Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-11-05
The Blind Mans Wish.

The street car was quite full when ]
stepped into it, and laying hold of a
strap, as | swung loosely above the heads
of those sitting, l found that my ear
came just over couple Of yOungish
people, woman perhaps Of twenty and
man of thirty or more. And in spite
Of the noise of the car | had to hear
what they were saying. For they spoke
louder than they would have done had
they been able to see how near to them |
was obliged to stand. But they a0ere both
blind. This | perceived by the way in
which they sat while conversing, then
by noticing their eyes, and finally by the
remarks they made. Their talk was gen
eral and cheerful, and did not arrest my
attention until | heard the young woman
ask her companion this striking ques-
ton:
eff you could have your wish, what
would you choose?
He did not wait to think, but imme-
diately answered,
eff could have my wish, I would
give you your sight"
She was silent moment and then
said,
90 no, not me!
Eyes, YOU" he repeated, and then
they were both still, and neither Of them
spoke word while [ remained in the
car.
My own eyes were moist and I pre-
sumo the blind eyes of both Of them
were full Of tears, for something had
been said that was revelation of atfec-
ton and self-sacrifice such as is almost
without parallel in human love. Who
these people were | knew not, never shall
know of them again, whether they are
brother and sister, or lovers, or why they
should be so bound to each other that
one of them could be willing to prefer to
have the other restored to sight rather
than he himself to have the priceless
boon. They were plainly dressed pee
pie, and as the cars passed the door of
the blind asylum l thought perhaps one
OF them was an inmate, perhaps both,
and they were making an excursion. /
left them, thinking, and stepped out into
the thrOnged street of a great clty-its
rush, and push, and crush enough to
Danish all sentiment from soul and com
pei one to forget that unselhsh hearts
could be beating under hOmely clothes
IN the green cross town cars.
I" No, not mel" She probably was taken
by surprise at the sudden and astounding
declaration that he would rather she
had her sight than to have it himself.
For what on earth does blind man more
desire than to see? Lord, that l may
receive my sight" was the cry OF Bar
timeus to the son of David, who could
have made the beggar Prince as easily
as to make him see. But he was blind,
and though beggar he wanted sight,
and sight only, at the hand Of
an Infinite Giver. Yet my poor
blind brother in the car knew
something more to him and better
than to have the light Of heaven poured
upon his sightless balls; and that some
thing was that the unspeakable gift
might be given to another 1t is not i'm
possible that when she asked the ques-
ton to which this wonderful answer
came she thought he would cry out as
Bartimeus did, THAT | may receive nly
sight" and then she would Overwhelm
him with the response, "But | would
rather yOu could see than l." For
women are so much more unselfish in
their love than men, they are so much
more like Christ in willingness to suffer
in the stead of others, that it would have
been less strange had she made this
almost divine surrender for the sake of
one she loved. She might have said,
and it would have been like woman to
say it, "YOu shall be eyes for me. l will
go leaning upon your arm, and hear you
speak of the worlds of light and beauty
in which we walk; we will 60 to the sea