Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-01-12
BLIND BUYING FOR BLIND.
Man with q Wonderful Touch Works
for Blind Employer.

Man with q Wonderful Touch Works
for Blind Employer.
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 well as a man with
eyes, and he never makes a mistake
He depends entirely on his sense OF
touch, which is extraordinarily well de-
veloped.
Away back in war times t. j. Lock
wood went to the front. He was a 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 destroyed. Totally blind, Mr..
Lockwood came back to his old home.
and for a time was discouraged. Then
he decided that there were things that
he could do to earn livelihood. He set
up a store and dealt in mems merchan-
disc at Buda. Ill. 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 pre-
cious sense while fighting for a most
righteous cause.
The man who was the buyer for Mr..
Lockwood was and is j. Oechsley. He
worked for Mr.. Lockwood for many
years, and was one of the most impor-
tant of his employees. But one day
misfortune came to him. Oddly enough
it struck at his eyes. He was laid low
with a nervous aflliction, and when he
was able to be told of it the doctors
announced TO him that he was to go
a. =. -
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 TIE IT,
ness 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 a terri
BILE handicap. In the hour of his most
trying experience his old employer
came to him and the men went 10 the
cid store. Mr.. Oechsley know the place
by heart. He was al home there. even
if he could not see, and as the days
went on he realized that all was not
gore, even if his light was lost. He
found that he could tell as of old the
differences that lie in materials.
His hands seemed TO have been given
an extra share of cunning and in
measure became his sight. He prac-
ticed 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 almost as good as before
the calamity overlook him.
The merchants and jobbers with
whom Mr.. Oechsley deals know him.
They would moi 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
better in their way than the eyes of
most men. He tells all about a piece
of goods, no matter what it is, by feel
ing the texture and finish. He is con-
sidered to be a irst-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 pass
ing their Judgment of his ability.
The other blind man-the employer
is thoroughly satisfied with the work
done by the one who sees with his
hands. The store is prospering, and the
men who play the biggest part in il
are happy.-Chicago Times Herald.