New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-14
,.nd. of sensitive hearth, /. most gratifying to re
heo' upon rArRas rRysKSr STATE


b. mems OF The finger alphabet on all topi,
which would be understood by girls generally
,,vsiye years Old She had begun 30 come into n
istson with q variety Of persons; with the teacI
ers Ard pupils in The school for the blind, all
v.Iops could converse ragidly and easily with he
ets lad become intimate with several insirucie
5esfraics; rrd had formed quite an extensiv
,;rcis az nc07Antanrc, with ladies' for the mos
hart. VITO lad taken pains to learn the manual a
phsbof. and with whom she was very fond of talk
ing
tlc development of her character, and she was lei
"a them | thought il better TO pursue this course
than Keep her a. strictly under the influence OF he
,eaeicr'e mind as she bad been in the early perio,
of her instruction. She needed, however, and hal
coutinUcd "a have, special instruction. Miss SsraI
Wight has continued % give all her time and ct
t.rt.eu TO her education. She has been to her a
constart companion, friend teacher and exempar
ehe has devoted herself 20 Laura for years b day
srd by night, in health and in sickness in Joy and
IN SORROW with zeal, patience and discretion, and
las had a wholesom. influence upon her mind,
heart and character
lean claim no Othsr credit Tor the improvement
which Laura has made ialatter years, than that
offscufing for her such teacher. Ifshe is short.
coming OF any natural qualification for the task sue
undertook, at M urgent request can only say, on
the oil er hand il would be very hard to find any
sne who possesses so many natural and acquired
Qualifications for 90 novel and arduous an under.
taking. Her success has been great She has
done far better than could have done. Her gen.
tleness and equanimity of temper have tended to
keep Der pupil in that happy mean between ex-
ccsses of feeling, TO which persons Of her tempera.
ment are oonsttutionally disposed.
Laura loves her and respects her, and makes no
seyerer criticism upon her than the playful one in
the following extractfrom her little diary:
"Ihsd very pleasant day. have been very hilarious
could not help laughing incessanuy Ny mind very foil
" droiley and mirthfulness rish that my dear teacher
,so,d hare hRe share Of ny irt iaes She does not
hbefur a. We'll az do. / love fun SO much. 49,
"AsI was very busy engaged at IL o'clock was agree
ably interrupted BY some circumstances which occurred
Unexpectedly II was the entrance OF my dear fiends
Miss 4 the sister OF my old teacher She took my dirty
night hand greeting NE very wsrmly-who wore gloves
asked herhow she liked Sunny Home, she said she
admired il very much She surveyed with much interest
She asked me whose heboquet ofhours were assuredy
told her that they belong Miss w She returned
they smelt very ragraniy and delicious altered her
mind q length IS fho could not stay as long as she had
hoped"
the rest is en- exact copy, puRctuatim ct hteratix
from her diary, which she writes in legible hand
LAURAs HABITS OF LIFE.
Her health has not been uniformly good, and
there have been times when we were alarmed
about her. She lost her appetite, pinned away, and
became very feeble though her spirits did not flag
she bore up bravely, recovered, and became again
strong, active and buoyant with animal spirits and
gayety.
Sheis fond of exercise in the open air, and walks
from four to six miles daily, beside taking of
her room, and occupying herself about the house.
Her diet is spare and simple She eats rather to
satisfy hunger than to tickle her palate.
Her life is very uniform. This is found to be ne
cessary because departure from her usual habits
causes excitement, which is sometimes injurious.
She is a light sleeper, and wakes at an early
hour. Her capacity for perceiying the lapse oftime
seems uncommonly good, and, with the aid Of GER
tain regularly occurring events, enables her to as
certain pretty accurately the hour For instance,
she often perceives, by slight vibration Of the floor
and walls, when anyof the domestics are astir and
she rises Immediately. She then takes her bath,
arranges her hair very neatly, and with much care,
Tor the day, puts on common dress, and proceeds
10 put Ter room in order. Not scrap of paper,
not particle of dirt escapes her notice. She puts
up every book in the case places the furniture in
order, and MAX es every thing tidy. IL she com.
petes this task before 1t is time TO go 10 breakfast
she sits down and sews diligently during the few
moments there may be to spare.
At the table, she helps herself to her food, and
manages her fork and spoon very dexterously. She
eats moderately and with great elaboration, sitting
long while at her meals, and never likes to be
hurried. She loves 70 have some one within reach
with whom she can occasionally exchange words.
After breakfast the teacher reads 10 her portions
of the Scriptures and then takes a sort OF review
of her conduct and actions the day before, making
such remarks in commentator or criticism as may
be desirable. Her diary is then examined and
criticized Her letters are also examined for she
has many correspondentsl, to see If they are
egibly written.
She is aware that the countenance is an index Of
the state of the mind and the expression of her
own changes with varying conditions of bodily or
mental well.being hence, after this morning self
examination, she sometimes asks her teacher what
her countenance expresses
Her Lessons now begin, aud continue through
the morning simultaneously with the lessons for
the classes in the Institution, being each three
quarters Of an hour, with recess OF quarter OF
an hour between them.
At this time she is studying algebra, geography,
and history. She is very intent upon her lessons
she continually asks questions upon various sub
jects connected with them, and is willing at any
time to forego a recess rather than break off
She is acquiring q fondness for works Of fancy
the nature Of which she begins to understand She
is at this time much interested in Z" The Neigh.
bors," which her teacher is reading TO her.
The lessons over she dresses for dinner. She is
careful and painstaking with her toilette but never
in huster. She is considerable about her appear
ance, but never anxious. She is fond OF dress, but
with atact that seems incomprehensble, she avoids
everything gaudy, odd, or in bad taste.
She takes dinner at one o'clock, at the table
with the blind, and generally contrives 10 exchange
words frequently with whoever is sitting within
her reach She eats as sparingly and slowly at
dinner as at breakfast indeed, she is always
dainty eater"
Aiter dinner she takeE her work and sews. or
knits or makes purses, bags or chains, as the case
may be, and works very busiy and very neatly
She is good needlewOman, and is very expert
and dexterous at making various articles Of female
handicrah. If her teacher, or any one Of her
friends sits within her reach, she frequently holds
out her hand to exchange q word but notwth
standing this interruption, she is so diligent and
nimble at her work, that she performs good task.
This over, she goes out to walk with her teacher,
and spends two or three hours in exercise, either
taking long stroll into the country or through the
streets. Sometimes she takes few pennies or
some fruit, and requests her teacher TO give them
TO any poor woman or child she may meet She is
fond OF gong into town shopping" SheisexPert
at examining patterns, and chsifering about bar.