Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-09-09
The Blind Girl and her Mother.

The following thrilling ncident-the meeting OF a
mother and her child-is from report by Or. Howe,
Principal of the Perkins Institution for the Blind of
Boston, concerning Laura Bridgeman the deaf, dumb
and blind grill, whose only means of communication
with objects around her is by the TOUCH which is
markabIy 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 anaineresting one.
The mother stood for some time, gazing with over
flowing eyes upon her unfortunate child, who all
conscious OF her presence, playing about the
room. Presently Laura against her, and at once
began feeling of her hands, examining her dress, and
trying to find outif she knew her but not succeed
ing here. she turned away as from stranger, and
the poor woman could not conceal the pangs she felt
that her beloved child did not know her.
She then gave Laura string of beads which she
used to wear at home which were recognized by the
child at once. who with much joy, put them around
her neck, and sought eagerly say she understood
the string was from her home.
The mother now tried to caress her but poor Laura
repeled her, preferring to be with her acquantances
Another article from home was now given her, and
she began to look much interested she examined the
stranger much closer, and gave 10 understand that
she came from Hanover; she even endured her
ses, but would leave with indifference at the slightest
signal. The distress of the mother now painful
for although she had feared that she could not be re.
cognzed, the painful reality of being treated with cold
Indifference by darling child was too much for wo.
mans nature to bear.
After while, on the mothers taking hold of her
again, vague idea seemed TO fit across Laura's mind
that this could not be stranger she therefore felt OF
her hands very eagerly, while her counenace
ed expression of intense interestshe became very
pale, and then suddenly red-hope seemed struggling
with doubt and anxiety and never were contending
emotions more strongy painted upon the human face.
At this moment of painful uncertainty the mother
drew her close 10 her side and kissed her ondy when
a! once the truth flashed upon the child and all mis-
trust and anxiety disappeared from her flushed face,
with an expression of exceeding joy, she eagerly
nestled in the bosom of her parent, and yielded her
self 10 her fond embraces.
After this The beds were all unheeded; the play
things which were utterly dsegarded her playmates
for whom, but moment before she gladly left the
stranger, now vainy strove TO pull her from her mo-
ther and though she yielded her usual instantaneous
obedience TO my signal to follow me- it was evidently
with panfn reluctance She clung close to me, if
bewildered and fearful; and when after moment. ]
took her TO her mother she sprang TO her arms and
clung to her with eager JOY.
had watched the whole with intense inter
est, being desirous of learning from it all | could of
the workings of her mind, but now left them 10 in
dulge. unobserved. those delicious feelings, which
those who have known mothers love may conceive,
but which cannot be expressed"
The subsequent parting between Laura and her
mother, showed alike the affection, the intelligence
and the resolution of the child and thus noticed
at the time
Laura accompanied her mother to the door, clingng
close to her all the way, until they arrived at the
THRESHOLD where she paused and felt around to
tain who was near her. Perceving the matron, OF
whom she is very fond, she grasped her with one
hand holding convulsvely 10 her mother with the
other, and thus stood for moment-then she dropped
her mothers hand--put her handkerchief TO her eyes,
turning around clung sobbing 10 the matron, while
her mother departed with emotion deep those of
her child"