Library Collections: Document: Full Text


Incidents In The Life Of A Blind Girl

Creator: Mary L. Day (author)
Date: 1859
Publisher: James Young, Baltimore
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

Previous Page   Next Page   All Pages 


298  

To which I acceded, after obtaining Cousin William's consent, also his promise to consult the oculist whose advertisement he had read; for I naturally felt intensely anxious to benefit by his skill, if in my case it were likely to prove efficacious.

299  

As we passed along Asquith street, Aunt laid my hand upon the house in which my parents lived last in Baltimore. The spot seemed dear to me, for though years had fled, it had once been familiar to one who now lay in the cold churchyard. The walls had once echoed her footsteps, and her voice had there been heard.

300  

Uncle L.'s family consisted of six persons, and I was received cordially and affectionately by them all. Cousin Maria, Aunt's daughter, I learned, was a widow; her two children, Frank and Mattie, were very interesting girls; they all resided with Aunt, which made it very pleasant for me to be with them. They seemed desirous to anticipate my every wish, and did every thing in their power to amuse or interest me.

301  

The next day Cousin William called to accompany me to the doctor's; Mattie went with us. After he had examined my eyes he said he could restore my sight in six weeks. Cousin William was delighted at the probability of my being able to see again, and said he would give any amount, if he wrought a cure. The doctor bathed my head with some kind of liquid until I became so weak I could not speak a word nor help myself. He then blew another liquid into my eyes; which occasioned me great suffering for an hour or more. Cousin William all the while stood by, whispering soothing and encouraging words in my ear.

302  

I was under treatment six months, daily undergoing the most acute pain. Cousin William paid eight dollars a month to the doctor, besides defraying my boarding expenses at Aunt L.'s.

303  

My health had greatly improved; indeed seemed perfectly restored, for which I felt most thankful. My friends appeared never to weary rendering me kind offices. Former acquaintances of my mother lavished upon me the friendship and attention they had in years gone by bestowed upon her.

304  

One day Cousin Maria while walking out with me proposed we should try and find Aunt Patty, our old and faithful servant. She was living with her daughter in Potter street. When we went in, Cousin asked her if she had ever seen me before, or any one who looked like me. She led me to the window, the better to decide as to her answer, for she was getting old and her sight was growing dim. She thought she had, but could not recall where. Cousin then told her who I was, and that I was blind. She caught me in her arms, the dear, good, kind old creature, and wept over me like a child. As soon as she could speak she said: "If ever any one went to heaven, it was Miss Sarah, surely." She then showed me various presents my mother had made her, and which she seemed to prize as relics sacred and invaluable. Among them was a Bible which she promised should be mine at her death, but said she could not part with it before, for she had through it learned there was a heaven to obtain, and studying its pages had found Christ had died to save her. She had learned to read it for my mother's sake, and it had been the instrument of her soul's salvation. After passing two hours listening to Aunt Patty's praises of my mother, which were as incense to my loving heart, we again turned our steps towards home, having promised often to visit her in her snug little domicile.

305  

CHAPTER XVII.

306  

"OH! not in cruelty, not in wrath,
The Reaper came that day,
'Twas an angel visited the green earth,
And took the flowers away." LONGFELLOW.

307  

"THUS sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud."
SHAKSPEARE.

308  

"OH! grief hath changed me since you saw me last,
And careful hours, with Time's deformed hand,
Have written strange defeatures in my face."
SHAKSPEARE.

309  

My cousin Sarah's health was now rapidly declining, and her sweet babe was fading, like a flower by her side. She was only confined to her bed three weeks till the Destroyer came. I visited her every day. She would converse with me when her strength permitted, and her thoughts and words already seemed to possess a seraphic glow. Earnestly she beseeched me to become a Christian, to love God with all my heart and seek an entrance into Christ's fold assuring me that only in so doing could I hope to obtain true happiness.

310  

Two days previous to her death, her sweet bud of promise wilted and died; she did not mourn, for she felt it had but gone before to welcome her, a cherub in that land of bliss where sin nor death enters. From this time she failed rapidly, and it became evident not many suns would rise and set ere her spirit would soar from earth away forever, to bask 'neath the ineffable glory of his countenance, who is the Lord of Hosts and worthy to be praised. While sitting by her side the day previous to her death, she drew me to her, and kissing me affectionately said: "Mary, I have learned to love you dearly, but I shall soon leave you. I had hoped the one blessing you so desire would have been restored before my death, but this may not be; try and feel resigned to the dispensations of the Most High; and oh! promise to meet me in heaven."

Previous Page   Next Page

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40    All Pages