The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-03-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE BLIND GIRL AND HER MoTHI


THE BLIND GIRL AND HER MoTHLR.
The following thrilling iucidsnt-'he
meeting Of a mother and her child-ls from
the recent report by DR.. Howe, Principal
OF the Perkins Institution for the Blind at
Boston, concerning Laura Bridgeman, the
deaf, dumb and b.ind girl, whose only
means of communication with objects
around her is BY The touch, which is re.
markably acute:
"During the last year, and six months
after she had left her home, her mother
came TO visit her, and the scene of their
meeting was an interesting one.
The mother stood some time, gazing
with oyerdowing eyes upon her unfortunate
Child, who, all unconscious Of her pres.
ence. was playing abou, the room. Pres.
emily Laura ran against her, and a: once
began feeling of her hands, examining her
dress, and trying to find out If she knew
her; but not succeeding here, she turned
away, as from a stranger, and the poor
woman could not conceal 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,
and sought meagerIy, to say she understood
the string was from her home.
The mother now tried to caress her; but
poor Laura repealed her, prelerring TO dc
with her acquaintance.
Another article from home gas now Civ.
en- her, and she began to look much inter
es,ed; she examined the stranger much
closer, aud gave me to understand that she
came from Hanover she even endured her
cs1esses, bat would leave her with indider.
encs at the slightest signal. The distres:
Of the mother vas now painful to behold
for although she had feared that she should
not be recognized, the painful reality o
being treated with cold indifference by
darling child. was too much for yoman's ma
tuTe to bear.
After a while, on the mothers taIln.
hold On her sgaiD, vague idea seemed L
dit across Laura's mind, that this could no
be stranger; she therefore felt Of he
bands very eagerly, while her countenane'
assumed an expression Of intense interest
she became very pale, and then suddenly
red--hope seemed struggling with doub
and anxiety, aud never were contendins
emotions more strongly painted upon the
human face. At that moment of painful
uncertainty, The mother drew Der close &c
her side, and kissed her fondly, when al
once the truth flashed upon the child, and
all mistrus. and anxiety disappeared from
her flushed face, as with an expression o.
exceeding JOY, she eagerly nestled in the
bosom Of her parent, and yielded herself tc
Der fond embraces.
After this, tho beads were all UNDECIDED
the plsylhings which we're offered to he,
were utterly disregarded; her playmates
for ghom, but moment before, she gladly
left the stranger, now vainly s,rose to pull
her from her mother: and though she yiel
ded her usual instantaneous obedience "a
my signal TO follow me, il vas evidently
with painful reluctance. She chung close
10 me, as il bewildered and fearful and
when, after a moment, took her TO her
mother, she spfang to her arms, and clung
10 her with eager Joy.
had watched the whole scene with in.
tense interest, being DESTROYS Of learning
from it all ! could Of the workings Of her
mind, but now left them 10 indulge, unob.
served, those delicious feelings, which those
who have known mothers love moy con
ceise, but which canDo, be expressed"
The subsequent parting between Laura
and Der mother. showed alike the affection
the intelligence and the resolution Of the
child. and was thus noticed at The time:
Laura accompanied her mothes TO the
door, clinging close to her all the way, ut.
I'll they arrived at the threshold, where she