walking with person she not only recog-
nlzes every thing she passes within touching dis
tance, but by continually touching her companion
hands she ascertains what he is doing. A person
walking across the room while she had hold on his
left arm, would find it hard 10 take pencil out OF
his waistcoat pocket with his right hand without
her perceivng it.
Her Judgment of distances and of relations oi
place is very accurate she will rise from her seat
go straight towards the door, put out her hand
Just at the right time, and grasp the handle witt,
precision.
The constant and tireIess exercise of her feeers
give her very accurate knowledge of every thing
about the house; so that if new article, bundle
bandbox, or even a new book is laid any where in
the apartment which she fIequents it would be but
short time before in her ceaseless rounds she
would find it, and from something about it she
would generally discover to whom It belonged
Attable, iftold to be still, she sits and conducts
herself with propriety handles her cup, spoon, and
fork like other children that stranger looking
at her would take her for a very pretty child with
green ribbon over her eyes.
But when at liberty to do as she chooses, she is
continually feeling things and ascertaining their
size, shape, destiny, and use-asking their names
and their purposes, going on with Unsuitable curl
osity, step by step, towards knowledge.
Thus doth her active mind, though all silent and
darkling within, commune by means of her one
sense with things external, and crafty its innate
craving for knowledge by close and ceaseless at
tention.
Qualities and appearances, unappreciable or un-
needed by others, are to her of great significance
and value; and by means of these her knowledge
of external nature and physical relations will in
time become extensive"