The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-01-12

to her. could mt have left the little thing
but I do MT know where I'm taking her
If can mt anchor her safely, / III keep hel
for tho frst mate Of the Dorn; hoy, sea
birdi I" '-''-
"What could you do with her in that
terrible storm OF Cape Cleari / shuddei
to recollest that night" ~
swell, sir, while you were lying fat on
your back, and the rest OF 10 were hurry.
ing. hauling and pulling hithcr and thither,
working for dear lilo against the winds and
waves. the pretty creature was rolling about
the cabin floor, clappius her bands as though
she were in an apple tree swing, and iound
it capital fun [! When l tumbled down to
my locker for FIVE minutes rest, ! found her
on her knees, in her little nightwrap, say
ing, Our Father and l lult sure no storm
would sink the ship with heron IL"
Poor mother OF Mittie how her heart
was wrung at sending her bind, trusting
child from her arms But hor'brother in
America had written, telling her that he
would provide for Mittie poor, sightless
Mittie, who could learn little in that unciv.
ilized land. So, with many tears and prayers,
that missionary mother had packed Mites
small trunk, and placed her in the care 'f q
friend the English lady before mentioned
to be transported to our country = what
but q mothers prayer guarded tho helpless
darling in her lonely wanderings!
On arriving at New York, Capt =
and Mr.. l. made inquiry everywhae
for Mr.. Wythe. Directories were searched,
streets ransacked, and questions repeated
hundreds of times to no purpose. No rela-
tive of the poor blind Nlitiic could be found
leave her to me, captain" said Mr.
L. ~ I'm soon to return to London,
but before sailing will place her ir on
Asylum for the blind, and sec that sic is
comfortably cared for"
Instead, however, Of placing Mittie IN the
State Asylum of New York, her friend took
her to Southern city here ho had business
connections, and left her in one of those
beautiful retreats which nature and an have
combined to ndorn Tor those whose cyes tell
not night FROM day. nor beauty from de-.
iOrmity.
Kind voices welcomed the little stranger,
but they were voices she had never heard,
nor hoped to hear. For the first tims since
she sobbed good bye on hermother's hp, her
hope and laith faltcred. She felt that sho
was alone in the world. Had the mperin-
tendent particularly interested himself in
the child, he would have found cut her
history, and probably havo sought some
communication with her parents. But set.
ting down her name us charity scholar,
he forgot that she was not an orphan.
And Mr.. l.! His sympathies had
been strongly enlisted, and ho really intended
to find out the mystery. But he was man
Of the world, immersed in its busy cares
Having placed u sum Of money ior her use
in The hands of the director with the psr.
mission to apply to him in any emergency,
he returned TO his English home - and
only remembered the blind child,at moments
when his own laughing Carrie climbed into
his lap.
Ono among hundred children, Mittie
was well educated in all that the blind can
learn. She was taught how to read the Bi.
bio, from which her mothe. hadlread to her,
by placing her fingers over the curiously
raised letters. She learned 10 sew, to braid,
to write strange thoughts tha, young head
used to frame, for that unsteady hand to jot
down its crooked wanderings over the paper.
She learned to sing the sweet hymns of her
schoolmates, and to touch for herself the
keys Of the piano, whose melodies had al-
mos, mado her fancy hcrself in Heaven, only
that she had been told that in Heaven she
could see like other children. Sometimes,
in her dreams, she would find herself on q
solt couch, with strange perfumes and sounds
about her, and would feel warm tears drop.
ping one by one, on her forehead, while o
dear arm pressed her closely.
"Mo,her dear mother " Mittie would
cry, and awake - to find no mother.
Years had passed, when ngain ship was
nearing the forest of masts in New York
harbor. On the deck sat pale lady in
deep mourning, with traces Of tears upon
her cheeks. Her childpn clung about her
with wonder in their faces.
"0h, beautiful America the America
you have so often told us about" cried
sweet.yoiced girl OF twelve.
Mamma, does it look as it did when you
went away!"
Mamma, did you live in any of those
great houses
"Ma, ma! plenty of Pagodas hero :"
chimcd in the youngest boy, whose eye had
taken in the numerous church spires. All
spoke at once, but tho mother answered
neither. Her heart was too full. She hid
gone from that shore happy bride, and
hopeful she was returning a widow, broken
in health and spirits, to place her children
with her relative, and then, as she believed,
to lay her bones in the tomb of her Kindred
One hope only mado her heart bound, and
her pale cheek grew paler, as she looked on
that shore Of her nativity, for the first time
in twenty years. .....
"Oh, God could see all my children
before die !" she Gl'ered.
pass over tho scene Of her landing, and
the coming to the house Of her brotEer.
will not stop to tell you how many wonders
the lndian-born children found in American
city customs and sights, for must hasten
to the end Of my story.
"Is it possible, sister," said her brother
to the pale lady, one morning. in answer to
some expression, tho child could never
havo reached this country' We never, as
| YOU know, have traced her further than
England, AMI If she had been brought here,
she could not have failed to find nae. or
her."
Tho widow sighed. Gods will be
dono!n she murmurcd. But it is hard
to feel that my little helpless innocent, my
eldest born, was sent irum me to perish
alone. Often feel as IL It could not bo -
as if she were yet alivo, and l should end
her somo day"
Proyidentially. as II proved, tho mother
was led ~ search the catalogues Of various
Institutions for the blind long in vain A,
length she obtained u circular from distant
city, and glanced over indiferently. &C
niisn had she been disappointed. Her hear