Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-11-22

BILE or known cause, the eye on which l had
depended as NV only medium Of sight down
to the end Of life. became congested with
blood, and threw me Mt once into the blacks
ness Of darkness. wen, immediately to my
physician, cropping my way in the thick
gloom and though l was assured hy DIR.
Williams that the relapse was but temporary
aud would soon pass away, had n terrible
premonition amounting TO n prophetic CON
%viction, that everlasting night had come
down on my eyes. and that ! had gazcd for
the last time on the co~untenanc,s of those
whom l loved best OF. earth. Ten days from
that time. while l was alone in my chamber.
in St. L.ukc's Hospital, suffering from acute
pain, and b~rooding in awful despondency on
the future Of my family. whom from motives
OF economy l had sent away from me into
TIE country. my left eye suddenly gave way
as the other had done some months before,
and the whole forward part Of il, including
the cornen, was thrown violently from its
place the aqueous humor gushing out on my
cheek. In less than two weeks from the
date Of the attack a newly formed ulcer had
accomplished this merciless devastation.
II, on the morning Of that day, a message
! from that world which lies beyond the re-
eion and shadow Of death had come to me.
saving, "This day shall thy soul be required
Of thee" l could have borne the shock with
comparative resignation but the conscious
ness that in the midst Of my years. at forty
wears ofage, when men are almost univer-
sally in the maturity Of their faculties and
in the meridian of their usefulness, was
shut out evermnre from the sunlight OF heav-
en-. was too terrible for contemplation.
Never, if should live until that period
when the dead OF all climes and of all ages
shall be startled from their long sleep bg the
voice Of the Arch, Angel and the trump OF
God. would = thr II Of greater woe or q
more comprehensive despair pass shudier>
| ingly through nv heart than when | knew
tha, all hope was gone. and that the "ever
during dark" Of which Milton spoke in his
plaintive and sublime Aposirophe to Light.
was around and about me like the walls ola
prison from which the occupant shall 90 on,
no more forever. A. grea, mountain such as
that which was plncsed from its foundations
BY immortal hands when there was war in
Heaven for the dominance ofrreSsoa and for
the enforcement Of Laeifer. seemed - have
fallen upon me. paralvzing nv being. sas>
pending my very breath, ard shH,tisg Dat st
one tstsl sweep Of tremendous calamity az
the visible lights and glores ofthe universe.
Brethren, | have gone tsroE-h this battle
with iestiny IS hravely - ! coglG. | hare
used al the nesas in nv power Is -si well
en- the means xhish nv -s = n Iowa eca-
,-iba,si f- nv Snest sui &- ;h1. & ny
fa1lr while ! was 5ssAseE So tie sesise
iu;ies at nv -ssioa- / savs 4re1 sell
ui-h : vea. : Cacia-8r- @sSa- ths -s.1-.
a.isu ef=ss- ree:se; . 81 t2s %
m scAa al 11ct-s:a. Gv= sra. -
A. s.aSss- 5-ee ans &@@-. he battle
sas sesa -G-rz Ans ! e&rs hsE- TEL ihst
/ : SD : good ssA-@ &atI sk91la live
a.: szEr q badness AL ! Al rEy.ax 70
- cs15sas va m Nt. Ser tie asxt :hree
CT z- -aa:s---shahiy @oce ,hAn that
I 60 - cc--ea@5 - -r&la here il Ea--
r~n. Il lie vS1k- ofC-eun4s- s. a. 70
~ze /, -e A rsstaxE-.
Tke- : St . whAs -s1aizs Of both nv
sves N E~reors1e-el inflammation which
gives 4 ta-bblny pain % nv temples and
.accts osck into Ihe chsnbea OF the brain.
Azsst 5A-sa,eains re With insanity. B.; |
AZ eearn- Z VIII vha,ever CHRISTIAN phil
! an abe 10 s1nG On to nv aid. At
when bare opportunity and es-
,scIalv when / have ny wife with Z e. who
: Nv 4ranesensis, | an engaged in pr par.
- fr the r-ess s book which shsil be emit
I'D The Valley and the Shadow: or toe
ef = Bind Man Aside from
Nv own expsriences, this book will give
nary instances Of hospital life, aud will give
shs,ever is interesting and salient in the
ives OF other blind men with whom | have
,eeome acquainted. This work, a hich shall
be dedicated TO the Press and to the people
ofIowa, ~iildoabt'ess have many melancholy
passa ges in il, bn. one design OF its publica.
ton. IS TO reconcile the blind to their fate,
and enable them to educe from posi- ire evil.
even from the great darkness wherein they
are continually walking. lessons of wisdom
and of absolute happiness. In u few months
more. If life and comparative health be
spared, and especially if this terrible pain 10
my eyes shall bs subdued SO that every
thought shall no; be associated with physi
cal torture, the mauuscrip. Of my book will
be ready for the press and after its issuance
from the press, l viii travel extensively, max.
ing sales as / go.
Brethren, with you I have no conceal.
menss. The | ook which | am preparing for
sion Of mind. is chiefly designed to save nv
helpless family from that last appalling pen.
atty Of pauperism. the County Infirmary.
For myself shall desire but little more 10
make me comfortable during the remainder
Of my pilgrimage on earth but forthe low
ed ones who constitute my family-my wife
and two children-l must make one last eff
IL # - leas, TO place them above slestitution
whe.a | shall have passed sway. The only
reoues. which | shall ever make of you, nv
brethren. who have been 50 kind to me and
mine thus fs.-. and Of the people of my
adopted State. wi use substantial ~sympathies
followed me in M l7isforsunes, is to help
me in this crisis Of m .ste in which the an.
alogy Of business has been inverted, to de-
fray the expenses Of the publication OF my
book.
You who have never deserted me since
the inauguration Of the great woe Of ny life.
will not withhold your help when the exit
ence Of my family depends On your present
bounty. ! plead for them, and not for my !
self, knowing that when IVY book shall have |
been issued from the press. even If there be
no literary merit nor popular interest con-
neciei with it, it will place my family above
want. A blind mans book. dictated while
intense pain is aisorganizing his system and
out his lie, will have purchasers 50
long as active sympathy is an element Of the
human mind.
As indicated above. ms address will be at
Harrison, Hamlinton county. Ohio. for some
months yet. Ny f lends will please take
note of this. / need not ask the journals OF
my State to repnblish this communica ,icn
] know they will all DO it, without reference
to party.
Yours fra.ernally,
J. NJ. DIxox.
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