The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-04-11

and something O. the same kind in mos
trades and it's only reasonable that i
| should be so, for fellow would not b.
much Of o workman If he didn't love hi!
craft.
Well, was busy driving the nails in 9
piece O. boarding, thinking all the tim,
about the missus coming down, when
makes false stroke, hit the nail on ons
side, and it flew up and caught me right il
the eye.
Talk about agony No one knows what
! suffered, for in short time the infamma.
ton spread from one eye to the other, and
was quite blind, so that !, had to be led
home to my lodging. Perhaps you know
what bit O. dust, or a lash, or anything o
that kind is in your eye; you know the
pain and worrying it gives you; so you can
think what / SUFFERED great, tall, stout
fellow-as l lay turning about, with the
sweat dropping off me.
Doctor came, and did all he could. Next
day came, and the pain seemed easier.
Next day after that came, and letter say
ing my wife would not be there for another
day, and some one had to read it to me, for
everything was as black as night; and at
last, worn out with pain and lonesomeness,
and the horrid feeling that l was to be a
blind, helpless man, turned over upon my
face. and stopped there till the pillow was
quite wet.
Yes, knew it was the act Of child; but
felt one then, as l thought of the bright
light of Gods sunshine gone from me for
ever; that should gaze no more upon the
loving face Of my own wife, and that the
merry, bright eyes Of my little ones would
sparkle for me no more. That l should
henceforth grope about in the dark, seek
ing, like that sorcerer in the Testament, for
some one to lead me by the hand. That |,
the great man Of bone and muscle, should
be in moment stricken down helpless, to
be henceforth burden to my poor wife,
and we-poor people.
1t was the act Of a child, know for,
with an exceeding bitter cry, lay there
and sobbed miserably, while every tear
smarted and burned like melted lead lun-
ming over my eycballs. Q yes, it was the
act of child, and knew that was now
as helpless as the weakest. How lay and
thought OF poor blind Samson, and pitied
him. How l called to mind those with
sightless eyeballs whom had often passed
by uncaringly; and how | thought and
thought what could do for my bread in
the long, long night that now seemed my
future.
g. In the dark! in the dark kept on
grooming to myself as l lay and then
thought Of the past time, and of how great
blessing l had thou. htlessly enjoyed
and then the thought came to me of other
blessings which never seemed blessings be-
fore, for being mostling short o money,
always thought myself hard used, and
lol .ln 1
at last of all thinking and suffering. my
head seemed to get hot, and | turned dclir.
ious, half mad. you know.-and went on
terribly, | suppose, till two days after
when seemed to wake up in the dark, and
lay still, thinking and wondering where
was, till ! heard noise as of some on,
moaning, and calls out. g Who's there p
knew who it was directly, for just heart
the one word g Tom sobbed out, and ther
there was an arm Under my head, and tear.
such tender, hopeful words whispering t
me. rs made my heart swell and beat; ant
| felt that, come what might-come sick
ness, come sorrow, blind, or able to Sec
| had some one to lean on, and to lead m,
by the hand.
We were very quiet then, and l lay o,
my side trying 10 look through the blacl
darkness at that dear old face that coulc
feel close by me, as some one kneeled dow
| by the bedside; but no, could not see j
with my eyes. though l could with M,
heart. And then she stopped sobbing, an,
talked of hoping for the best, and OF hov
the eyes Of the blind had been opened, an,
that perhaps my atfliction might, by Hi
help, yet be removed. And so we talked
and talked, and she said that we would
sorrow no more about it, and then how
much she could get by needlework, and al
on so hopefully, that i seemed to brighter
up; but ony for few moments, for
knew what dead, helpless burden should
be. And then she must have seen my face
working, and, poor lass she broke down
herself, when l said she had better have
been left widder.
At last, in the quiet O. that little room
not a sound to be heard but the twitterina
O. the BIRDS outside the window, said, in
better hope, but we got no further than
Thy will be DONE"
Dick Smith, never knowed how much
love, and tenderness, and..gentleness there
was in this world until CROPPED about i,
in the dark. I'd been bitter, as many q
disappointed workingman, and rallied at nay
betters; but now, in the midst of my trou.
bic, learnt that had walked all my life,
in the dark, stumbling about, and not see-
ing the blessings that were spread around
me. We never knew want during that dark
month which we spent in that pleasant
country place, where my wife led me about
amongst the sweet spring flowers, while
everybody had kind and loving word for
me. The governor allowed me half wages,
and somebody did necdlcwork, and they
used to pay her double and treble, and send
me all sorts O. things, so that we were well
off. Then the doctor came every day, and
told me wasn't to fret about 1t, for he
hoped should get my sight yet.
One day sat trembling in my chair, with
the doctor operating,-not trembling at
the pain, but for fear he might have been
decided; somebody stood there, too, hold
ing my hands, for she had got leave to be
present. All at once there was a bright
flash of light, and then felt my head swim,
and | tainted dead away, for could not
stand up against the. swelling JOY that burst
upon me.
X \ ~
As keen a pair of eyes, as ready pair
of hands. and rs willing and hopeful heart
as hope are 10 be found in any workshop
in England, Dick Smith and I'm humble
and thankful man forsit. But, Lord bless
you, has my fits of III temper when things