Year: 1873

CouPdiiy Hdu ielI. questions nave DeoQ
repeated several times, and you have even
failed to notice some remarks that were ad-
dressed directly to you"


Remarks OF similar nature had been
made before. I knew I was not absent
minded for | was not absorbed by one
great idea. Nor was l riding a favorite
hobby to the exclusion of everything else,
running oft times counter to the rules of
etiquette, and galloping recklessly over
prejudices and old established customs :;
no, 1t was none of these. What, then, was
the cause of my apparent heedlessness
For time was at a loss TO know.


One morning while in the dining-room l
failed to hear the kitchen clock. Supposing
1T had been neglected, went to wind it up;
as came nearer to it I heard faint tick.
ing. Then all at once it rushed upon me
that my hearing was impaired. Already
the low sweet sounds were departing from
me. The signing of the wind, the hum of
the bee, the ripping of the water brooks,
were these to delight me no more? Were
the clear home voices of husband and chill
dren to float silently past me, unless raised
far above the soft and tender tones that
thrill the heart of wife and motheer? 1t
was even so.


But it is not my intention, were it within
my power, to describe the great loss a par
TALLY deaf person sustlins, nor of the weary
and vain search among many physicians"
for relief. | wish merely to describe what
l consider, after twelve years experience
the best manner of addressing deaf persons,
and OF making them feel at ease in society
We will treat the subject first negatively,
as the preacher sometimes says. Neoer
scream.


In room full of company little group
have been talking of some friends that
moved West; this has been the topic of
conversation for several minutes and has
awakened general interest. A question at
length arises which lady, hard of hearing,
alone can answer. 1t has been quite forgot
ten that nothing has been heard by the per-
son referred to, and when the query is sud
denly proposed in loud voice :" Did the
JOneses move to Wayland?"


She is startled, and hears indistinctly
something supposed to be a conundrum,
about Jonah and the whale, and replies
hurriedly " You will please excuse me. |
am not gifted in unraveling mysteries"
In an instant the error is discovered, and
would have been recti6ed. but the lady see
ing the slightly elevated brow, and the half
concealed involuntary smile, remains silent !;
and ill at ease with herself and half provok-
ed at her friends, mentally resolves, for the
hundredth time, to go into company no more


1t is bad policy to smooth the misunder-
standings over, or pretend they were uuob-
served. 1t is a well-established fact that
when one sense is blunted the Others are un-
usually keen hence a deaf person always
notices these subterfuges, and it makes him
feel, to use an expressive word, extremely
mean. And what sensation is more unen-
durable? In the case Just stated how much
better to have laughed naturally and openly
over the blunder and explained it to the
lady who would have enjoyed it no doubt
herself?


Necer ,uhisper to a deaf person. The
sound (if such it may be called) is exceed
ingly wheezy and disagreeable to the sensi-
tive nerves, and is seldom of any service,
except to attract unenviable notice if it is
necessary to impart information at lecture
or concert, let it be briefly written in pencil.


Never make fuss. Don't cough and
clear your throat, and stand before person
with your hands on your knees, comforting
your facial muscles, and talking as if YOU
were doing penance; and then congratulate
yourself, imagining you have made yourself
agreeable, though it almost killed you. A
far better way would be to sit down beside
deaf person, and speak in clear, distinct
voice, in pleasant, cheerful manner. If a
simple statement is to be made in company.
choose few expressive words. Instead of
remarking, The mercury indicates rise of
temperature" say 1.-The weather is warm
er." These the reader may call little things;
so is smile, a tear, look, word, but oh /!
how potent for good or evil have each of
them been


once was guest where quite number
OF guests were present. mostly strangers to
me. The conversation was very interesting
and instructive chiefly of local nature,
referring to the customs, scenes, and past
history of the city. The parlor was large,
and it would have been impossible for me to
hear enough to keep up any interest in
what was said. One of the ladies' of the
house came and sat near me, and BY occa-
sionally giving me a suggestive word, or
mentioning name or date, enabled me not
only to enjoy, but also to take part in the
entertainment. This was done in the most
unobtrusiye manner. No one would have
supposed, as the bright worsteds glded from
her needle, and as the fancy scarf was being
fashioned by her skillful hands, that she
was weaving around the heart that loved
her wreath of memories in fadeless colors.


Some deaf persons make themselves very
dlsagreeable by keeping aloof from their
friends, and brooding over their misfortune:
better submit to the will of God cheeriully :
it Is all right; whether we believe it or not.
An aunt of the writer, whose ears at the
age eighty -four have lately been unstopped
at the gate OF Paradise, was remarkable for
her sprightliness and genial, winning ways ;
the centre OF attraction in her large family ;
pillar in the church of her choice, to which
she gave her prayers, and largely of her
wealth, and favorite Of the young who
clung lovingly to her. Always the same
happy face greeted you, whether abroad or
at home among her birds and flowers. She
sometimes made mistakes in hearing, and
when ludicrous laughed good-naturedly over
them.


My brother had brought bride home
Just before auntie came to visit us; we
thought her handsome, and wanted our rel
atives opinion. She is pretty creature"
said the dear old lady, but what pity she
has such an ugly name"


" Do you think Pauline so bad, auntie?"


"Bless your heart, dear, 1 thought you
told me it was Polly Ami"