Daily American telegraph., 1852-02-23
From the Boston Christian Observerl
THE BLIND BOY AND HIS TEACHER.

One day little blind boy was brought into
my class, who had lately. come to reside near
the Sabbath school. He was a beautiful child,
and his light fiaxen hair his clean attire, and
especially his sad afliction, rendered him the
object of general attention. From my child
hood had always entertained a feeling of PEI
culiar regard for those whom God in his prov
dence, had been pleased permanently to afilict;
and though in my early days was full of mis-
Chief and fond of amusing myself at the ex-
pense of others, yet nothing could induce me
to Join with those who would take u mean ad-
vantage of their afflicted fellow-creatures on
the contrary, always felt disposed to stand up
for their help, however great ight be the odds
against me. As soon, therefore as this inter-
esting child entered my class felt all my ten
derest sympathies awakened and the tears
stood in my eyes as | contemplated his heavy
calamity. drew him gently towards me; pat
ted his little head spoke many kind and sooth-
ing words to him; and thus endeavored to gain
his confidence and affection. In this soon sue
ceeded, for he was naturally amiable and do
Gle; and then | commenced the work of in
structon As could not teach him to read,
flor then we had no books with raised char
acters for the blind instructed him in the lead
ing doctrines of the Gospel, and taught him such
hymns and passages of Scripture as were cal
culated to impress his youthful mind But
nothing delighted him SO much, or appeared
more to interest the class than to take him on
my knee and describe to him the glories Of the
heavenly world, and the happiness of its bliss
full inhabitants Upon these occasions he would
sit with mute attention, occasionally passing
his hand lightly over my face, as if anxious to
obtain some idea of the expression of my fea-
lures And while spoke to him of the glori-
fed bodies of the saints free from all imperfec-
tions and the certainty of all who were good
and loved Jesus seeing him in heaven, his
sightless blue eyes would move rapidly to and
fro. and his whole countenance brighten up
with pleasure and delight. I" Are there no blind
people in heaven" he would sometimes ask.
and does every one see Jesus? Then / will be
good, for should like to see Jesus. But when
will it be 2 Isn't long time?" By such in
quiries as these he greatly endeared himself to
me, and circumstance soon happened which
strengthened the chord of affection which bound
us together.
Our school was situated in the centre of a
dirty narrow street in one of the worst districts
in London, and we were frequently annoyed by
the conduct Of number of low, disorderly
boys who interrupted the children in their pas
sage to and from school, and threw stones, cab
bage-stalks, and other missiles into the door
and windows. My class was generally the first
that was dismissed, and one day boy came
running back with his clothes bespattered with
mud and complaining that there were boys
outside pelting him. | instantly rushed to the
door, for thought of my little afflicted one
whom had just sent home, with class-mate
to lead him. stood but moment for at a
short distance saw a big boy dragging the
blind child towards heap of mud, into which
he presently fell My indignation was thorough
ly aroused With the fierceness of q lion,
darted to the spot, and having rescued the little
sufferer and placed him on his feet, | hastened
after the coward, who, with his companions,
had taken to his heels. Through several turn
ings followed him, and seeing him at length
run down street to the other end of which
there was short cut, went round that way,
and we met at the corner. Finding that he
could not now escape me, he prepared for
stout resistance, but the struggle was brief; he
was quickly overpowered, and fellow-teacher
coming to my assistance, he was conducted
back to the school, where, leaving him to be
dealt with as his conduct merited, proceeded
to the house of the injured child
The dear boy was still crying when 1 enter
ed, but as soon as he heard my voice, he ceased,
and came running towards me, ms, aI@ri won't cry