The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-16
A JOYOUS GOLD WEDDING


blfI4-S EhNS Oh BLlN DN ESH.
His Sight was Restored and He Saw
His Wife and Children for tho First
Time.
A singular story is that connected
with tho golden wedding which took
place in Angelica, New York, a few
days ugo. For the first time in his
fifty years OF welded life the patriar-
chal father looked on the faces of many
Of his children and children's children
gathered about him. Four days before
Edwin o. Osgood's sight was restored
to him aftcr tilty-siX years Of total
blindness, and ho saw for the first time
skill Of the surgeons knife restored to
tho aged man tho sight Of his youth,
which came to him l.. the most glorious
gift Of his long liia.
For years prayed for this great
gift" said Osgood, and | can hardly
realize thot 1t has come to me at last.
Oh, 1t is golden sunset OF u life Of Joy
and happiness.'
Osgood's faithful wife and overjoyed
| children mado u happy company at tho
simple country home Of the old
/ couole. Neghbors and friends came
| from miles around to offer their bless
lnRS ana CONGRATULATIONS.
OF tho many strange events that have
happened to mankind, probably none
was moro 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 a.
that OF the average country boy unit
he reached his seventeenth year, whom
Il cataract formed over both eyes, and
In three months he was completely
blind. Medical science in western Penn
cnsylvania in tho early fsrtics was not
what 1t ls today, and tho local doctors
gave no hope that he ever would re-
cover his sight.
Led by a small dog, Osgo0d started
out ns pcddlcr, carrying ID pack Of
fancy goods and cheap jcwclry. His
faculty Tor handling money and detect
ing counterfeit coins became 30 acute
that he ncvor met with u loss. While
travelling over the country, disposing
OF his wares, he met tho woman who
! now is his Y ifo and married her, eleven
| children being the result Of this un-
ion. Mrs. O'good is four years his
Junior.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. O5good
started in the drug business in Brad
| ford, Pa. which then was known as
! Littlctown. O5good remained in the
drug business for iifteon years, much
| OF which time re was alone in the
store. knowing the exact location Of
each drug, he had no difficulty in mix
ing any prescription asked for, and in
tho entire timo he was connected with
tho pharmacy, no mistakes could be at
trloutcd to hls lack Of sight.
While In the drug business Osgood
purchased number Of houses and sew
oral acres Of land in what now Ia the
city OF Bradford. So, when oil was
struck and the price Of land doubled
each year, tho Osgoods found them-
selves possessed of wealth. Selling out
the drug business, they moved to An
gelica, whore Mr.. Osgood, assisted by
his wife, en- barked in the furniture and
undertaking business.
In these years several unsuccessful
attempts had been made to restore Mr.
Osgood's sight, and an elder brother,
AFFLICTED In liko manner, regained
full possession OF his sight through an
operation performed In Elmira.
At q family reunion held ten years
ago tho entire family was present, con-
sisting Of Osgood's wife and eleven
children. Thirteen sat down to dinner,
and ono Of the children, somewhat gu
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 tho incident, as Ar
thur, the youngest son, was drowned
while in swimming the following July.
Nine years ago Mr.. OsgOod retired
from active business, spending much
of HE time since under the care Of eye
specialists. An Elmira hyslcian finally
made the successful attempt. BY slit
ting tho eye both ways and removing
the lena, Osgood waa enabled to sec
for the fret time in moro than half
century.
The doctor frat held up his hand be-
fore Osgood's eyes, after removing the
bandages. Osgo0d recognized 1t I'M
mediately. Later o knife WAS held be-
fore his Dyes and ho also recognized
this. Tho 6andages wore then re-
adjnsted and Osgood returned to dark
room, whore he was kept until his eyes
healed thoroughly, When Osgood tina.-
ly WAS taken from the dark room, once
moro restored fully to sight, his wifo
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-
pecting their neighbor to recognize
them and give them cordial greet
ing.
When Osgood came out into the
light, of course, he did not know ono
in the party. Plain John Murphy, q
lifelong friend and near neighbor, said,
" Brother Osgood ls mighty indopen-
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 nevor having
seen you had TO wait until you spoke."
Other neighbors then spoke up and he
recognized them immediately by their