Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-03-06
THEY SEE THE WORLD
THROUGH BABY'S EYES
Only Member of Family Who Can
Tell Of This Worlds
Beauties
COLORADO SPRINGS,


In little home at Lake George 25
miles from here, there is a baby boy,
who, when he grows up, will be able
to tell his father, his mother and a
brother and sister, Of the beauties
OF the mountain region in which they
live. but which have been shut out
to them throughout their lives.
This baby, the pride and wonder
OF the entire district possesses the
blessing Of sight, denied all other
members Of the family. The baby's
father is Benjamin Richards. He is
blind. The little mother now the
happiest woman in all Colorado, was
Miss Myrtle Highly. She was born
blind. She was a student in the
State School for the Blind and while
there met Richards. His sight had
been destroyed in an accident
Drawn together by their affection
which sent them through the world
IN darkness. Richard and the little
bilnd glrl were married. Five years
ago baby girl was born. Anxiously,
they waited for the word that would
tell them whether the innocent little
newcomer had also entered the world
IN darkness. Their hearts were torn
when they were told the baby girl
would never see. Three years later
a baby boy arrived and he, too had
been denied the gift of sight.
Two years passed. A little girl,
now five years old, played in world
OF darkness about her mother who
had also never seen the light Of day.
A little boy groped about the floor,
his sightless eyes turning toward the
mother when he knew only by the
sound of her voice, or the touch of
love from her hand. 1t was a home
Of darkness; father and mother un-
able to look upon their children and
the little ones growing and blossom
ing despite the blight cast upon them
at birth. But neighbors told mother
Richard that her little ones were
pretty children and she smiled and
coddled the little hands and faces
she could not see.
Time went on. AS mother Richards
heard the voices of her two little
ones as they played in the darkness
OF their baby lives, she knew that
the great, good bird, the stork, would
soon hover over her home again. She
knew that he was about to bring
another baby soul into the world,
and mother Richards prayed that this
innocent might be spared the blight
OF eternal darkness. Mother Rich
ards was cheerful and hopeful, but
when the time came for father Rich
ards to summon the village doctor,
his heart fairly stood still,
Some friends accompanied the
man Of medicine to the Richards
home. They knew of the prayer Of
the mother and father and Of their
hope. The doctor could only tell
them that he hoped, but there was
prenatal influence to be overcome.
Before him was sghtless mother,
waiting with the mountain friends
was the sightless father and the chill
dren Of night. The doctor came from
the room. His face was wreathed
in smiles. He grasped father Rich
ards by the hand.
"a boy; seven and one-half pounds
and perfect eyes. He sees" the
big man told the father even as he
himself was almost overcome with
emotion.
There were tears Of JOY in the Rich
ards home that day. Though they
did not know just why, thee hildish
laughs of the little ones of darkness
carried a new note of cheer and hope.