The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-04

Sly little one.
Steals IN my corner before I'm aware.
Here II our play ground-the sunshiny room,
Never has fallen shadow of gloom:
Wise httle noddle to know all their 5ames.
Clover-hud mSuth held to mine to be kissed.
9i''eE.SSnea Ss1e5 Volce-how that voice would be
A corner you've won-dId you know this beforeq-
Deep IL my htart, to be kept evermore!
Deaf and Dumb Thanksgiving.
Net6e 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 1t IS queer mistake. Their throats
are just as gsod as other peoples thev
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 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 whv this is best !.
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 a company of
little folks get through with more
thanksgiving dinner than they can.
No trouble with their throats then.
Nettie Stuart 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 it slow
ly 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 captain uncle, who lived to see
the day when Nettie could wind him
(metaphorically) around her little
finger.
At first, the neighbors shook their
heads and said she was an IDIOT But
Netties 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 kitten. Nobody evel
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 in school, where, among other
things, she learned to be more quiet
and orderly, but the mischief would
crop out, sometimes. She was now
eleven years of age, and this was hel
third year at school. Mamie Arthur
playmate at home, and was but just
come to school, SO she looked up tc
Nettie, and would go into anything, i
the latter only led the way.
On this Thanksgiving morning the
two girls woke early, and found soft
thick snow falling.
"Oh," sighed Nettie thinking il
signs, "1f we could only have sleigh
ride.
Then Mamie told her on her fingers
of a long ride she had with her papa
last Thanksgiving, to carry dinner tt
a poor sick woman and her little ones
t'The house was poor and cold, bu
the children were hungry, and the ride
was splendid. didn't have to be at thil
old school then," said Mamie in signs
and curling her lip in contempt.
Just then a bright thought, or baG
one. flashed through Nettie's head sh,
touched Mamie, and then drew the pain
of one hand rapidly across the othe
palm and fingers, ending by slipping
the right hand under the left, as if i
were hiding. By this she said as quickl
as you can say it
81 cts run away.
Where ?" said Mamie, by openin
both hands, with the palms turned ur
ward, passing from side to side httl
and looking about her.
"Ob. anywhere" said Nettie uncor
edIv. ssthere's no school, and I hav
fifty cents to spend, and we can be bac
in time for dinner.
tt wouId not do to slight Thanksgi7
ing-dinner, even for the fun of runnin
away.
Sc think we can get sIe1gn-rlo
somehow said Nettie, who had bee
SO long used to having her wishes graf
fed that nothing seemed impossible
About 10 o'clock the little girls, i
ermine capes and mufs, Polish boots
and iaunty white plush hats, were see
slipping through the snow, behind
grew by the side of walk at the bac
Of the grounds. There was gate (
the end of the walk, but it was alwaJ
kept locked. Kittens do not stop fc
locked gates, however, SO Nettle an
Mamie we're soon over, picking the
Wav through the deep snow. They wei
in side street, and by turning once {
twice as fancy led them, they came to
church. In front were several horse
and sleighs whose owners were 1nsld
the church. =.
Deacon Pettingil and his wife ha
driven to church on Thanksgiving morl
ing and home again for dinner Il