Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-05-29


lately finished your studies, but anyhow
you will be prepared to attach some weight
to what | am gong to tell you. You
may not know who is speaking to you:
] am DIR. -, chief of the asylum here. )"
The face put on look OF respect at this
eminent uame. You have for some days
been playing hereafter an hour daily, and
you have bad great effect on my most
perplexlng patient, young lady who
seems to have her mind entirely obIIt era
ed. L Is evident that nothing but your
playing has an effect -on her, for | have
tried several other futo-players in vain,
and therefore | wish to ask 1t y u Will
aid me in attempting full restoration of
hor faculties"
[ expect an instant affirmative nod; but
the head did not move, only the strain
grew more thoughtful. The you student
seemed in doubt, and the physlctan could
not tell his objections from the mere ex-
preston of his eyes, or the changed meas
ure of his playing. Fortunately, after a
short time to k out 10y watch, and we
saw thrt the usual time of his playing had
expired. On our Informing him of 1t, be
ceased, and descended into the lane.
"Will you allow me-" he asked, with
out waiting for further exhortatlon, Ito
talk over the question with you? [ must
known what is expected of me, and |
must have some idea OF the facts Of the
case, before L can pledge myself to help
you"
Come this way then," answered the
physician, and we all three returned
through the secret entrance. We found
my friend awaiting us with looks OF The
lntensest excitement.
Il never saw so remarkable case" he
began. "You know, | have some idea of
music, though no scientific knowledge
But if had been deaf, [ could have fol
lowed all the variations in that girls
looks. [ tried the experiment, and you
shall tell me, if [ guessed rightly. |
stopped my ears, so that did not bear a
note; and, indeed I could hardly have
heard with my ea1s open. Tell me, did
you not begin with lively strain, which
continued for some minutes after [ was
left alone? Then was there not fall
and trembling uncertainty, as if the
player was seeking some other tune, and
could hardly choose which was the most
fitting? For her face grew brighter rap
Idly during the first few minutes, thon
she seemed to be wavering. Then the
music proceeded somewhat by fits and
start, as if you were talking to the player
while played on; and then come a long,
solumn, thoughtful measure, perple1ed
and hesitating, after a sudden burst of
JOY. Am not [ right? [ judged it from
his; heo face, which had been alternately
clouded and wavering, frightened, sud
denly, like burst Of light which follows
the thick of hailstorm; then came a
heavy cloud, through which she seemed
striving to make her will felt on some un-
seen antagonists, and then she spraEg up
with cry of Yes, you will save mel
"What she spoke ?" interrupted the
physician. "No one knew as yet whether
she was dumb or had a voice"
"You may assure yourself that she has
now" my friend continued "At the
sudden spring she made [ dropped my
hands from my ears, and heard those
words plainly; and just then the music
died away with a melancholy wall. But
the words are still sounding in my ears :
Yes, you will save me ?"
"And [ will, please God !" replied the
student "Dr.-, you will allow me a
few words in private r.. str
The student played every day at a diff
ferent place, enticing the young lady
gradually from the gloomy part of the
shubbery to the garden, and at last into a
cheerful wing Of the house, which had
been made into conservatory. L must
mention that they were never brought
face to face all this time he way always
hidden from her, at first by the wall or by
the trees, afterwards by a screen 1t was
thought that, perhaps, if she witnessed the
steps taken to cure her, she mis bit: espec-
tally as she progressed, revolt against the
treatment, and it was remembered that
all the former unsuccessful experiments
had been made in her sight.
The case proceeded steadily and salts,
factorily. Gradually the clouds seemed
to rise and disperse; it seemed as if the
iron mask was being gradually lifted from
before her face. Her parents were, after
time, admitted to see her she recog-
nlzed them again, and grew to take inter
est in them. At last the physician
thought that nothing more was wanted
than that she should be brought face to
face with her deliverer. He expected
much from this step, and I must say that
1t fully realized his expectations. They
had short interview, at which her par
ents were present, and after that she was
discharged perfectly cured.