Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-16
Laura Bridgman and her Mother.
tFrom the report ofDr Howe, Principal Of the Per
kins' Institution for the Blind at Doston.1

from the report Of Dr., Howe, Principal of the Per-
kins' Institution for the Blind at Boston.l
Laura Bridgeman is the deaf. dumb and
blind girl, whose only means of communca-
tion with objects around her is by touch ;
which is remarkably acute.
During the last year, and six months after
she had left home, her mother came to visit
her, and the scene of their meeting was an
interesting one
The mother stood for some time. gazing
with overaowing eyes upon her unfortunate
child, who all unconscious of her presence,
was playing about the room. Presently Laura
ran against her and at once began feeling of
her hands, examining her dress, and trying
to find out If she knew her but not succeed
ing here, she turned away as from a 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 to say she understood the
string was from home.
rLs .AAother now tried to caress her hut
poor Laura repelled her, preferring to be with
her acquaintances
Another article from home now given her
and she began to look much interested , she
cAu'h'icu tuc slTdnB'T muCn Closer ana gave
me to understand that she came from Han
over; she even endured her caresses, bu
woulu leave with Indifference at the slightest
signal. The distress of the mother was now
painful for although she feared that she
could not be recognized, the painful reality Of
being treated with cold Indifference hy a
darling child was too much for woman $
nature to bear.
After a while, on the mothers taking hold
OF her again, vague idea seemed to fit
across Laura's mind that this could not he Il.
stranger; she therefore felt of her hands very
eagerly while her countcnance assumed an
expression Of intence interest-she became
pale, then suddenly rcd-hOpc seemed strug-
Cling with doubt and anxiety and never
were contcndng emotions more strongly paint
ed upon the human face. At this moment Of
uncertainty the mother drew close to her side
and kissed her fondlv, when ut once the truth
h-.shod across the child, and all mistrust and
4fesS dIGesaTsd gq@ hr asRea e es
~ nestled in the bosom of her parent, and
yielded herself to her fond en- bracss,
After this the beads We're all unheeded ;
the playthings were utterly disreglr1ed ; her
playmates for whom, hut moment before she
gladly left the stranger, now vainlv strove to
pull her from her mother; and though she
yielded her instantaneous obedience to my sig.
nal to follow me, it WIS evidently with p,inful
reluctance. She clung close t. me as if he.
wildered and fearful when after a moment
took her to her mother, she sprang to her
arms and clung to her with eager JOY.
had watched the whole scene with intense
interest being dcsrous Of learning from it a II
| could of the working OF her mind, but now
left them to indulge, unobserved those deli
cious feelings, which those who have remem-
bered mother love, can 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 was thus noticed at the time.
Laura accompanied her mother to the door,
clinging close to her all the way, until they
arrived at the Threshold, when she paused
and felt around to ascertain who was near
her. Perceiving the matron, of whom she is
very fond, she grasped her with one hand
holding convulsively to her mother with the
other, and thus stood for a lnoment-thcn she
dropped her mothers hand-put her handkcr-
chief to her eyes, turning round, chung sob
bing to the matron, while her mother depart
ed with emotion as deep as those of her child.