Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-10-21
THE BLIND Boy


In November. 1seo Mr Nay, forz-
erly professor Of music st T01l01ss,
came to settle Al Mentc1 With his so1
Henry. He rented. n. the f1rkker ezd
Of the town, the aruund fao< e . h11ss.
whose windows looked into tie strses,
and at the same time On the rad Iead-
ing down the mountxin- ItWzs no& The
beauty OF site that bad 1dzeAd skzk
choice, but the peaceful eslEnss aad
the pure aud fragrant ain which PezTsde
that part. Henry Nay was blind
He was about fifteen. when his eye
sight, until then excellent became
gradually weaker 4 very strange din
ness fell over his eyes. and soon he had
to give up reading new music for
Henry, young as he wzs, had already
made his mark Is 3 Violiriss. O1e
morning all was night and darkness
around him. and when, placing kIEzelf
before the sun, he opened hlzeyss wide.
he felt they were parxlyzsd. two large
tears rolled on his cheeks nothing Eore
had revealed his grief.
Then the father took the child 5y The
hand and searched the world for an oe-
EE4ElL14EA
were consulted, and unaninO1zly de
clared that the boy might be ezrei. Il
willing to submit to 8 painful and pezl-
Gus operation.
Mr.. Nay dared not take upon hinsslf
all the responsibility Besides, this
hesitation could not eonpEuniss the
success Of the undertaking- he pre-
cocious child was developlng rzpSdly,
and the father resolved to let hin de-
eide later on.
In the meantime theywent fruH Place
to place, travelling almost constantly.
For Henry, whose smallest wishes were
never denied. was led On by that fever
ish activity and want Of ehsngs which
deluded him to hope for ray Of light
Five years had gone b. They we've
living az Mention, IS everywhere else.
very seeladed, and were seld0z OzS
before evening. The mornings were
given to reading, the afternoo.< to
music. The old MASTER aeeo1panied
on the piano, as we'll As his stiEs1sd
fingers would allow him to follow, ths
brilliant improEisations Of his s01- Ii
was the boys only Joy to give way tins.
strains of his imaginAti01- Notes
sparkIed like q. let Of fire under his
eapricious bow; then long. nslAneholy
strains would fOllow-f1u Of regrets
and tears for the lost treasure
One cool evening HenEys leaning ga
his father, walked to the ssashoReL He
sat on the sand, and there, nosio1lazz,
his attention eentered On the dAzhing
waves, he was trying to perceive. dis
tinet frem one another theinnuEsrzhle
sounds which compose the uo10to2Ozs
harmony OF the sea.
Another day they walked 10 the
woods. following the road that passed
near their house. After half Al ko1r
the boy stopped.
Father, You are tiredF'
mot in the least. answered TIE old
man.
'sYou could not deceive ne. -rssunsd
the blind boy, smiling ~To1r oM,s
stumbles al each step FOrfznatsly,
here we ara. hear The Wind r1szlisg
smong the leaves
mot quiet yet We are walking
along the railing Of park whose trees
project their branches over the r0ad-r
Just then the silence a that cain
night was broken By . few harHo.io1s
chords from . pianos then, after apalss
the invisible musician played he s6o1g
ct the Star" IN TMnnhAuser.
Henry stopped. his hand resting q.
his fathers arm