Western Statesman

PERKINS INSTITUTION AND MASSACHUSETTS ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND

Mother's Love to Her Child

a girl

Mind, deaf, and dumb, destitute of sight and nearly

an, last e Laurd rman."—Nis

months after she had left home, her mother came to visit that, and the scene of their meeting an interesting one. The mother stood some time, with overflowing eyes gazing upon her unfortunate child, who, all unconscious of her presence, playing about the room. Presently Laura ran against her, and once began feeling her hands, examining her dress, and trying to find out if she knew her but not succeeding in this, she turned away as if from a stranger, and the parent could not conceal the pang she felt, at finding that her beloved child did not know her which she used to wear at home, which were The then Laura a string of beads recognized by the child at once, when, with much joy, put them round her neck, and sought me eagerly to say she understood the string was from her home The mother now tried to caress her, but poor Laura repelled her, preferring to be with acquaintances Another article from home now given her, and she began to look much interested she examined the stranger much closer, and gave me to understand that she knew she came from Hanover: she even endured her caresses, but would leave her with indifference at the slightest signal, The distress of the mother was now painful to behold for, although she had feared she should not be recognized, the painful reality of being treated with cold indifference by a darling child, was too much for woman's nature to bear.

"After a while, on the mother taking hold of her again, a vague idea seem to flit across Laura's mind, that this could not be a stranger; she therefore felt her hands very eagerly while her countenance assumed an expression of intense interest ; she became very pale, and then red, hope seemed struggling with doubt and anxiety, and never were contending emotions more strongly painted upon the human face: at this moment of painful uncertainty, the mother drew her close to her side, and kissed her fondly, when at once the truth flashed upon the child, and all mistrust and anxiety disappeared from her face, as with an expression of exceeding joy she eagerly nestled in the bosom of her parent, and yielded herself to her fond embraces.

"After this the beads were all unheeded; the play things that were offered to her were utterly disregarded; her playmates, for whom but a moment before she gladly left the stranger, now vainly strove to pull her from her mother; and though she yielded her usual instantaneous obedience to my signal to follow me,it was evidently with painful reluctance. She clung close to me, as if bewildered and fearful; and when, after a moment, I took her to her mother, she sprang to her arms, and clung to her with eager joy.

"The subsequent parting between them, showed alike the affection, the intelligence, and the resolution of the child.

"Laura accompanied her mother to the door, clinging close to her all the way, until they arrived at the threshold, where she paused, and felt round, to ascertain who was near her. Perceiving the matron, of whom she is very fond, she grasped her with one hand, holding on convulsively to her mother with the other: and thus she stood for a moment: then she dropped her mother's hand; put her handkerchief to her eyes: and turning round clung sobbing to the matron ; while her mother departed with emotions as deep as those of her child.