Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-19
A Deaf and Dumb Thanksgiving.

Deaf and Dumb Thanksgiving.
Nettie Stuart was deaf and dumb.
She was born deaf but not dumb. Many
folks think that deaf-mutes are dumb
because of some defect in their throats,
but it is queer mistake. Their Threats
are just as good as other peoples they
only do not talk, because they never
learned how.
Some of them do learn to talk, how
ever, and the way in which they are
taught is very curious.
But 1 cannot stop to tell you about it
now, for / must tell you how Nettie and
Mamie spent Thanksgiving.
The pupils in our large institutions
for the deaf and dumb generally spend
the whole school year at school. There
are several reasons why this is best f;
among others, that it is difficult and
expensive getting so many to and from
school. So they have no holidays ex-
cept Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Years.
Like true philosophers. however,
they make the most of what they have,
and / would like to see company of
little IOIkS get through Win more
Thanksgiving dinner than they can.
No trouble with their Threats then.
Nettie Stuar. was a great pet at
home. Deaf and dumb children al.
ways are, as you would soon find out if
you happened to spend the first week of
the school year In deaf and dumb in
stitution, and saw the tears and kisses
and candy with which their fathers and
mothers leave them.
All the love naturally falling to the
share OF the little girl was given her
when she was born But when il slow
~ dawned upon the poor father and
mother that something allied their baby
daughter, that she was not Just like
other babies, they loved and petted her
more fondly than ever.
"Out of all reason" said the gruff
old sea-eaptain uncle, who lived to see
the day VIXEN Nettie could wind him
(metaphoricaily) around her little
finger.
At first, the neighbors shook their
heads and said she was an idiot. But
Nettie's mamma knew better than the
neighbors, and, indeed, it seemed
strange that any one could look into
that bright, merry little face, and think
her silly. But as she never spoke a
word, and would pay no attention when
any one spoke to her, not even when
candy was mentioned, it was plain some
thing was wrong. So her sorrowing
father and mother took her to a cele-
brated physician. But he could only
send them home with all the hope taken
out of their hearts, and a sharp pain
there instead, for he told them that
their little girl would never hear. So
Nettie had her own way more than ever,
and as time passed on she grew as
mischievous as a kitten. Nobody ever
corrected her for her pranks. Nobody
thought they could, so she was not
afraid to do anything that came into
her head.
When she was eight years old she was
placed IL school, where, among Other
things, she learned to be more quie,
and orderly, but the mischief would
crop out, sometimes. She was nov
eleven years of age. and this was hel
third year at school. Mamie Arthur
her little friend of seven. had been hel
playmate at home, and was but JUS
come to school, so she looked up tx
Nettie, and would go into anything, i
the latter onlyle the way.
On this Thanksgiving morning tn,
two girls woke early, and found a soft
thick snow falling.
"Oh," sighed Nettie thinking il
signs. "if we could only have a sleigh
ride"
Then Mamie told her on her finger
of long ride she had with her papa
last Thanksgiving, to carry dinner t,
a poor sick woman and her little chill
dren.
"The house was poor and cold, bu
the children were hungry, and the rid
was splendid. I didn't have to be at thi
old school then" said Mamie in signs
and curling her lip in contempt.
Just then a bright thought, or ba
one, flashed through Nettie's head sh
touched Mamie, and then drew the pair
of one hand rapidly across the othe
palm and fingers, ending by slippin
the right hand under the left, as If
were hiding. By this she said as quickl
as you can say it
"Let's run away"
Where p" said Mamie, by openin
both hands, with the palms turned ~
WAru, paSSlhS lIOm oiuc W sluc uttl
and looking about her.
"Oh, anywhere" said Nettie uncol
edly, "there's no school, and / hay
fifty cents to spend, and we can be bac
in time for dinner"
It would not do to slight Thanksgi
ing-dinner, even for the fun of runnir
away. ~
CT think we can get sleigh-ri
somehow" said Nettje. who. had bee
SO long used to having her wishes graf
fed that nothing seemed impossible.
About 10 o'clock the little girls,
ernine -capes aud NUTS. Polish boot
and jannty white plush hats, we're see
slipping through the snow. behind
9 hedge Of spruce and fir trees. whit
grew by the side of walk at the bat
of the grounds. There was gate
the end of the walk, but it was alwa,,
kept locked. Kittens do not stop #
locked gates, however, so Neitie al
: Mamie were soon over, picking the
way through the deep snow They we
in side street, and by turning once
twice as fancy led them, they came to
. -ehnrsh. In front were several hors
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