Year: 1875

SOME LITTLE FeLKS WHO LfyI


.sz IN THE DARK. :g .e2yg
80 BY MARY p THAcHER


Last winter, when there was such an


excitement among Boston. boys over the
i fine coasting, / used 10 see, in certain
| secluded street, party of blind boys
fsiiding down hill as fearlessly as if their
! eyes were as bright as yours. They
| guided themselves partly by their acute


sense OF hearing, and if they sometimes


ran into fence, nobody was hurt. These


boys came from DIR. Howe's School for
] the Blind, which Charles Dickens visited


and wrote about the first Time he was in


this country. A great many curious


strangers visit this school, for, though


there are now many other such institu-


tions, this was the first one established


In this country, and here Laura Bridg-
man still lives, no longer little girl, but
a mddie-aged woman. Mary of you
have read the history of Laura, and
know how DR.. Howe found hef in little
| village among the mountains when she
: xs.eTo sPrests, sLiiS --.-- y>.>-~- >II ,----,
how he took her home, and, though she
was blind and deaf and dsmb, taught
her to read and write and do L,any nse-
ful things. Laura is still bright and
happy, and very fond of her friends. 1t
would amuse you TO see her delight when
she has new shawl or bonnet, for she
likes pretty things though she cannot see
them; and if she should take fancy to
| you she would pass her hand over your
dress and feel your sleeve-buttons to
know if they were like her own. Per
| haps the strangest thing about Laura is
! har II, fnr rla
ries her eyes at her finger enlsl One day
she went into the parlor and merely
touched the hand of a lady who stood
there, and then she gave joyful cry,
sprang into the air and fell fainting on
the lady's neck. 1t was an old and dear
ly-loved teacher who had been absent
many years in the Sandwich Islands, and
had returned to this country without
Laura's knowledge.


All the pupils of this school are taught
simple trades, so that by and by they
may be able TO make their own way in
the world, and some of them are much
more successful in earning their bread
ami butter than many people who can
see. One of the girls, who was very
anxious to learn to play the piano,
was not allowed to study music because
it was thought she had no musical talent.
But she was SO determined to learn that
she practiced in secret, and now she is
one of the regular music teachers of the
school. Once an attempt was made to
form brass band among the girls, like
the boys band, but the girls were not
strong enough TO blow the great instru-
ments. They learned to cut and make
their own clothes, and some of them, anx-
ious to earn little pocket money, have
nd hi y.
cheting mats, long after they have gone
to bed. Their chief amusement is play
ing dominocs, and one of their favorite
books is "The Old Curiosity Shop, which
Dickens own generosity placed within
their reach. They never weary of read
ing, with their nimble fingers, the story
of Little Nell


Some of the children have very odd,
quaint little ways. Both boys and girls
take care OF their own rooms, and one
morning a little girl could not spread the
quilt smoothly on her bed So she took
II oil, rolled it into the shape of a doll,
scolded, patted and coaXed it, and trotted
1t on her knee; and then she unfolded
the quilt, and it gave her no more
trouble!


There is dear little French boy in the
school,, and when he first came the other
boys made him very unhappy by telling
him God would not hear his PRAYERS if
he said them in Frcnchl For blind boys
are quite as mischievous as children who
can see, and love to play tricks on each
other. The older boys arc not allowed
to go to the library in the evening till the
small urchins have gone TO bed, for
there is not room for all One evening
the big boys disobeyed this rule, and one
of them, who could perfectly initiate
DR.. Howe's voice and manner, ordered
all his companions off to bed. They
stand in great awe of the good Doctor
and marched off very meekly. But when
the last had gone, up stepped the doctor
himself, and, laying his hand on the MIN
ic's shoulder, said: every well done,
my lad; now you may go, tooW


AS a rule blind children are not so
strong, and therefore not as lively and
noisy, as others; but they are much more
thoughtful, and very sensitive to "a sharp
word. When they are alone their faces
often wear mournful expression, and
have seen but little bits of girls sit mo-
tionless, with bent heads, for many min
utes at time. They become much at
tached to their teachers, and in the va
cations send them curious little rolls of
paper through the mails. These are
pricked letters, and good many sheets
of paper are required for even u short
letter written in this way. Often these
children are so much petted and INDUCED
at home that they are hard to manage
Not long ago a wild little Irish girl was
brought to the school from the North
End, place in Boston where the poorest
and lowest classes live, and where good
men and women are holding mission
schools, and trying to teach the poor
people how to make their homes better
aud happier. AT first this little waif was
so rebcllious that nothing could be done
with her. When she was told to say her
lessons she would lie down on the floor and
scream, and one day, in passion, she
kicked one of her little schoolmates and
hurt her very much. But the power of
love can work miracles. One day
teacher put a vase of flowers in the
child's room. This delighted the little
thing, who declared the flowers were
beautiful. After that she privately in
formed one of her classmates that she
" was going to be bad In every class ex-
cept Miss s." BY and by this favor
ite teacher, whom Flora called cher
dear mother" was taken sick, and finally
had TO 90 away. Little Flora went into
her room, threw herself upon the empty
bed and cried bitterly. Then she began
to think how she could please this dear, alb
sent teacher, and hearing of sick and suf-
fering child in neighboring town she sent
her dolls cap and chair made of beads.
They were queer-lo0king little objects,
for Flora has not yet learned the art of
beadwork But she is learning a more
beautiful lesson--how to forget herself
and minister to others. And SO, though
it will take long years for Flora TO out
live the influences of her early childhood,
it is hoped she will grow up into gen
tie. lovable woman.


The brightest scholars never want any
assistance unless it is given in the same
way it would be given to person who
can see and they like to be told TO see
l a ihinn- not feel II For they dislike 10