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CHAPTER V.
1821.

Marriage to Sophia Fowler, One of the Earliest Pupils of the School -- Characteristic Letter written Two Days after the Wedding -- Description of Mrs. Gallaudet -- Happiness in the Married Life.

BEFORE concluding the story of Mr. Gallaudet's active labors as principal of the school for the deaf at Hartford, an interesting event must be spoken of which exercised a most important influence over his life.

The laws of romance would have made Alice Cogswell his wife in due time. But she was not twelve years of age when she became regularly his pupil, while he was thirty.

And besides, there was among his earliest scholars "a rare and radiant maiden" just on the threshold of womanhood, whose unusual attractiveness turned other heads and touched other hearts than her teacher's. One who knew her only in the last years of her long life, but who gave her that loving homage which none could withhold who ever came within the circle of her influence, and to whom she had confided much of the story of her life, writes thus of her early days and development: (4)

Her parents belonged to the hardy, independent, pious, and active minded race of farmers from whom have descended a great majority of the many distinguished sons and daughters of New England. Lying a short distance back from Long Island Sound, in a region of fertile hills and vales, abounding with towering elms and luxuriant wild roses, her home was equally well placed for health, for beauty, and for the business of its inmates.

It will require no small effort, even from those who are well acquainted with the affliction of deaf-mutism, to realize the depth of anguish into which the parents of this house were plunged when the knowledge was forced upon them painfully and slowly, yet inflexibly, that their girl-baby would be forever incapable of responding to their voices. For it was a far more terrible misfortune then than now. Only in one way could it be alleviated. The parents might be comforted, and the babe grow up useful and happy, if they knew any means by which the intelligence of the little one could be evoked, and drawn into sympathy and communion with those whose faces bent anxiously above it. But there was then no such knowledge, either among the friends of the child or in the community at large. There was not a single school for the deaf in America, and only three in the world. Even the existence of these three was scarcely known on this side the Atlantic; while of the systems on which they were based, and of the methods they employed, there seems to have been no knowledge whatever in America in the year 1800.

It will not seem strange, therefore, that as the child grew the deficiencies of her intellectual acquirements, as compared with those of her young associates, became painfully evident. In all else, in mirthfulness of spirit, in vigor of physique, she was perfectly fitted to delight in their companionship. This she could do in certain games and amusements. But if they partook of an intellectual character her pleasure vanished. Did the group, tired of play, subside to conversation upon the grass-plot; was a book introduced; did the merry jest or sparkling story pass round the happy circle -- she could but sit silent, troubled, gazing in mute wonderment upon the swiftly-moving lips, the responsive glances, eager to share, but unable even to comprehend what was to her an undefined, subtle enjoyment, no less mysterious than precious.

So she passed through childhood to young womanhood, with scarcely a glimpse at the ample page of knowledge. She received no mental instruction, save through the disconnected natural signs of her friends, which could hardly treat of more than the objects of vision.

But if her mind remained largely undeveloped, not so her spirit. That could be reached in a measure, and, moreover, it was at work by itself. She early gave evidence of possessing those lovely and attractive traits which afterwards distinguished her. Unconsciously following the guidance of her own sense and the best models about her, she learned to discriminate between the false and the true, and grew up modest, kindly, conscientious, and cheerful even to gayety. Of definite religious knowledge at this time she had little or none. It may almost be said to have been confined to a dim impression that there was a power above who looked down benignantly upon good actions, and frowningly upon bad.

During these calm years, also, was laid the foundation of that superb physical condition which attended her through life. In the regular and quiet performance of household duties, in all of which she became an adept, her frame acquired the vigor, grace, and elasticity which afterwards, under the softening influences of metropolitan life, gave her a rare personal comeliness, without ever losing their sustaining qualities. Her hair was black; her eyes large, dark, and inquiring. Her features betokened a sanguine temperament, and her manner was vivacious and pleasing to a remarkable degree.