Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-04-15
TIE BLIND GIRL AND HER MO.
Their.

The following thrilling Incident the meet
ing Of u mother aud her chlld-Is from the
recent report by DIR. Howe, Principal of the
Perkins Institution for the Blind at Boston,
concerning LAURA Brldgeham, the deaf, dumb
and blind gIrl, whose only means Of colninu
nlcallOn with objects around her, Is by the
touch, which is remarkably acute:
"Durlng the last year, aud SIX months after
she had left her home, her mother came TO
visit her, aud the scene Of their meeting was
an interesting one.
The mother stood some time, gazing with
over-howIng eyes upon her unfortunate child
who, all unconscious of her presence, was
playing about the room. Presently Laura
ran against her, and at once began feeling
of her hands, examining her dress, and try
ing to find on! if she knew her but not sue
cecdIng here, she turned away as from u
stranger, and the poor woman could not con.
cea The pang she felt that her beloved child
did not know her.
She then gave Laura a string OF beads
which she used to wear at home, which were
recognised by the child at once, who, with
much joy, put them around her neck, aud
sought me eagerly, 10 say she understood
the string was iIoin her home The mother
now ;ricd 10 careSs her but poor Laura re-
peIl' her, preferrIng to be with her acquain-
tances.
Another article from home was now given
her, aud she began to look mach interested |;
she examined Tie stranger much Closer and
gave ne To understand that she knew she
came from Hanover she even endured her
carcssss, but would leave her with lnditfcr-
cnce ut tho slightest slgnal. The dlstrcss of
the mother was now painful to behold Tor
nlthpuuh shp had llnrpu hal gha .hnnld n,,t
be recognised the painful reality Of being
treated with cold Indifference by darling
child, was too much Tor wulnan's nature 10
bear.
After a while, on the mother taking hold
Of her again, u vague idea seemed to fat
across Laura,s MUD, that this could not be
stranger; she therefore felt Of her hands
very eagerly, while her countcnancc assum.
ed an expression Of intense lnterest-she be.
came very pale, aud then suddenly red
hope seemed struggling with doubt and
anxiety, and never were cuntendDg emotions
more strongly painted upon the human face.
At this moment OF uncertainty, the mother
drew her close 10 her side, aud kissed her
iundly, when al once The truth flashed upon
the child, and all mistrust and anxiety dlsap.
peared from her flushed face. as with an ex.
precision oi exceeding joy, she eagerly nestled
~ The bosom OF her parent, and yielded her.
self IT, her lund embraces.
Alier this, the beads were all unhecded !;
the pluytnugs which were offered 10 her
were utterly disrcgarded her playmates. for
whom. but "a moment before she gladly left
tho stranger, now vanity slruve To puil her
from her mulhcr aud though she Yielded
her usual Instantaneous obedience to my s,o
nal tu follow nic, ~ was evidently with pam
iul reluctance. She clung close to me, AS If
bewlldercd md fearful; and when, offer n
nmnirni took her tu her mother she sprung
to her orius aud clung To her with eager Joy
The subsequent parting between Laura
and her mother, showed alike the affection
the intelligence, aud the resolution of the
child. aud was thus noticed at the time.
Laura accompanied her mother 10 the
door, clnglng close to her all the way, IN
w they arrived al the threshold, where she
pnuscd aud felt around to ascertain who was
near her. Percesng the matron, Of whom
shc Is very fond, she graspsd her with ono
hand. holding on convt1sively to hor mother
with Tie other, and thus rhc stood for a mo.
meni.-thcn she dropped her mothers hand
put her handkerchief to her eyes, and
turning round cung sobbing to the ms,ron
While her mother departed with emotions a-
deep as iI,Ose VI he: child"