The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-29

/
turned and turned on my pillow and
thought Of the fifty years OF darkness
which might he mine--a thought which
made me wish that when / fell asleep
it might be to wake no moreP
Blind! After lowering around me
for years the demon Of darkness had at
last laid his hand upon me. After let
ting me, for awhile. almost cheat my
self into security, he had swept down
upon me, folded me in his sable wings
a.d blghted my life. Fair forms,
sweet sights, bright eolors, gay scenes
mine no more! He claimed them all,
leaving me darkness, darkness, ever
darkness! Far better to die, and II
may be, wake in new world of light
''Better," | cried in my despair, "bet-
ter even the dull red glare of Hadea
than the darkness of the worldp'
This last gloomy thought Of mine
shows the state Of mind to which / was
reduced. RI
The truth is that, in spite Of hope
held out to ME, had resolved TO be
hopeless. For years had felt that my
foe was lying in wait for me. Often
when gazing on some beautiful OBJ ect,
some fair scene, the right to enjoy
which made one fully appreciate the
gift of sight, whisper seemed to reach
my ear-"Some day j will strike again,
then it will be all over" / tried ia
laugh at my fears, but could never
quite get rid Of the prcsentimsnt OF
evil. My enomy had struck once-why
not agalnP
Well ] can remember his first appear.
ance-his first attack. remember q
light-hearted school-boy so engrossed in
sport and study that he scarcely noticed
how strangely dim the sight o. one eye
was getting, or the curious change
which was taking place in its appear.
ance. remember the boys father
taking him to London, to large dull,
looking house in quiet dull street. J
remember our waiting in room il
which were several other people; mos
of whom had shades or bandages ovei
their eyes. Such doleful gathering il
was that felt much relieved when we
were conducted TO another room in
which sat o kind, pleasant-spoken man,
called by my father Mr.. Jay. Thi:
eminent man, after applying something
which | know now was belladonna To
my eyes, and which had the effect fol
q short time OF wonderfully improving
my sight, peered into my eyes by the
aid of strong lenses and mirrors-I re.
member at the time wishing some ol
those lenses were mine-what splendid
burning-glasses they would make!
Then he placed me with my back to the
window and held lighted candle before
my face. All these proceedings seemed
so funny that | was half inclined to
laugh. My fathers grave, anxious face
alone restrained me from so doing. As
soon as Mr.. Jay had finished his re-
searches he turned to my father:
"Hold the candle as l held it. Let
it shine into the right eye first Now,
Mr.. Vaughan, what do you seeP How
many candles, mean?"
,, "Three--the one in the center small
and bright, but upside down."
"Yes; now try the other eye. How
many thereP"
My father looked long and carefully
/, ~ cali only see one," he said, "thC
, large one."
"This is called the catoptric test, ar
old-fashioned but infallible test, now al
most superseded. The boy is suffering
from lenticular cataract.
, This terribly sounding namo tool
away all my wish to laugh. glanced
at my father and was surprised Il
notice his face wearing an expression
of relief.
|, THAT may be cured by an opera.
tion," he said.
Certainly but in my judgment It i.
not well TO meddle, so long as the Other
eye remains unaffected.
, "ls there dangerP'
"There is always danger Of the dis
: ease appearing in the sound eye; but
, of course, il may not happen. Come t
, me at the first sign OF such thing
: Good-morning."
/ The great specialist bowed us out
/ and returned TO my school life, troub
3 ling little about the mater, as |
: caused me no pain, and, although il
less than a twevemonth the sight o
B one eye was completely obscured,
Q could see well enough for every purpos,
5 with the remaining one.
But remembered every word Of tina
r diagnosis, although it wa, years befor'
. l recognized the Importance OF it. i
. was only when compelled by an acc
. dent to wear for some days bandag,
4 over my sound eye that 1 realized thu
danger In which / stood, and from tina
5 moment felt that a mercilcss foe wa
| ever waiting his time.
. And now the time had come. In th,
: first flush Of my manhood, with all tina
0 one could wish for at my command, thu
t foe had struck again.
g He came upon me swiftly-far mor'
swiftly than Is his custom In such cases
: yet it was long before 1 would believ'
the worst-long before 1 would confess
: TO myself that my failing sight and tn,
a increasing fogginess Of everything
D looked ut were due TO more than tenn
r porary weakness. | was hundreds o.
r miles from home, in country wher,
q travelling Is slow. A friend being will
o me, had no wish 10 make myself |
Q nuisance by cutting our expedition
short So | said nothing for weeks
0 although at the end Of each week my
Y heart sank at the fresh and fearful ad
4 vances made by the foe. AT last, being
0 unable TO bear IL, or in fact conceal II
: longer | made known my condition Il