The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
yagaries Of a Blind Man.


/ am to be introduced to q remarkable
character, whom wish Charles Dick
ems had happened to fall in with. Let
this feeble pen recall what it may of his
specialities. See, We near him, led now
by his daughter, dor he is blind, y to
sit for an hour in the cloisters. He is
in conversation with himself converse
ton interspersed with short scornful
laughs, upon the one master.subiect Of
his thought have been forewarned
as to his little popularity, at least, his
special peculiarly Of all, which is that
all his thoughts run perpetually upon
the devil. II is concerning that fallen
angel that ho holds those sarcastic
soliloQuies, talking, if not to him, at any
rate of him. SO for granted does lie
take it, that the subject Of his own
thoughts is also certainly and always the
subject of yours, that he never thinks IL
necessary to go beyond pronouns, nor
to specify by any name the lost spirit
who il his perpetual theme. II is always
He" or Ills" So I am prepared
when, upon my brothers accosfjng lin
he plunges into tho subject without OK
PLANTATION or preface. At present he
seems in somewhat sympathetic vein.
"They runs him down shocking,
shocking, everywhere. Why, there amt
murder or theft committed, but they
lays it all at his door / suppose, sir,
he eggs EN- on, that's it. They runs
him down where you came from, sir, l
suppose ?"
"0h, yes but here's gentleman
wants to talk to You; he has just come
from long why OFF,.
"Well, what sort of n character do
they give him down there? dare say
they runs him there? Ahab served him
well, sir Jeremiah used to run him.
You clergymen all give him very bad
character; but what would you do with
out him9 Your work would MI be
gone y
AT another time he would change over
from the position Of apologist, and run
him." himself; partly on personal
grounds, partly as political econo.
mist.
"sllouldn't be blind, shouldn't be
lame, il il wasn't for him. Shouldn't
want prisons, shouldn't have to keep al
these soldiers; see what lot he costs
us WA ''F
He rather startled my sister one sultry
summer day, when she accostcd him in
passing" Very hot, Billyi' "Ahl" lie
tejoined, "but what must IL be there |"
Billy's knowledge of the Bible WIS
something very marvellous. When he
lid turn for awhile from his favorite
hero, tho conversation wns NIL OF divers
Scripture characters, in n world of which
The old man seemed really to live. This
vas the more curious, inasmucli us he
WIS blind. suppose his intimate ac-
luaintance with them came, or WINS kept
up, in this way. He never missed either
morning or afternoon prayers Mt the
chapel. You might see him shutting
in, doubtless looking with special zest
10 q chapter which should introduce
"him." IF che" we're "rm" in Il SER
mon, it seemed rnther to excite his
championship for "him, but still there
evidently wasa fascination in thesubicct
which made it delight to hear chin"
"rin" than not treated OF at all. The
most remarkable thing was TINT Billy
knew perfectly, though blind, the pro
per lesson for every day, mathis and
even-song, in the Christian year. And
more than this, he was determined that
the right lesson, and no other, should
be read. Thus, one day, in full chapel,
m unhappy canon went to the lcctern
and began to read Forthwith, Billy
shuflles over to him and pulls his sur
plice. It's tho wrong lesson, sir. !" The
poor man tried to go on, but Billy per-
severed, until there was nothing loft but
to return to tho desk and look. where
| upon the mentor was seen to be right.
The old man was also great critic on
sermons. Few things offended him
more than to have tho proper subject Of
the day or sCRson ignored.
:" Mr.. Moss came and preached here,
preached Oh Advent Sunday sermon
| 1T for Christmas. Quite wrong. Just
Nthe same on the Epiphany. Why
couldn't he preach on the subject Of the
day?"
He evidently disliked what has been
called estate bread"
"You'll soon have n man here, sir, to
preNch if | had us many guineas as
I've heard him preach old sermons, I'd
sit You down to the finest dinner you
ever ate in your life"
Enough Of thee, Billyl May the hour
and the day arrive to thee when evil M
gels mud nights shadows shall together
flee from eyes and mind; and a galaxy of
white, serious.eyed, sweet angels greet
thy recovered vision. Tile Country
Pdpson.