Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-12-22
WONDERFUL TOUCH.
A Blind Man Who Works For Blind
Man and Does Good Work.

uAn ana OOeo 6OOQ WOrxs
This is about blind man who
works for man who is also blind
and does work for which men who
can see are well paid. The blind
man who does the work does it as
we'll as man with eyes, and he
never makes mistake He depends
entirely on his sense of touch, which
is extraordinarily well developed.
Away back in war times T. j.
Lockwood went to the front. He
was good soldier until he lost his
sight A rifle ball put out one eye
and the shock and conclusion so
affected the other that it was de-
stroyed. Totally blind, Mr.. Lock
wood came back to his old home and
for time was discouraged. Then
he decided that there were things
that he could do to earn liveli-
hood. He set up store and dealt
in mems merchandise at Buda, Ills.
Fate was kind to him at last and he
prospered Time went on, and his
employees were faithful to the man
who had lost his most precious sense
while fighting for most righteous
cause.
The man who was the buyer for
Mr.. Lockwood was and is j. Oechs-
ley. He worked for Mr.. Lockwood
for many years and was one of the
most important of his employees.
But one day misfortune came to
him. Oddly enough, it struck at his
eyes. He was laid low with nerv-
Gus affection, and when he was
able to be told of it the doctors an
nounced to him that he was to go
through life in the same condition
as his employer His sight was gone
and never would be restored.
Finally Mr. Oechsley was able to
leave his room. He was not rich,
and the illness had made deep hole
in his store of savings The old
problem of keeping the wolf from
the door was to be met once more,
but this time under terrible handi-
cap. In the hour of his most trying
experience his old employer came
to him, and the men went to the old
store. Mr.. Oechsley knew the place
by heart. He was at home there,
even if he could not see, aud as the
days went ON he realized that all
was not gone even if his sight was
lost. He found that he could tell as
of old the differences that lie in ma
terials.
His hands seemed to have been
given an extra share of cunning and
in a measure became his sight He
practiced and grew more expert.
His whole energy was thrown into
the work he had put himself to do,
and in a short time it was found
that as buyer of goods he was al
most as good as before the calamity
overlook him.
The merchants and jobbers with
whom Nj, Oechsley deals know him.
They would not take advantage of
him even if they could, and they
all admit that they could not if they
would The hands of this man are
as good and even better in their
way than the eyes of most men. He
tells all about piece of goods, no
matter what it is, by feeling the
texture and finish. He is considered
to be a first class buyer, and when
merchants say this of him they add
that they do not take into consid
GRAFTON the fact that he is blind in
passing their Judgment of his
ability.
The other blind mantle en-
ployer-is thoroughly satisfied with
the work done by the one who sees
with his hands. The store is pros
pering, and the men who play the
biggest part in it are happy.--Chi-
cago Times Herald.