The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-12-02
MISS ELIZABETH A. HIT.
The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Girl, of Cher
okec County, Georgia.

Connor. resides with her parents, about |
five miles north of Canton, in Cherokee
county, Ga, and is the most wonderful
parsonage it has ever been the pleasure
of the writer to meet. She was born
December Z. 1858. of parents poor in this
worlds goods, and of limited education,
and until about five years of age, was in
all respects as other children. At this
time she was taken sick, and upon her
recovery it was found that she was left
totally deaf and totally blind. Dumbness
soon followed, and now August IL. 1873,
she is in a state of as complete isolation
from anything like communication with
her fellow beings as it is possible for one
to be.
Think for moment of being under
the necessity of passing ones life in total
darkness and in total silence-with no
ray of God 9 sunlight ever again to glad
den you with the beautiful things of this
world, and with no sound of a mothers
voice ever again to pour the balm of con-
ISOLATION into your wounded heart. with
no strain of soul-inspiring music ever
again to raise your thoughts to the All
Merciful One. with gratitude that He has
given US harmony of sweet sounds to
and dependency. All
this passed through my mind, as it had
often done before, while | drew near the
place of her residence-an humble log
cabin. Imagine my surprise at finding
instead of person of sad countenance,
weighed down with a sense of affection
one with rather pretty face, beautiful
black hair, rosy cheeks and with dark
eyes, which required close examination
before any defect could be discovered.
and withal cheerful appearance as if
&c
pleasure from which she was cut off.
Upon stepping into the house, she SEEM
ed conscious in moment that there was
a stranger present, and upon shaking
hands with her, she seemed much agita-
ted
Her father told of the many things she
could do, which quite astonished me.
She can sew very nicely-makes her own
dresses after being cut, hens, gathers
and sews on ruff1es-spins as nice thread
as any one, makes tatting and fringes of
various patterns, and handsome willow
baskets, all of which, according to the
statement of her father, she took up of
her own accord.
Having an anxiety to see her sew Mr..
Hit procured needle and thread and
gave her, but, she did not seem inclined
to crafty my curiosity. He praised her
little in his way. and pulled her pocket,
which he said was promise to make it
heavy" with money. She still refused.
] took twenty-five cents and placed in
her hand, which / stroked few times.
and she soon began her work by placing
the eye of the needle to the tip of her
tongue to locate its position, holding it
carefully between the thumb and finger
of the left hand, then twisting the end of
the thread as is customary and passing it
~ he he haf
which she held it seeming to serve as q
guide, and when this was completed she
demonstrated that she could sew very
neatly.
Wishing to purchase one of her bask-
cts, / asked the father to let me commu-
nicate with her without assistance from
him. l placed in her hand willow twig
such as she used in making baskets,
closed her fingers and, with it pointed to
where her baskets were hanging and
then placed her hand on my chest
Without hesitating at all she arose and
took down three or four baskets of diff
ferent sizes and patterns and laid them
on the bed before me. Having made 6
choice the next thing was to ask the
price.
Having been previously told that sh,
counted money by nickels, l traced will
nv forefnger the shape of a nickel il
the palm of her hand and touched he
fingers. She responded by touching th'
four fingers of my left hand, indicating
four nickels or twenty cents, whicl
seemed so little that I concluded sh
had made mistake, but upon appealing
to her father, he said twenty cents wa
the price asked for them. When / toll,
her by touching her ten fingers ant
thumbs I would give ten nickels, sh
Il al hot hov
demanded had been given. When
took off her bonnet, which she wear
almost constantly, and told her she ha
beautiful hair, it was amusing as well g
touching to see the bushes oversprea
her face, while her features gave forth
smile of pleasure, showing that thoug
cut off from contemplation of thing
which-we call beautiful, she still has he
ideas of beauty and possesses the innat
desire of her sex to be called pretty. Sh
exhibits all the fondness for dress an
display usually exhibited by females, an
seems to appreciate new hat, or a pre-
ty ribbon, as much as any one. She a
tends church, and goes to the ladies an
feels their hats, hair, dresses ETC., to 81
what are the prevailing fashions, an
when any thing strikes her fancy she
inclined to adopt it.
She had but one photograph of he
self, which she brought and showed m
and when I asked her for it she shoe
her head very positively. Being anxiol
to secure picture of her, her father.
motions which had little Specification
me, seemed to make her understand tn
| would take the picture home al
return it at future day. at any ra
when he was through with her, 81
bowed her head as token of consent.
Laura Bridgeman, educated by tn
great philanthropist, DIR. Samuel
Howe, at the Perkins Institution for t
Blind, at Boston, and who has wor
wide renown was, if am not mistake
taught her various accomplishment
while under instruction. This G
seems, from the statements of her faith
to have taken them up OF her own
cord.
/ was half inclined to doubt the tru
of some of his statements, and took p
ticular pains to enquire of the neighbt
ms to his standing as a man of veraci
and without an exception, they all SAT-
might rely ON anything he might ha
told nae, but, Mr.. Editor, having alrea
trespassed to too great an extent up
your columns, I close this imperfect
count of, to me, the most INTEREST,"
~om.ov 7 hova avar met