The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-11-15
A JOYOUS GOLDEN WEDDING.
FIFTY.sLX YEARS OH BLINDNESS

wv NShShhNui y tOIh - lS"
days ago. For the first time in his
fifty years Of welded life the pavriar-
chal father looked on the faces OF many
his children and children's children
gathered about him. Four DAYS before
Edwin o. Osgood's sight was restored
to him after ffty-six years OF total
blindness, and he saw for The first time
his wife and sons and daughters. The
skill OF the surgeons knife restored to
tho aged man the sight OF his youth,
which came to him a. the most glorious
gift Of his long life.
For years [ prayed for this great
gift" said Osgood, land l can hardly
realize thot it has come to me at last.
Oh, it is q golden sunset Of a life of Joy
ami happiness"
Osgood's faithful wife and overjoyed
children made q happy company at the
simple country home of the old
couple. Neighbors and friends came
from miles around to offer their bless
ings and congratulations.
OF the many strange events that have
happened TO mankind, probably none
was more thankfully received than
that which fell to the lot of Edwin O..
Osgood. He was born in Wells, Brad
ford County, Pa, seventy-three years
ago, and his early life was the same as
that OF tho average country boy until
he reached his seventeenth year when
a cataract formed over both eyes, and
in three months he was completely
blind. Medical science in western Penn
ensylvania in the early f0rties was not
what 1t is today, and the local doctors
ave no hope that he ever would re-
cover his sight.
Led by small dog, Osgood started
out as Il peddler, carrying a pack of
fancy goods and cheap jewelry. His
faculty Tor handling money and detect
ing counterfeit DIN became 80 acute
that he never met with q loss. While
travelling over the country, disposing
Of his wares, he met the woman who
now is his wife and married her, eleven
children being the result OF this un-
ion. Mrs. Osgood is four years his
junior.
After marriage Mr.. and Mrs. Osgood
started in the drug business in Brad
ford, Pa, which Lnen was known rs
Littletown. Osgood remained in the
drug business for fifteen years, much
OF which time ne was alone in tho
store. Knowing the exact location of
each drug, he had no difficulty in mix
ing any prescription asked for, ana in
the entire time he was connected with
the pharmacy, no mistakes could be at
triouted to his lack OF sight.
While in the drug business OSgood
purchased q number OF houses and sew
eral acres Of land in what now is the
city of Bradford. So, when oil was
struck and the price of and doubled
each year, the Osgoods found them
selves possessed Of wealth. Selling out
the drug business, they moved to An
gelica, where Mr.. Osgood, assisted by
his wife, embarked in the furniture and
undertaking business.
In these years several unsuccessful
attempts had been made to restore Mr..
Osgood's sign, and an elder brother,
afflicted In "a like manner, regained
full possession OF his sight through an
operation performed in Elmira.
At a family reunion held ten years
ago the entire family was present, con
sisting of Osgopd's vile and eleven
children. Thirteen sat down to dinner,
and one of the children, somewhat su.
perstitious, remarked upon the number
seated at the table. His fears were
laughed at by those assembled, but
before the year had passed they had
occasion to recall the incident, as Ar
thur, the youngest son., was drowned
while in swimming the following July.
Nine years ago MIR. Osgood retire.
ron active business, spending much
OF HE time since under the care of eye
specialists. An Elmira physician finally
made the successful attempt. By slit
ting the eye both ways and removing
the len, Csgood was enabled to see
for the Il st time in more than half u
century
The doctor first held up his hand be-
tore Csgood's eyes, after removing the
ban lagos. Osgood recognized it i'm.
mCdiately. Later o knife was held be
fore his eyes and he also recognized
this. The 5andages were then re-
adjusted and Osgood returned to a dark
room, where he was kept until his eyes
healed thoroughly. When Osgood fina.-
~ was taken from the dark room, once
more restored fully to sight, his wife
and family agreed among themselves
not to speak, as he always had recog-
nized them by their voices. A large
party OF neighbors also assembled, ex-
pectlng their neighbOr to recognize
them and give them a cordial greet.
ing When OsgoOd came out into the
!lght, OF course, he did not know one
In the party. Plain John Murphy, a
lifelong friend n near neighbor, said,
Brother Osgood is mighty indepen.
dent now he has regained his eyesight."
oSgOod had no sooner heard this than
he advanced to Murphy and, shaking
him by the hand, said, 81 had an idea
that was you, John, but never having
seen you had to wait until YOU spoke.n
Other neighbors then spoke up and he
recognized them Immediately by their
voices. He was overcome with low
Whe his wife and children spoke to
him and he was able to see them for
the first time.
Later In the day he surprised his
family, as we'll as himself, by picking
up the large family Bible and readipg
W verses from it. 1t was thought
That the letters he had learned az q
youth OF sixteen would be forgotten.
but such was not the case, and now he
reads the magazines and such news.
papers as are printed in large ty
Before he was allowed to see his fam
lily The doctor asked him what he
would do If upon seeing his wife for
the hrst time, he found her to be col
ored. Without hesitation the old
man replied : 81 will clothe her in
silks for the rest Of her life and stick
by her just as she has stuck by me
during the fifty years OF our married
When asked what opinion he had
formed in his own mind Of his wife,s
looks before he recovered his sight. he
aid u made up my mind | was
going to like her looks, no matter what
they were, and her face is nv ideal of
beauty In women"
Perhaps the greatest surprise to the
old man was the manner in which both
men and women dressed and wore
thelr hair being so entirely different
from the at la in voDua 6ftE -