The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-14
Laura Bridgman-An Evening in her Home.

Laura Bridgman-An Evening in her Home.
From the Congregatlonalist.
The readers of the Congregationalist
are of course familiar with the history
of Laura Bridgman.
| Previous to the time when the dis
ease came upon her which was the
cause of her calamity, she had never
been well only very short time, and
that just before she was two years old.
At that age. DR.. Howe informs us,
"the scarlet fever ravaged her system
with great fury, destroying utterly the
organs of sight and hearing, bunting
! the sense of smell, and prostrating her
whole system so completely that recov-
quent recovery and wonderful progress
under the care Of DR.. Howe, who took
charge of her education when she was
seven years old, need not speak.
| On arriving at the house, we were
brought into the presence of very
good.looking lady of forty-seven years.
| Her countenance was spare, and spec
tacles covered her eyes from view.
Her regular features and tidy appear
ance would convey any other impress
sion than that she was the person
whose misfortunes have been told in
both hemispheres. She arose from
her chair and took us both each warm
ly by the hand as we entered, and at
| once commenced conversation with
the remark that she had not expected
to see US that evening, our call being
later than was intended. Let it be
borne in mind that she conversed by
means of the deaf and dumb alphabet,
and that she was addressed by these
same characters being made in the
to her through the sense of feeling.
Knowing that it was a minister, she
inquired i'll was Baptist. On my
answering that was Congregation on
alist, she remarked and repeated, "we
cannot commune here, but we can in
heaven This remark was probably
suggested by the fact that she had
just attended the covenant meeting of
the Baptist Church, of which she is a
member It being suggested to hear
that the temperature of the room was
warm, she went to open the door as
readily as any one could have done,
extending the hand just at the proper
time to take the latch. She asked my
residence, and whether it was near
Boston. She also inquired if l had
read Of her in books, After, a few
minutes conversation she asked if we
would like to see her fancy work. I
answered in the Affirmative; upon
which she went to drawer-she
could not have gone more directly if
she had had her sight and brought a
number of articles of excellent knit
and crochet work-ladies' collars,
lamp mats, &C., all Of which bore her
name and the price of each article in
her own hand writing. 1 selected a
specimen and picture of herself, and
she at once knew the amount ] paid
her from the size of the scrip-re-
marking that it was new, and making
a graceful gesture of thanks. It will
be interesting to say that she makes
any garment without assistance after
it is cut, threading her own needle
with her tongue.
Iasked for her autograph, and she
proceeded up stairs in the darkness
darkness to her in any case-and
brought her writing implements,
among them small board with grooved
lines These determine the breadth
OF the letters she is to make, and their
distance apart determines the distance
Of the lines. She wrote neatly and
rapidly in letters resembling the raised
ones Of her books: "Tbe Lord is my
Shepherd,I shall not WANT Her moth
er remarked that she would write a let
ter quicker than she could herself.
When we arose,to go she took her watch
from her belt and told us the time
''three minutes past seven by means
of the raised figures on the face: and
she took us by the hand, which was
her way Of saying good evening.
1t is surprising that one who is deaf,
dumb, and blind, whose mind has to
be reached mainly through the sense
Of feeling. should be able to compre-
bend so readily, and express herself
50 easily. She recognizes those whom
she has met before, as readily as any
one. AS might be expected, her emo
lions all show themselves in her conten-
ance, whether of Joy or sadness.
The death of her kind friend, DR..
Howe, was severe blow to her.
Such is the appearance of Laura
Bridgman. She has no recollection of
sight or sound, as she tells us, yet
is able to do such things as I have
related, and finds much more to enjoy
in life than many who have all their
faculties. It is said that she plays
skilfully on the piano, though this we
did not see. She spends much of her
time at the Institution Of the Blind,
South Boston.
Loves Icy Dream.