The Deaf and Dumb Boy
'Now, my dear boy and girl,' said their aunt to Charles and HelenLaurie, 'you are come to stay a whole fortnight with me, and we musttake care not to mis-spend our time, for not all the art of man canrestore one day that is lost. You, Charles, shall practise your drawingwhile Helen works, and then while I hear Helen spell and read, you maywrite. Each day of our lives should be made some good use of; and whilewe are young, and have health and strength, we ought to learn all thosethings which we may wish to know when we are grown old.'
Charles and Helen Laurie now ran in search of their books, which weresoon found, as they were laid in the right place; and then they sat downto their tasks, glad to please their aunt, and quite certain that tolearn to be wise and good was the best thing in the world.
At the hour of noon, when the clock had struck twelve, their aunt toldthem to leave their books, put on their hats, and go out to walk withher. They went through some fields, and down a pretty lane, and in thehedges on each side were tall oak, elm, and poplar trees, that made thelane look like a grove, and kept them from the rays of the sun. At lengththey came to a small, neat, white house that stood on a green lawn, andhad bushes of lilac blossoms before the windows, with a large fish-pondat the end of it. The house had rails before it, and Charles and Helenwent with their aunt through a gate that was made of the tools that menwork with in the fields, such as a rake, a spade, a hoe, and a scythe.
In the house they saw a fine-looking boy of ten years of age, withlight-brown hair, hazel eyes, and cheeks as red as a rose. He came up toCharles and Helen, and shook hands with them, and seemed joyous atseeing them, but did not say a word. They thought it strange that he didnot speak to them; and at last Charles said to him, 'Your lawn would bea good place to play at trap-ball on, if it were not for the fish-pondthat is so near it. Do you play at trap-ball, sir?'
The boy, whose name was Jackson, put his hand to his mouth, shook hishead, got up from his chair, went for a slate, wrote on it, and gave itto Charles, who read these words: 'I cannot speak to you. I do not hearwhat you say to me. I am a poor deaf and dumb boy, but I shall be gladto please you, now you have been so kind as to come to see me. Praywrite down on this slate what you wish me to do.'
Charles took the slate, and when Helen read the words that were writtenon it, her eyes were full of tears, to think that such a sweet boyshould be deaf and dumb. But Charles hung his head, for Jackson wroteso fine a hand, that he did not like to show that he could not performas well. Helen knew what Charles was thinking of, for she had heard himfound fault with, and had seen him write when he did not take pains tolearn to write a fine hand; so she went to the hall door and made a signto Jackson, as much as to say they would like to go out.
Jackson led them round the lawn to the fish-pond, and that they mightsee the fish, he threw in some pieces of bread to make the fish jump upto catch the bread in their mouths. He next took them to the back of thehouse to show them the farm-yard; there they saw cocks and hens on therubbish heap, ducks and geese dipping or swimming in the pond, pigsgrunting, cows, calves, and a pet lamb, who, as soon as he saw them,came out of a barn and ran up to Jackson, that he might stroke and playwith him; but he was full of tricks, and when Charles or Helen went nearhim he strove to butt them with his young horns. He would not eat out oftheir hands, but he took all that Jackson gave him. In the same barnthat the lamb came out of, were a goat and two young kids. The goat, thekids, the lamb, the calves, all were fond of Jackson, for he had a kindheart and would not hurt the smallest insect.
Charles and Helen stayed that day to dine with Jackson, of whom theygrew more and more fond each moment that they were with him. He was aboy of a sweet, gentle temper, and won the kindness of all who came tohis house. He drew as well as he wrote, and knew all the things that adeaf and dumb boy could learn. He had a box of tools, and had made abird-cage and a neat desk to write on. It is a sad thing to be deaf anddumb, for much of what boys learn at school, and which it is right toknow, cannot be taught to a deaf and dumb child.
Charles told his aunt Laurie, as they went home at night, that when hehad grown to be a man he would love Jackson, and try to be of use tohim, since blind or deaf and dumb men must want some one to guide andtake care of them.
It is a sad thing not to see, or not to speak and hear; so that all boysand girls who have their sight and speech should be glad to make thebest use of them. They should, while they are young, do what they aretold by their friends is right to be done, and then when they grow upthey can be of great use in the world. A fool, a dunce, or a bad mandoes harm and not good in the world.