Connecticut western news., 1873-01-17
Vagaries of d Blind Man.

Vagaries of Blind Man. I am to be introduced to remarkable character, whom I 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, (for he is blind, ) to sit for an hour in the cloisters. He is in conversation with himself conversa- tion interspersed with short scoraful laughs, upon the one master-subiect of his thought. I have been forewarned as to his little peculiarity, at least, his special peculiarity of all, which is that all his thoughts run perpetually upon the devil. It is concerning that fallen angel that he holds. those sarcastic soliloquies, talking, if not to him, at any rate of him. "" So for granted does he take it, that the subject of his own thoughts is also certainly and always the subject of yours, that he never thinks it necessary to go beyond pronouns, nor to specify by any name the lost spirit who is his perpetual theme. It is always "He," or "His." So I am prepared when, upon my brothers accosting him he plunges into the subject without ex- planation or preface At present he seems in somewhat sympathetic vein.
 They runs him down shocking. shocking, everywhere. Why, there ain't murder or a theft committed, but they lays it all at his door. I suppose, sir, he eggs 'em on, that's it. They runs him down where you came from, sir, I suppose ?"
 "Oh, yes! but here's gentleman wants to talk to you; he has just come from a long way off ;"
 "Well, what sort of character do they give him, down there? I dare say they runs him there? Ahab served him we'll, sir. Jeremiah used to run him. You clergymen all give him very bad character; but what would you do with out him? Your work would all be gone p
 At another time he would change over from the position of apologist, and "rur him." himself; partly on personal mist.
 "Shouldn't be blind, shouldn't be lame, if it wasn't for him. Shouldn't want prisons, shouldd't have to keep all these soldiers; see what a lot he costs us p
 He rather startled my sister one sultry l passing" Very hot, Billy" "Ah!" he
 Billy's knowledge of the Bible was something very marvellous When he did turn for awhile from his favorite hero, the conversation was all of divers Scripture characters, in world of which the old man seemed really to live. This was the more curious, inasmuch as he I 1>1 r L 1,>41 quaintance with them came, or was kep' up, in this way. He never missed either morning or afternoon prayers at the chapel You might see him shuf1inc in, doubtless looking with special zest to a chapter which should introduce "him." If Che" were "run" in ser mon, it seemed rather to excite his championship for "him," but still there evidently was fascination in the subject which made it delight to hear "him' "r1n" than not treated of at all The most remarkable thing was that Billy knew perfectly, though blind, the pro per lesson for every day, matins 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 an unhappy canon went to the lecter1 and began to read. Forthwith, Billy shuff1es over to him and pulls his sur plice. It's the wrong lesson, sir" The poor man tried to go on, but Billy per severed, until there was nothing left bu to return to the desk and look. where upon the mentor was seen to be right
 The old man was also great critic o1 sermons. Few things offended hin more than to have the proper subject O the day or season ignored.
 MT. Moss came and preached here preached on Advent Sunday sermon fit for Christmas. Quite wrong. Jus the same on the Epiphany Wh, couldn't he preach on the subject of thu day?"
 He evidently disliked what has beer called " stale bread"
 "You'u soon have man here, sir, t, preach ; if I had as many guineas a I've heard him preach old sermons, PC sit you down to the finest dinner yo1 ever ate in your life. Y"
 Enough of thee, Billy! May the hou and the day arrive to thee when evil an gels and nights shadows shall togethe flee from eyes and mind; and a galaxy o white, serious-eyed, sweet angels gree thy recovered vision. ---The COenot7. P0TSOn.