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I will give an instance of his temper, as a specimen of what would have been his conduct, had he gone on without any training. Soon after the lesson which I have described above, at which I left him, so interested and so joyous, I returned and found the scene sadly changed. Master Oliver was in the sulks; his countenance so lately bright with joy, was now dark and lowering; his head was drawn in between his shoulders in the attitude of caution and defiance; and his whole appearance denoted wrath and dogged obstinacy. He had in play thrown something on the floor, and his teacher took his hand to place it on the object, and make him pick it up; he refused, perhaps in play; and though his hand was on the object, would not grasp it. The teacher, thinking it necessary to conquer him, continue to hold his hand on the object, at which he seemed displeased, and at this juncture his mother joining to urge him, he flew into a passion. He had never been controlled, and his animal nature was now aroused: a colt could not start away more restive, when the saddle is first placed on his back, than did Oliver when I placed my hand on his head; and when I repeated it, he flew at me, hands and feet, as furiously as a madman. I saw at once that without a cruel scene I could not conquer him, but resolved to accomplish what he must have perceived I intended to do, that is, caress him, and sit beside him. He resisted furiously when I attempted this, striking, kicking and scratching; but when he saw I warded off his blows or did not mind them when they hit, and that his nails had been cut too short to pierce my skin, he quickly curled down his head and bit at my hands. He was strong and active as a young savage, but I continued to grasp and hold his wrists, and after a few convulsive efforts he desisted at a lucky moment for me, and roared out lustily; not crying, he was too much enraged for that, but sprawling his jaws wide open, and emitting a hideous noise, partaking of a bray, a roar, and a yell. I then relaxed my grasp, and although he did not fly at me, he pushed off my hands when I attempted to pat him on the head, nor would he suffer any endearment for half an hour. I still persevered, however, and at last succeeded in kissing him; and though he was sullen, the storm was dispelled by the odor of some cologne water with which I seduced his senses. I was very much afraid that he was not conquered and that a painful scene would have to be enacted the first time I could be sure that he understood my meaning and will, and refused obedience; because he must be taught to obey, or else every time his passions should be roused he would be mischievous; and when grown up, might run a muck, which would be dangerous. I have been, however, most agreeably disappointed, for from that time to this he has been perfectly docile, and very affectionate, never in one instance meeting me without a smile and a caress.

Once, indeed, he was teased by a boy beyond his endurance, and attacked him furiously; the boy got away, and Oliver groped around till he found some one to whom he eagerly expressed his wrath, by pointing for the boy, and drawing his hand across his own windpipe, as if to say, "I'll cut his throat," putting on at the same time, a very ferocious look. He evidently had not forgotten the lesson he had learned at the pig-slaying exhibition, which had so unwisely been explained to him.

I regret that the length to which this Report is already swelled, will not permit me to dwell longer upon this interesting boy, who has a manly, courageous temper, an amiable and affectionate heart, and a good intellect; and who will, I doubt not, become an intelligent and useful man.

APPENDIX C.

LUCY REED.

Lucy Reed was born in Danby, Vt., Oct. 1827. Her eyes were weak from birth; but her hearing was good, and nothing peculiar was remarked until in her third year. She was then troubled with scrofula, and had abscesses in her ears, which soon destroyed her hearing. She could talk as much as children usually do at her age, but soon lost the use of words. Her eyes became very much diseased at three years old, and continued more or less so, although she was not considered totally blind, until she was eight years old, when she injured them by a rose bush, the consequence of which was total extinction of vision. She was supposed to be deranged at times, and was often ungovernable, no one but a younger sister having any control of her. (8)

She was brought to us on the 18th of Feb. 1841, being at that time fourteen years of age. She was in a lower stage of humanity than any human being I ever saw, excepting idiots. That she was blind and deaf, was not the worst: she seemed unmanageable, nor was there any apparent mode of communication with her, for she had but very few of the natural signs common to deaf mutes, and even to blind deaf mutes. I hardly know how to express her appearance better than by saying she seemed astonished at herself -- at her own situation; she was not at ease -- she did not understand herself, as Laura, Oliver, Julia Brace, and other blind mutes. She wore over her head a large handkerchief, with the folds of which she covered her face, as with a veil; it hung down as far as her mouth, and completely concealed her features. She had worn this several years, and for the last two years so continually, that her father had seen her face but once during all that time, and then he only caught a glimpse of it. Her parents humoring her whim, provided for her a number of large handkerchiefs which she changes, as fast as they become soiled, but always in the night, or in a closet by herself. As this whim was first manifested at about the age when girls begin to be mindful of their appearance in the eyes of others, and anxious to conform to whatever may be their standard of beauty, it was, perhaps, the indistinct working of the same amiable feeling in her, which told her, that as her blindness made her differ from others, she could conceal the peculiarity, and perhaps increase her comeliness by covering her head and face.