Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-02
familp Gu,tlt,
Speech Without Words.

o"fou my Hio' chtiIely through having
learned the deaf and dun b alphabet
There were two little boys who used
to come and stay with Frank and me,
when we were first married, and they
could neither hear nor speak.
They were deaf and dumb they
could net talk except with their fingers
-so-ouly ever so much quicker.
Frank and | learned this foreign al.
phabet on purpose that we might under.
stand what these two poor lads had to
say. They were quick and clever they
could read and write, ay, and draw and
sew, and do many other things which
most boys would make but a very bad
hand at.
They could play at draughts, and back
CANNON, and chess, and at fox and geese
as we'll as any boys. They could almost
see what we said, though they could NOT
hear, with such quick eager eyes did
they watch every movement of our lips
We soon, however, got to talk as cas-
lily with our fingers as with our tongues ;
and sometimes. when the lads were not
with US, Frank and | used to converse
IN that manner when we were alone for
practice.
Ithappened upon one occasion that he
had to go to London on important bust
ness he was to have gone by the after,
noon train, but something delayed him,
SO that he was not able to leave before
the night express. | was not in very
good health, and retired to my bedroom
about two hours before his departure ;
be promised, however, to come up and
wish me good by before he started, which
would be between twelve and one clock
IN the morning. The business which cal,
led him away was connected with the
bank here, which had just been burned
down and my husband, it seems, though
did not knew it at the time-so great
secret had he endeavored to keep it
had many thousand pounds belonging to
The concern In his temporary possession,
| locked up in the iron safe in our bed
room, where the plate was kept. He was
| bank manager, and responsible for the
whole of it. 1t was winter time, and
there was fire in the room, so bright
and comfortable that | was in no hurry
10 leave it and get into bed, but sat up,
looking into the fiery Goals, and thinking
about all sorts of things, upon the long
journey Frank had to take that night,
and how dreary the days would seem I'M
I'll ne returned and in particular how
.onely | should feel in, that great room
all by myself, when he would be away :;
or l was dreadful coward. 1t was a
little after eleven o'clock when ] got into
oed, but L did not feel the least inclined
tor sleep even then /; | knew Frank would
be coming to wish me good-by presently :;
and besides, there seemed to be all sorts
OF noises about the room, which nv fool
Ish ears always used to hear whenever
was alone at nighttime.
If little SCOT fell down the chimney.
it was, thought, a great black COW at
least, which would soon be flying about
the room, and setting on my pillow if
mouse squeaked in the wainseot, it was
the creaking OF some dreadful PERSONS
shoes, coming up stairs to kill me with a
carving knife and if the wind blew at
the easement, it was somebody else try
ing to get in at the window, although it
was two stories high. You may imagine,
then, my horror when | heard tremen-
dous sueeze within a quarter of an inch
OF me, just behind the headboar of the
bed, and between that and the wall.
where there was considerable space
l had, as usual, taken considerable pre-
caution before put the candle out, of
looking every where in the room where
it was quite impossible any person could
be hid ; but In the little alcove into
which the bed was pushed l had never
so much as thought of looking. although
that was capital hiding place for any
body. l had piqued myself upon prccau.
tlonary measures that, after all might as
well have been omitted. The only thing.
as | believe, when first heard that ter.
rlble sound, was that my mind clung to
the hope that it might be after all, only
the sneeze of cat. Fifty cats together
could not have made half such disturb.
ance, 1t is true, for it was sneeze of
man who sneezes in spite Of himself, and
almost shook the house but the idea sus-
tanned me over the first shock. The next
instant the wretch had sneezed again,
and pushing aside the bed, which rolled
on castors, saw him standing beside my
pillow looking at me. If he had only
given one sneeze, he might perhaps have
deceived me, as lay quite still, breathing
as regular as | could, and pretending to
be asleep; but ne reasoned, very Justly,
that, unless I was deaf or dead, | must
have been awakened by the second.
You're awake, marm," said he in a
gruff voice, " aud it's no use shamming I
If you dout want a tap with this life
preserver, just look alive"
/ opened my eyes exceedingly wide at
this, and behold man with Grape over
his face, standing by the bed; he held a
sort Of club with two knobs upon it in
his right hand, and with his left he point
ed to the iron safe. is the money
there p said he.
The plate isl said /, in trembling
voice; pray take it, sir; | am sure you
are very welcome;" for he might have had
every thing of value out of the house with
all my heart, SO long rs he left me nv
life.
The money-the gold--the notes
are they there ?" cried he again, in ter
rible sort of whisper.
It's all there" replied I, although I
knew nothing about it; all except fif.
teen and siynence in nv nursa ON tho