Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-28

In a village in the mountains Of New
Hampshire the late DIR. Samuel g. Howe
found the subject of this sketch, thcn six
years old, blind, deaf, dumb, and nearly
destitute of tho sense OF taste, scarlet fever
having deprived her Of these gifts. She
was thus excluded from all the beauties of
God in Nature, and seemed little better
than q piece of marble chisellod in hu-
man form, and that form containing a
flies ering spark oran immortal soul. Her
father was a wcll-to-do farmer, and her
mother woman of much intelligence,
who gladly consented to place her little
daughter in care of DR.. Howe. According
ly she was brought to Boston, and pro-
cess of instruction Immediately commen-
ced. She was first taught to use her hands
and to acquire Il command of her muscles
aud limbs, and afterwards, by means ola
pen and pin, TO distinguish two articles by
arbitrary signs. Thou from monosyllables
she learned all tho letters of the alphabet
and how to arrange them to represent OBJ
jects. She soon acquired a knowledge OF
numerals, punctuation, etc, and then she
gained the power of expressing thought,
process taught her was to recognize the
same signs in embossed types. She work
cd with great eagerness, thus rewarding
the watchfu care Of her devoted teacher.
Miss Bridgeman is now in her 10th year,
and between her home aud the Perkins
Institution she has passed her time thus
far. She is tall, slight, graceful in form
| and motion, wears green bands across her
| eyes, is very demorstrative, and her face
at times radiates with emotion. She dresses
with great carc-morc to please her friends
than herself-and takes pride in showing
| her gold watch and other feminine orna-
meutations. She is quite expert in crochet
| ing, and plain needle-work, and takes
much delight in assisting one Of the teach
ers in the sewing department.. y few days
ago she was at work with perhaps dozen
OF the pupils, turning the hens OF napkins,
and threading needles with her fingers ard
| teeth. She exhibited some Of Ler hem.
ming with as much pride as u soldier bear
ing trophy from battle field. \ lady,
on the occasion referred TO, made a pur-
chase from her OF crochet mat, and with
clear articulation Miss Bridgeman repeat
ed tho word "noney" twice. She can utter
intellgiby the name of teacher, and
such words as baby, etc. She forms words
with lead pencil, by the aid OF a French
writing board. This latter article has
groOved lines about an eighth of an inch
deep, an inch or 50 apart, running trans
versely across the pasteboard. She takes
| her paper and presses it into tho grooves,
| 4 1, 81
by the pencil point and when slightly
| pressed leaves letter mark. In furnish
ing her autograph, she writes above her
name Scripture text. On her being asked
if she realized the meaning Of the quota
ton, "Th0 Lord is my Shepherd she re-
piled Gully" On learning that her ques-
| toner had been a Sabbath school teacher
for Is years, she claspeI her hands with
delight aud made an attempt, in raptur-
Gus manner, 10 speak, giving forth lutd
like sound. Miss Bridgeman, after the
death OF her father, was selfshly deprived
Of the little property he LETT for herself and
her mother, and she continues to earn n
little money by tho use of her needle.
She, however, possesses the interest of a
| bequest of $1,000 from the Loring fund.
Yesterday this lady was ceiling acutely the
| death of the noble man who brought out
her imprisoned spirit from chaos. Sho is a
| living monu ment OF his devotion, patience,
hope, waiting, watching and giving Of eyes
to he blind and language 10 the dumb lips.
The Emperor of Prussia sent DR.. Howe 4
| gold medal for his marvellous achievement
IN educating Laura Brdgemau.
The attention of the European world was
| first drawn TO Miss Bridgcman's most ex-
traordinary case through Charles Dick
ens's NOTES." in which very full ac-
count was given, and deserved eulogium
| passed upon DR.. Howe.