Year: 1861

From ssHouusellold Words.'


MY BLIND SISTER.


This was how 1 found it out Lettie and
l were sitting in the window at our work.
it was some mourning we were making for
our rcctor's family-and it had to be sent
home the next day early. She said, "Jane,
it seems as if the sun had given up shining;
how dull everything looks Don't you
think so?


I did not notice it; there was still an
hours daylight. She put up her hand to
her forehead as if it panied her, so l bade
her 60 out for a turn in the garden we had
sat close to our sewing all the day, and the
young thing was tired: even was, and my
eyes ached wearily She went along by the
fower-bed, and gathered few roses-we
were in the middle of July then-and gave
them to me through the window, saying that
she would 60 down into the town for some
trimmings we wanted to finish the dresses.
would rather she had stayed at home, and
replied that the shops would be shut but
she was not listening, and went away down
the path as [ spoke. It was dusk when she
came back l had just shut the window, and
was Lis ghting my candle she said, II could
not get the fringe, June," and then laying
her bonnet on the dresser, took up her work
After she had sewed perhaps five minutes
she dropped her hands on her knees, and
such a strange, hopeless expression came
into her face, that | was quite shocked and
frightened.


''What ails you, Lettie? what can have
happened p l asked, suspecting scarcely
She looked at me drearily in silence Tor
some moments, and then said hastily, 81
might as we'll tell you at once, Jane-Im
going blind"


MY work fell to the ground, and [ uttered
startled cry.


Don't take on about it, Jane; it can't
be helped" she added.


1T is only fancy of yours, Lettie |
shall have you to Doctor Nash in the morn
ing. What has made you take such no.
tion into your head all at once ?" said for
[ thought this was another nervous whim.
Lettie had been good deal indulged by our
mother before she died, and had shown her.
self not little headstrong sometimes, as
we'll as f4nciful.


cit is of no use, Jane: I have been to
Doctor Nash myself, and he said plainly
that was going blind. have been to him
twice before knew what was coming. Oh,
Janey! what shall we do? what shall we do?''
and having borne up thus far she broke
down, and sobbed aloud, with her face on
her arms on the table.


1--WE shall do very we'll. In the FIRST
place. don't believe Doctor Nash knows
anything about it; and in the next, / shall
have you up to London, to great doctor,
and hear what he says before give in to
thinking that you are to be blind all your
days"


She was little cheered by this.


'"To London, Janey! but where is the
money to come from p she asked.


''Leave that to me- I'll arrange some
how" It was very puzzling to nae to settle
how just then, but have firm conviction
that where there is will to do anything, q
way may generally be found, and I meant
to find it.


She took up her work, but babe hel
leave it. ''You will not set another stitch
Lettie," I said; ''you may just play on your
old piano, and sing your bits of songs, and
get out into the fresh air-you have been
kept too close, and are pale to what you
were. Go to bed now, like good little
aassie; I'll do by myself"


''But there is SO much to finish, Janey.'


''Not stitch that you'll touch, Lettie
so kiss ME good night, and get away"


"And you don't think much of what Doc
tor Nash said p she asked very wistfully.


mo! I've no opinion of him at ALL" And
hearing me speak up in my natural way,
{thoug b my heart was doubling all the time, }
she went away comforted, and in better hope.
had put it off before her, because she would
have given away to fretting. if had seemed
to believe what the doctor said; but, as
drew my needle through and through nv
work till three hours past midnight, I had
often to stop to wipe the tears from my
eyes.


There were only two of us-Lettie and
myself-and we had neither father nor mo-
ther. nor indeed any relatives whom we
knew.


Lettie was seventeen, and was four wears
older. we were both dressmakers, and
either worked at home, or went out by the
day. We lived in a small, thatchcd, three
roomed cottage outside the town, which had
nice garden in front. Some people had
told us that if we moved into the town we
shoull get better employ but both Lcttie