Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-30
NISCE HI A \ Y.
LIFE MD DEATH or AN IDIOT Roy.

AT the Southern extremity OF the Dull
RIM range of Mountains, in North Eastern
Virginia stands the quiet little village of New
Baltimore. Near this village, in grove by
the side of the public road, is church-and
in front Of the church is newly laid out
burial eround-aud in acorner OF this enclo-
sure is lone grave.
The crave is of small size, the occupant
was boy about ten years OF age land what
TO some might make the circumstance less
interesting, he was an idiot boy. His name
was Stephen Basey.
Stephens parents were OF small means
his father was laboring man. They were
worthy people. God only knows what
thou hts they had in ten years about their
idiot child.
Their other children were sprightly e.
noush. Reason budded in their opening
minds, and bloomed in their childis h play
and prattle--but poor Stephen, their eldest,
was an IDIOT. "0ur other children" they
said. evil 90 to school-will find acqualnI.,,
tances in the village--will have triends--wlll
feel their way into social life. But poor
Stephen is an IDIOT He will never have a
companion in thi world. His little sisters
and brothers will learn to share the house.
hold service and hous ehefd care--will learn
TO know and be knowu-the world was made
for them and trey for it. But poor stephen
wherefore was he sent into the world With
out reason to guide him in 1t, and mt hlm
for it :" - :,
How often have the inhabitants OF the VII
lare and others-the young men and maid
ens-the boys and girls, looked upon the
necu'ianties of Stephens idiot face his SIM
ple but always sufficient attire; his Sun-burnt
hair and cheek, for he wore no hat How
often has the strange visitor inquired, whose
child is it, and the villagers replied with
hess feeling or with more, it is Stephen Ba-
sev: for he was often on the street. lie
must not be made prisoner at home. Inc
pure air, and liberty, and sunlight Is all lie
can enjoy. He cannot share with advan-
tage, any wherein ife's duty, or even with
relish in lifes rational pastime. He is sent
awav, (however kindly,) from the school
door, and from all other doors, except that
of his parents, as an intruder: Is often, per-
baps without any hars intent, treated harsh
iy along the street, loI I''lN'to "iN ~
mischievous. Such treatment, naturally
developed the half intelligent feeling OF fear,
and he would leave off what he was dong,
and qo away with an anxious look behind
him when he found himself forbidden or
threatened. Around the door Of the church,
or dollhouse, or smith shop, or store, poor
Stephen learned what idiots ever learn,
namely, that men are an object OF dread,
and that boys are hard-hearted and cruel
What an uninteresting life in this world is
the life of an idiot! How undesirable that 1t
should be leng! With what a strange
atliction does the heart of an idiots parent
learn to grow familiar One wonders II
they ever become accustomed to it Can
they pos, ibly grow insen.ible of it?
To ordinary human life, there are the sue
cessive periods ofinfancy childhood, youth,
maturity and old age. What vistaot bar
renness lies down through these periods for
and IDIOT, as seen by an idiots parent !
What a peculiar sort of office has human
sympathy to perform in such a case' In
the poor idiots sickness, and his recovery
and his accidents and wounds, and their
heaInp-in the narrow cycle of his llte's VI
cissitudes, who i there to sympatize' VINO
but his parents on earth and his parent In
heaven :,
1t was damp, chilly afternoon in April
and the northeast wind was blowing-ser-
wants and children of the village were seen
vending thei way in the direction OF an
unenclos ed field, up the mountain slce' IN
search of kindling to start the village hres;
Silent along behind them, was recognized
the idiot of the village. A dog, OF which
he had sometimes been the companion, was
near him. Observers ofthe weather were
here and there prophesying a northeast
storm.
The wood-carriers all returned. The vii
lace fires all frightened up. The duskof the
evening succeeded. An inquiry from the
Basevs ran round the village, 'has any one
seen Stephen'" Stephens father came in
from his work and found the family dispersed
n quest ofhis idiot child. Sympathy woke
m at once every where; scouts went out this
rav ~ and that, but returned without the lost
,oy. II was recollected when he was last
seen following the dog in the direction OF
the mountain, when the wood-carriers were
gathering and adjusting their burden. The
dog is at home, but where is Stephen
The night was chill and dark. The
search was of necessity abandoned-thoughl
not till near the still midnight hour. And
then the kind-hearted villagers sat and heard
the almost distracted father say, what they
had not heard him say hefore---how through
ong years, the only injury he felt like re-
,enting and could not forgive, was cruelty
offered to that poor child.
There were dwellings that night in which
he candle did not go out--dwellings other