Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
¦ ¦ «» Courteous Reader . . ; . . ! Frie...
passage-like rooni , where brush-making In various stag * es was going onthe sihtless workers all seated in a row before a long wooden
table , with g their implements and materials close at hand . All seemed working with a will , systematically , and without
interfering in any way with each other . One to whom my companion held out her hand as we passed along , immediately
recognized and spoke to her , his countenance brightening as he did so . " That _j ) oor man is deaf as well as totally blind / ' she observedas
, we moved on to speak to some of the others less grievously afflicted . Upstairs we visited a roomoccupied entirely by young girls and
women ; it looked more cheerful , , being better lighted than the downstairs work-rooms , the gloom and cheerlessness of which had
painfully impressed me on entering—I had forgotten for the momentthat " darkness and light were both alike" to those for
, whose use it was appropriated . Of the women , some were busily putting bristles Into
clothesbrushes ; one good worker said she could complete _foiir in a day : others were making the bead baskets I had already admired , * some
were re-caning chairs ; one , seated in a corner of the room with an . uncaned chair beside her , was waiting patiently till her master
could teach her how to set about it , he being then very busy in some other part of the building . This room looked more
comfortable in its proportions , and , as I have said , more cheerful than that which I had first entered , but my conductress told me that its
inmates had felt the cold bitterly during the late severe winter . " You seethingsthey can take so little exercise to keep their
, poor , blood in circulation . " Alas ! it was but too true ; all the poor must feel the bitter weather severely , but the blind poor most especially .
As by our intrusion we had interrupted some reading with which a benevolent visitor was cheering them at their work , we did not
remain Passing very down long stairs in the in women anoth ' s er room direction . , we caught sight of a
room containing some stuffed birds and other curiosities—this is called the Museumand had just been used as a music-room ; a
the lesson , either ils were on dispersing the , violin . , or Two in b singing the , was last now of the at party an end made , and
their pup way slowly towards the passage oys , in which we were standing , , one leaning upon the other , who was carefully and tenderly
supporting him . I learned that he was " weak and ill to-day . " Both were blindit was a sadbut a very touching sight to watch
; , them . My companion stopped to speak a few kind and encouraging words to the ladsand then led me once more into the shop ;
, informing me that concerts for the benefit of the Association were well frequentl attended y held . , I which left with were a well promise worth to call patronage again when , and it often should very be
in my power to do so , after being directed by a very intelligent blind man to the shortest and best road for my next destination .
For those to whom its situation in so unfashionable a locality
