The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-31

Poor creatures, they could not bring her
over themselves, and dare say she was
getting no good in that heathenish land;
so it seems they pu, her into charge Of an
English lady, name I've forgotten, who set
out to join her husband, somewhere in
Canada. But she sickened and died be-.
tore the barque Sally reached England.
and the poor thing was left frindless and
helpless. What the captain and mate OF
the Sally were thinking OF. don't know;
but they put the child on dry land, with the
balance of the passengers. and set sail
without so much as looking up New York
packet. Alone in Liverpool. and it's no
place for blind child. sir. to say nothing
Of one that's got eyes found her. anu.
| sing herself pretty much as you see her
now, with bits of chips. at the corner Of a
shipyard! How the creature had lived. |
can't say. IN believe after this. shipmate.
there's God in the sky, who. as she says.
keeps watch over children; il lie don t
over US grown up sinners! |: seems she
had never wanted Tor berth nor mess
Il wan, to go TO New York. she would say
to every stranger who spoke to her.
couldn't have left the little thing-but |
don't know where I'm taking her. If
can't anchor her safely. I'll keep her for
first mate OF the Down; hey. sea -birds?''
"AVhat could you do with her in that
terrible storm off Cape Clear?" l shud-
der to recollect that nighr!"
"Well. sir, while you were lying flat on
your back. and the rest Of US were hurra-
ing. hauling and pulling hither and thiiher.
working for dear life against the winds
aud waves, the pretty creature was rolling
about the cabin floor, clapping her hands
as though she were in an apple-tree swing,
and found it capital fun! When tum-
bled down to my locker for five minutes
rest, found her on her knees. in her little
night-wrap, saying, "Our Father" and |
felt sure no storm would sink the ship with
HER on it!''
Poor mother Of Mittie! how her hear,
was wrung at sending her blind, trusting
child from her arms! But her brother in
America had written. telling her that he
would provide for Mittie-poor sightless
hIi,tie. who could learn little in that unciv-
ilized land. So. with many tears and
prayers, that missionary mother had pack
ed her Mittie's small trunk. and placed
her in the care Of friend-the English
lady before mentioned-.to be transported
to our country. What but mothers
prayer guarded the helpless darling in her
lonely wanderings!
On arriving at New York, Captain -
and Mr.. L. made inquiry everywhere
for Mr.. Wythe. Directories were search
ed. streets ransacked and questions re.
peated hundreds Of times, to no purpose.
No relative of the poor blind Aliltie could
be found.
"Leave her with me. captain" said Mr..
L.. 81 am soon to return to London.
but before sailing. will place her in an
Asylum for the blind. and see that she is
comfortably cared for"
Instead, however. Of placing Mitte in
the State Asylum Of New York, her friend
took her to southern city, where he had
business connections. and left her in one
oil those beautiful retreats which nature
and art have combined to adorn for those
whose eyes tell not night from day, nor
beauty from deformity.
Kind voices welcomed helittie stranger.
but they were voices she had neverheard.
nor hoped TO hear For the frs, time since
she sobbed goodbye OIL her mothers lap.
her hope and faith faltered. She felt tina,
she was alone in the world. and she sought
ont a corner to cry. Had the superinten-
dent particularly interested himself in the
child, he would have found out her history
and probably have sought some communi.
IL
her name as a charity scholar, he forgo
that she was not an orphan
And Mr.. E? His sympathies had
been strongly enlisted, and he really in
tended to find out the mystery But h.
was a man of the world and immersed in
its busy cares. Having placed sum o
money for her use in the hands Of the di
rector. with permission to apply to him ir
any emergency. he returned TO his Englisf
home-and only remembered the blind
child Of the voyage at moments when hi:
own laughing Carrie climbed into his lap
One among hundred children. Mittie
was well educated in all that the blind car
learn. She was taught how to read the
Bible. from which her mother had read tc
her. by passing her small fingers over the
curiouslySraised letters. She learned te
sew, TO braid. and to write, strange
thoughts that young head used to frame
for that unsteady hand to jot down in its
crooked wanderings over the paper. She
learned to sing The sweet hymns Of hel
schoolmates and to touch for herself the
keys Of, the piano, whose melodies had al
most made her fancy herself in Heaven
only that she had been told in Heaven she
should see like'other children! Sometimes
| in her dreams. she would find herself on q
soft couch. with strange perfumes and
sounds about her, and would feel warn
tears dropping one by one. on her lore
head, while dear arm pressed her closely
"Motherl dear mother!' Mittie would
cry, and awake-to find no mother.
Years had passed-when again a ship
! was nearing The forest OF masts in New
York harbor. On the deck sat pale lady
in deep mourning. with traces Of tears up
on her cheeks. Her children clung abou