The sea coast echo., 1901-08-24

an effort was to be made to rescue him
ness and blindness had thrown him.
He had never yet walked upright. In
spite of his years he crawled along,
pushing his way with his hands and
feet, and he always moved backward
to save his head from coming In con-
tact with unexpected obstacles. The
only sound he ever made was q pitt
full moan, which sounded the Same
whether he meant II to express pleas
ure or pain. At times, when he felt
especially disturbed, he would scream
loudly and would strike out with his
hands and tear his clothes.
Before any effort could be made TO
reach Tommy's mind his body had
to be put in order. Exercises were
given to develop his fiabby muscles
and build up tissues. At last the ef-
forts were rewarded. He could move
about unassisted, could feed himself
and even dress and undress himself.
| Unlike Helen Kellar or Laura Bridg-
man, Tommy seemed very dull and
apathetic He was unwilling to make
any effort for himself, and his teach
ers often feared that In the end they
must give up the attempt to reach his
mind.
| Many, many months passed before
the drowsy little brain grasped the
fact that things have names, and that
| hn tAd bx,
the letters Of the alphabet made on the
fingers. But at length, by constant
repetition, by infinite love and pa
thence, the first section of the bridge
was built. Tommy began to realize
the outer world. He walked over the
bridge, and began to take an interest.
Soon he was one of the brightest
children In the kindergarten. He un-
derwent systematic training at the ba-
sis Of which was Froebels principles
of natural development" Today, al
IA years of age, Tommy compares ia.
vorably with other boys OF his years
He is tall, straight and strong He
has a weu-shaped head and his ex-
preston is bright and cheerful. His
mind is full of information, and he Is
constantly asking for more, more
knowledge.
But he is not mere lover of books
He is active and self-reliant He can
use his hands to better advantage than
most boys who can see and hear.
A year ago last summer, for exam.
pie. Mrs. Quincy Shaw (Agassiz
daughter) gave Tommy a sloyd bench
fitted with all the necessary tools
Tommy was already fairly expert In
sloyd, because instruction In manual
training had been an important part
OF his education. But when he learned
that the bench was to be sent tc
Wrentham, where he was to spend the
summer, he Immediately said: Now
! shall take all the care of Mr.. Browns
house.. Consequently even on the
hottest days, he was to be found a,
his bench. He replaced worn door
aills with new. made new BARNARD
gate. He replaced loose boards in the
hooring OF the porch, made a hand
railing for persons going up and down
the steps. An old .smokehouse which
was given him as his especial domain
he improved wonderfully. He took
out the sliding windows. made new
frame on them and swung them on
hinges. Then he put strong bars
across them to prevent the cows
breaking the glass with their horns.
he invented clever device for OPEN
ing and shutting another window He
put up shelves for holding tools and
other things connected with his work
lie repaired stone wall near the
smokehouse, and in other WAYS i'm
proved Its surroundings. He Is a busy
energetic boy, and generally makes
MS own plans for work, and the plans
tnat ne has made he always carries
out. Before starting for home in the
summer he cleaned his tools very caro-
fully, packed in boxes all his cher
ished bits OF metal, nails, screws and
similar things, as we'll as the bench
itself. He examined the premises
carefully to make sure that he had
left nothing behind, and, In short
showed himself more practical and
business Ike than the average boy
with sight would have been.
In the autumn of 1899, when Tommy
was entering for his 14th year. he was
placed In one of the public grammar
schools near the kindergarten. In
spite OF his disability 1t was found
that he was then almost on a level
with boys of his own age. He started
In the sixth grade, and he has moro
than held his own ever since. His
teacher and Interpreter, Miss Helen 6
Conley, OF course goes with him. and
through her he holds his own with bia
class His grammar school work baa
increased his self-reliance and he has
been very anxious to keep UP with the
other boys. They on their part are
very considerate of Tommy They in
Vite MIN to enter into all their games
and sports, and they find him q yery
| good comrade.
The year before last he had trin
70 washington, and although not then
lS, he showed the liveliest interest IN
everything at the capital. He had a
oelightful Interview with the presi-
dent and Immediately accepted the in
yitation OF the latter to visit the White
House. Tommy eagerly inspected ey.
cry ROOM carefully examining all the
httings and furnishings, and at last
announced the blue room is the pret-
tiest. lie had come to this decision
undoubtedly ON account of the silk
nangings ON the walls. On the way to
washington he had visited Philadel-
pnia and had thoroughly enjoyed a
visit to the mint.
Without any dogmatic teaching
tommy has discovered the existence
OIL a supreme God. For example. "The
| world io r,ar,x I..~1