The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-03-06
SPEECH WITHOUT WORDS,

learned the deaf and dumb alphabet;
There were two little boys who useG
to come and stay with Frank and ne, wher
We were first married, aud they could Meth
er hear nor speak.
They were deaf and dumb they could
not talk except with their fingers-so-
., l. ever ~ much quicker
Frank and learned the foreign alpha
bet on purpose that We might understand
what these poor lads had TO say. They
could read aud write, ay, and draw and
sew, and do many other things which most
ether boys would make but a very bad
hand at,
They could play at draughts, and back
gammoa aud chess, and at fox and geese,
as well 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 SO as to talk as easily
with ouF fingers as with our tongues and
sometimes, when the lads were not with us,
Frank and | used to converse in that man.
ncr when We were alone for practice
1t happened upon one occasion that he
had to 90 to London on important business /;
he was to have gone by an afternoon train,
bu, 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 bed room about two hours before his
departure he promised, however, to come
up arl BID me good.b by before he started,
which would be between twelve and one
o'clock in the morning. The matter which
had called him away was connected with
the bank here, which had just been burnt
down; and my husband, it seems, though
[ did not know it at the time-so great a
secret had he cndeavored to keep it-.hai
many thousand pounds belonging to the
concern IN his temporary possession, locked
up In the iron safe in our bedroom, where
the plate was kept, He was bank mana.
ger, ard responsible for the whole OF It.
1t was winter time, and there was 4 fire in
the room, so bright and comfortable that
was in no hurry to leave it and go 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 drcary the days would seem
until hc returned, and particularly how
lonely | should feel in that great room all
by myself, when he should be away; for
was a dreadful coward 1t was little af.
ter eleven o'clock when got into bed, but
| did not feel the least inclined to sleep
even then; | knew Frank would be com.
ing to wish me good, bye presently; and
besides, there seemed to be all sorts of nois-
es about the room, which my foolish ears
always used to hear whenever | was alone
at nighttime.
If little SCOT fell down the chimney, it
was, | thought, a great black crow at least,
which would soon be flying about the room,
and settling on my pillow; if mouse
squcaked in the walnscot, it was the creak.
ing of some dreadful persons shoes, com.
ing up stairs to kill mo with u carving
knife and if the wind blew at the case.
ment, it was somebody else trying to &c,
in at the window, although it was two sto
rics high. You may imagine, then my
horror when heard a tremendous sneezt
within quarter. of an inch of me, Just be
hind The head-board of the bed, and between
tha: and the wall. where there was con
siderable space. had, as usual, taken tn,
precau,ion. before l put the candle out, O
looking everywhere in the room, where il
was quite impossible any person could b
hid bat in the little alcove into which ths
bed was pushed | had never so much a
thought of looking, although that was capi
tai hiding place for any body Ever since
had slept in that room. in short, | haC
been like the ostrich, who puts his head il
the sand, and then imaglnes himself in per
feet security. | had piqued myself upol
precautionary measures that. after all, nigh
just as well have been omitted The onl'
thing, as believe, which saved my reason
from departing altogether, when | frs
heard that terrible sound, was that my min,
clung to the hope that i, might be after all
only the snceze of a cat. Fifty cats, togeth
er, could not have made half such dis
turbance, it is true, for it was the sneez
Of man who sneezes in spite Of himself
and almost shook tie house but the ide
sustained me over the first shock. Th
next instant the wretch had sneezed again
and pushing aside the bed which rolled o.
casters | felt he was standing beside m
pillow locking at me. If he had given on
ly one sneeze, he might perhaps have be
lieved me, as | lay quite still, breathing a
regularly as could, and pretending to b
asleep; but he reasoned, very justly, tha,
unless was deaf or dead, must have bee
awakened by the second
You're awake, marm, said he, in
gruif voice, and its no use of slamming
If You don't want tap with this life prt
server, just look alive
l opened my eyes exceedingly wide {
: this, and beheld a man with a Grape owe
.. his face, standing by the bed; he held
sort of club, with two knobs upon it i
r his right hand, and with his left he roll
ted to the iron safe Is the money
, there ; said be.
The plate is. said |, in a tremulou
, voice ; pray, take it, sir; | am sure yo
ara y,rv welco,pe - for ba r,;,L, L.-o -,