Deaf and Dumb! Read online

  FRONTISPIECE.

  _page 4._

  _DEAF & DUMB._

  "_Pray come to us when you take your ride._"]

  DEAF AND DUMB!

  By the Author of"_The Twin Sisters_," _&c. &c._

  "That good diffus'd may more abundant grow, And speech may praise the Power that bids it flow."

  _Cowper._

  THIRD EDITION.

  London:Printed for Darton, Harvey, and Darton,No. 55, Gracechurch-Street.1818.

  PREFACE.

  It is hoped the title of the following book will excite attention: howmuch more, then, should the unhappy situation of those who are in thatstate demand compassion! and it is gratefully acknowledged, that in somebenevolent minds the tide of pity has flowed even to them. An Asylum, ona plan more and more extensive, as the means of making it so hasincreased, has been formed for these _once_ melancholy appellants totheir commiseration, but who are _now_, through their means, enabledcheerfully to pass through life; and scarcely to feel the deprivation ofthose powers, which, were it not for this institution, would have sunkthem into listless apathy, or moody ideotism.

  Perhaps the reader is little aware how many of his fellow-creatures arelabouring under this misfortune, and how much the number of those whocannot, from want of room, or means for their support, be admitted intothe Asylum, exceeds those who have received the benefit of it. Let thefollowing extract acquaint them with it:--"The unhappy malady whichaffects these children is found to exist to a dreadful extent; scarcelya week passes without some application for admission, and though thenumber of pupils has been gradually augmented from six to sixty, it mustbe stated (and it is stated with deep concern) that at every election,the _number of candidates_ exceeds, in a _tenfold proportion_, thenumber of vacancies! Such a painful fact makes a most interesting andpowerful appeal to every benevolent mind." Another powerful plea mayalso be added: that, after twelve, the age appointed by the committee,they cannot be admitted. Arrived at these years, any one possessing allhis faculties, (and who has till then been brought up in comparativeignorance,) finds it difficult to learn. But to these unhappy children,the difficulty must of necessity be increased; besides the danger thereis that, if till that time, they are taught _nothing_, it will be beyondthe reach of human means to rescue them from the state above described.

  The writer of the following pages earnestly appeals to the livelyfeelings of youth, (the season of compassion,) to consider these things.Let them remember, it is for those of their own age that theirassistance is demanded; and who, instead of having to look forward to alife of activity and usefulness--or that they shall fill up their placein society beneficially, either to themselves or others, must, withoutthe improvement afforded them by these means, drag on a miserableexistence--a burden to themselves and all around them. The necessitousin more advanced life, have, at least, the consolation of thinking everyyear that passes brings them nearer to the end of their sorrows; and_blessed_ are they, if they have a _well-grounded_ hope of happiness ineternity. Their troubles then are nothing; but these poor children arenot only suffering want at the present, (for it is for the children of_the poor_ I plead,) but continuing as they are, they have no prospectof ever raising themselves, by useful industry, above it. And what isstill worse, they are in this state excluded from those _means_ whichare appointed by Divine Wisdom for the instruction of his people, andwhich lifts their minds to higher views, and enables them to supportaffliction, by acquainting them with another and a better world.

  DEAF AND DUMB!

  "We are going out in a cart," said Henry Rawlinson, as he jumped downthe steps of the street-door, to meet Mr. Beaufort, a gentleman who wasthen on a visit to his father, and who had gained the affections of allthe children he was acquainted with, by his kindness to them. "Dear Mr.Beaufort, do you know where we are going?" continued he: "to nurse'shouse, the woman who nursed me; we are to spend the whole day there."Then taking his hand, he begged him to accompany him into the yard, tosee the vehicle that was to convey them: "It is such a very nice cart,"said he, "it is open at the top: won't it be pleasant to ride in it?""Very pleasant indeed," replied his good friend, smiling to see him sohappy; "and who is to be of the party? I fear there would not be roomfor _me_, should _I_ wish to join it," added he, on seeing the neatlittle cart they were going in. "Why, I think," replied the little boy,in a lower tone, "that you would not like to ride with the servants, notbut that they are very good to us. There are Miller, and Sally, and mysister Caroline, and myself; and nurse's son drives us. Do you thinkthere will be room for you?" added he, with an enquiring look. "Ibelieve not," answered Mr. Beaufort; "and besides, my weight, added toall yours, would be too much for the poor horse. But suppose I ride overin the course of the day, and see how you get on; and then I can takeyou up before me, and we can ride a little way together." "Oh, do, do!"exclaimed Henry, skipping for joy, "I shall be _so_ glad; and as for theroad, if you don't know it, nurse's son can tell you _that_."

  While they were thus settling this pleasurable scheme, the horse andcart were gone round to the door, and "Master Henry" was loudly calledfor. Mr. Beaufort accompanied him back again, and Henry introduced himto nurse's son, that he might understand the road he was to come tothem. "You _cannot_ mistake it now," said Henry, on hearing itaccurately described; "I hope you'll come."

  "What," said Caroline, who was a year or two older than her brother, andwho was already seated in the cart, "does Mr. Beaufort talk of coming tous? O! pray do, Sir; you cannot think what a pleasant place it is." "Iwon't promise," answered the good-natured man, pleased at theireagerness, "but perhaps I may;" and then kindly assisting the servantsto get up, he had the pleasure of setting off the whole party, rewardedby their smiles and thanks. "Pray come to us when you take your ride,"was loudly repeated, both by Caroline and Henry, till they were out ofhis sight, and with a look of kindness, he gave them, what theyconsidered, a nod of assent.

  Mr. and Mrs. Rawlinson were not up when their children left the house,and had not Mr. Beaufort been an early riser, he would have lost thesatisfaction he felt on seeing their happy faces, as it was not quitesix o'clock when they commenced their journey. He had the pleasure ofdescribing them to their parents, whom he met at breakfast, and theywere equally delighted at the recital. He also mentioned the invitationhe had received to pay them a visit some time in the day, and Mr.Rawlinson earnestly seconded it: "Do," said he, "for it is just by thespot on which I wish you to build; and, were I not particularly engagedthis morning, I would accompany you." This was _one_ inducement to Mr.Beaufort, as he had long talked of building a residence for himself inthat neighbourhood; and the idea of giving the children pleasure was_another_. He therefore ordered his horse at the usual time, anddetermined to comply with their request.

  In the mean while, the happy party arrived at nurse Goldsmith's cottage,highly pleased with their ride and the kind reception they were sure tomeet with. It was between four and five miles from the town, andsituated on the side of a common, part of which belonged to Mr.Rawlinson's estate, and on which he had formed several plantations offirs. Before the house was a neat little garden, sheltered from thenorth wind by a small coppice of hazel trees, through which ran amurmuring brook, that supplied the family with water. The good woman,with all her children, was at the wicket gate to receive her guests; andall who _could_ speak, expressed pleasure at seeing them. But, alas!_all_ could not, for two of them were deaf and dumb!

  Do my young readers fully consider the extent of this misfortune? andare they truly sensible of the blessings of speech and hearing? Oh, whata pity that they should ever misapply the gift of speech, in murmuringand complaints, because they have not always every thing they wish; orin that which is still more wrong, speaking of the faults of others, orin telling
untruths.

  Having never heard the sound of the human voice, nor indeed any sound atall, these poor children could not frame their mouths to speak; theycould never add to the pleasure of their parents, by repeating what gavepleasure to themselves; nor could they speak their wishes, or theirsimple thanks, when they were complied with. Let the little ones whoread this tale, reflect upon what it is that makes them in any measureagreeable to others. Is it not their conversation? and do they notexpress themselves, as they think will be most likely to induce theirfriends to comply with their request, whenever they have a favour to askof them? Alas! those children who labour under the misfortune heredescribed, have no such power; and many such, I am sorry to add, thereare! What, then, is