Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
DIR. wADDELL THE "BIIND PREACHER

IN w ADDElAlI, lie " BlIIN - PkEACIi ER."
The following interesting communication was
addressed to the Hon. William Writ author of the
British Spy" by descendant of the "Blnd
Preacher" 1t was originally designed for a pr-
vate document but has recently found its way into
the public prints.
The distinguished notice you have taken of the
Rep James UddGet Of Virginia. in the character of
the Biind Prencher," has induced me to rive YOU
some account of an event unnoticed by YOU, and
which forms an era in his Ilfe- refer to the resto-
ration of his sight. do this with less reserve.
since it is generally understood that the author of
the British Spy" had long been warm friend of
the subject Of this notice; and that his removal
from the vicinity of the Blind Preacher, in whose
hosptable mansion he had received many and warm
greetings, had left him uniformed of the event TO
which / have alluded, and of the circumstances
which | propose to detail. You have described
him blind, and while occupying the rude Enclosure
OF forest pulpit, addressing an unseen multitude
IN strains of eloquence which might captvate cit
les and win the admiration of grave senates. The
incidents to which, refer were more private-in
his own house and in the midst of his family For
eight years he had been blind, stranger equally
to the cheerful light of day, and the cheering faces
OF kindred and friends. 1t will readily be suppos-
cd, that in THIS lapse of time great changes had Ia
ken place. The infant had left the knee to rove
amidst the tields-the youth had started into man
hood and bidding adieu to the haunts of his child
hood, had gone forth to act for himself upon the
theatre Of life, with the hope indeed of again and
again looking upon his venerable father, but with
out hope Of that fathers ever looking upon him. A
calm and patient resignation had settled over the
mind Of this man Of God, as summers cloud set
ties over the horizon Of evening. Peaceful, hope
tul, and reclining upon the bosom of Heaven, every
painful solicitude for himself had fled away. This
personal peace and Christian submission were cal
cuated, however, to concentrate his reflections and
sollcltudes upon the destinies of his family, here
and hereafter. His eye could not now see forthem
but he had heart to invoke the watchfuness Of an
eye that neither slumbers nor sleeps, that neither
grows dun with age nor infirmity. His pasied
hand could guide them no longer. but patriarcha
counsel was freely given and enforced by the ire
mendous realities of future existence. The thread
to be followed through the labyrinth of life it was
taught had It's tastenngs in eternity: the respon-
SEES OF the heart to the biddngs of conscience would
be echoed in eternity-the strings connected with
human responsibility must vibate in eternity
and all sublunary things should be viewed in the
light of eternity. But although the mental vision
was acute and widely circumspect, the dark curtain
still hung over the organs OF sight, and seemed
destined to rise no more.
And what if it should be otherwise-that hope
Of sight should take the place of resignation to
blindness-and more than this that hope should be
turned INTO iruiton-that after a darkness of eight
years he should be presented with broad daylight
view OF everything around him And this ! assure
you was almost the fact; for after an operation for
cataract, which, in the progress of some years had
rendered light sensible, and then objects family
vlslble-a strong and We'll constructed convex lens
procured by the kindness of distant friend ena.
pied nm IN moment TO see with considerable dis
tinctncss. At this juncture, happened at his res
ldence, called by himself long before, lIopewell--
ana now fulfilling IN happy reality, the import of
soft and cheerful name The scene, without dis
pute, was the most moving that had ever witness
ed Inc father could again see his children, wht
ryeted his attention and absorbed his soul Amont
these, emotions Of intense interest were visible il
the eye, the countenance and hurried movements
The bursts Of laughter-the running to and fro
the clNpping Of hahds-the sending for absen
friends-and then the silent tear believing thu
cheek in touching nterude go the eager gaze of OLE
servants, and the unmeaning wonder Of young one
in short, the happy commission from the agitation
Of joy-all taken together, was a scene bette
adapted to the pencil than the pen, and which
masters hand might be proud TO sketch. How
regretted that the mantle of some Raphe or Mi
chael Angelo had not fallen on me: then had m
fame and my feelings, each been identified wit
the scene, and Others should have been peunitte
to view upon the canvass what must fail to des
crlbe upon paper.
The paroXysm produced by the arrival Of tn
glasses having passed away, and partial eXper
ment having satisfied all Of their adaptation to tn
diseased eye, behold the patriarch seated upon hi
large armchair with his children around him, an
scanning with atiectonatc curiosity the bashf
group. There was visible shyness among tn
lesser members of the family community while IN
dergong this athorly scrutiny, not unlike that Pre-
duced by long absence. The fondness Of a iatl
er in contemplating those most dear to him wa
never more nationally exemplifed, or exquisitel
enjoyed, than on this occasion.
And now, the venerable man, arising from Ii
seat and grasping long staff which lay conven
ent to him, had proceeded but short distanc
when the staff itself seemed powerfully, but M
mentany to engage his attention--it had been I'll
companion of his darkest days, the pionee. of h
domestic travels aud the supporter of weak an
lettering frame.
He next proceeded to the front door to take
view of the mountains, the beautiful south-we
range stretching out in lovely prospect at the dir
lance of about three miles. All followed, myse