Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-07-17
From "Household Words"l
MY BLIND SISTER.


MY BLIND SISTER.
This was how found ii out Lettio and were
sitting in the window at our work-it was some
mourning we were making for our rector's family
and it had to be sent home the next day early She
said, "Jane il if the had given mp shin
sol" '' ' ''''> 'O1 '-'''A
did not notice it there was still an hours day-
light. She put up her hands TO her forehead if it
panied her. so babe her go out for turn in the gar
den we had sat close at sewing all the day, and
the young thing was tired even as was, and my eyes
ached YEARLY. She went along by the 1ower-bed
aud gathered few roses-we were in the middle of
July then-and gave them TO me through the win
dow, saying that she would 60 down into the town
for some trimmings we wanted to finish the dresses.
would rather she had stayed at home, and replied
that the shops would be shut; but she not lis
ening, and went away down the path as spoke. 1t
was dusk whom she came back; had just shut the
window, and was lighting my candle; she said, II
could not get the fringe, Jane, and then laying her
bonnet on the dresser took up her work. After she
had sewed perhaps five minutes she dropped her
hands on her knees, and such strange, hopeless
expression came into her face that was quito shock
ed and frightened.
What ails YOU Lettie what can have hammer.
ed 2 asked, suspectng scarcely knew what
She looked at me drearly in silence for some no
ments, and then said hastily, 81 might as we'll tell
you at once, Jane,-Im going blind"
Ny work fell to the ground, and uttoredia start
led cry.
Don't take on aboutit, Jane it can't be helped, ;
she added
It's only fancy of yours, Le.tie; shall have
you to Doctor Nash in the morning has nude
you take such notion into your head all at once
said |, for thought this was another nervous whim
Lettie had been good deal INDUCED by our mother
before she died, and had shown herself not little
headstrong sometimes well fanciful.
It's of no use, Jane; have been to Doctor Nash
myself, and he said plainly that was going bird.
| have been to see him twice before: | knew what
was coming-Oh, Janey what shall we do what
shall we do 2 and having borne up thus far she
broke down, and sobbed aloud, with her face on her
arms on the table
we shall do very we'll In the first place, don't
believe Doctor Nash knows anything about it; and
in the next, shall have you up to London, to n
great DOCTOR aud hear what he says before give in
to thinking that you to be blind all your days.
She was little cheered by this
TO London, Janey but where is the money to
come from 7 che asked.
Leave that to me- III arrange somehow 1t
was very puzzng to me to settle how just then, but
have firm conviction that where there is will
TO do anything, way may generally be found, and
| meant to find it.
She took up her work, but bade her leave it,
You will set another stitch, Lettie,' said you
may just play on your old piano. and sing your bits
OF songs, and get out into the fresh air-you have
been kept too close, and pale to what you were
Go to bed now, like good little assie; I'll do by
myself
But there ID so much to finish, Janey'
mot another stitch that you'll touch, Lettie; SO
kiss me good night and get away
And you Don't think much of what Doctor Nash
saidF she asked very wistfuly
No I've no opinion of him at ALL And hearing
me speak in my natural way, Though my heart was
doubling all the time,) she went away comforted,
and In better hope had put off before her, be-
cause she would have given way to fretting If had
seemed TO believe what the doctor said; but, as |
drew my needle through and through my work till
three hours past midnight, had often to wipe the
tears from my eyes.
There were only two of us-Lette and myself
and we had neither father nor mother, nor indeed
any relatives whom we knew
Lettie was seventeen, and was four years older.
We Were both dressmakers, and either worked at
home orwent out by the day. We liyed in small
thatchedrhroe roomcd cottage outside the town,
which had nice garden in front Some people told
us that five moved into the town we should get bet
ter employ; but both Iettie and liked the place
where we had been born so much better than the
closed in-streets, that we never got changed and
were not wishful to. Our rent was not much but we
We're rather put to it sometimes to get it made up by
the day for our laudlady was very sharp upon hel
tenants, and fthey were ever SO little behind hand
she gave them notice directly
set my wits to work how TO get money to take
Lette to London; but all that night no idea came
to me, and the next day it was the same. With two
PAIR OF hands we had maintained ourselves decent
ly; but how was it going to be now that there was
only one! Rich folks little think how hard it is for
many of us poor day workers to live on our little
earnings, much more to spare for an evil day.
H.
Sunday morning found me still undecided but that
was our holiday, and meant to see Doctor Nash
myself while Lettie was gone TO chapel. She made
herself very nice, for she had modest pride in her
looks which becomes girl. | thought her very
pretty myself and so did the neghbors she had
clear, small features, and pale color in her cheeks,
soft brown hair, and hazel eyes 1t was not.easy 10
see that anything allied Them unless you looked into
them very closely, and then there dimness to
be seen about them, which might be disease She
had put off thinking about herself, and merry
as cricket when she went down the lane in her
white bonnet and clean muslin gown. She nodded
to me Il was watching her from the doorway, and
smiled quite happily. i was proud of Lettie as
ever my mother had been. She was always such n
clever, warm hearted little thing for all her high
temper.
When she was fairly gone, and the church bells
ceased, dressed myself In haste and set off the
town to see DIR. Nash. He was at home, and his
man showed me into the surgery, where had to wait
maybe an hour. When tho doctor came in. he ask
ed sharply why could not have pu: off my visit till
Monday; was my business so pressing lie did not
consider how precious the work days to us, or
mayb he would not have spoken so-for he was q
benevolent man, as we had every reason to know ;
he having attended our mother through her last i'll
ness as carefully as II she had been rich lady, though
we could never hope to pay him. ! explained what
had come about, and he sofened then, but would
not alter what he had told Lettie himself
''She has been with me three or four times" he
said. 'She is an interesting little girl it is great
pity, but I'do not think her sight can be saved-I
don't indeed Jane"
He explained to me why he was of this opinion,
and how the disease would advance, moro lengthiiy
than needs to he set down here Then he said be
could get her admitted into the Blind Institution if
we liked, and that must keep he- well, and send
her out of doors constantly. And 80 l went home
again, with very little hope tleft you may well,
think, after what / had heard
Rhnra [ been.
mover suspected. There was no chapel that after
noon, and we getting ready to take walk along
the river bank. VIC generally did on tDo Sundays
for all the town went there, and it reshened us up
to see the holiday people far more than II we had
stopped at home reading our books, NJ many say II
il only right to d0) when one OF neighbOrs came
in with her son. Mrs Crofts widow and Hnr-
ry studying medicine with Doctor Nash. They
were both kind friends of ours: aud between Lette
and the Young man. there had been for so long
sort of boy and girl liking hut do not think they
had spoken TO each other vet Iettie colored up
when Harry appeared, aud went into the garden tn
show him, she said the white that was full
of bloom by the kitchen window: hut they stayed
whispering over it So long. TINT did not think il
was only that they were talking about. Then Har-
~ went ont the gate looking downeGst and ve1ed
and Lette came back into tn. house with a queer
wild look in her face that did not like. Mrs Crofts
said, rs Harry gone z" and my sister made her
short answer and went into the bedroom
'Harrvis going mp TO London very soon; shall he
glad 10 have the examinations over and him settled.
Doctor Nash thinks very well of him; he is good
Young fellow Jane =" | replied that he bad ALWAYS
been favorite mine and hoped he -ould do we'll
but, listening for Letties coming to ue perhepF
seemed rather cold and stiff; for Mrs Crofts asked II
WIS rot wei or IL there anything my mind;
SO that told her about poor Lette's sight
I've seenn0 appearance of blindness; Harry never
said word You don't think il can be true g. she
asked did not know what to think. was sure
that in that whispering the rose tree my sister