They reminded
me of the reply to a difficult question I once saw a deaf and dumb boy
write.
The teacher of his school asked the visitors who had come to see it, to
put any questions they liked to the boys. Some questions in history and
geography and arithmetic were asked and answered; and then a lady said,
"Ask them to tell what is the amount of the Christian's riches."
There was a pause; but presently a boy of fourteen stepped forward, took
the chalk, and wrote this text as the answer: "Having nothing, and yet
possessing all things." I think he must have known what it is to be "rich
unto God."
It is sad to think that when the ear, that "gateway of knowledge," is shut,
a poor child may, for want of teaching, and often for want of love and
sympathy, grow up almost like an animal; his friends thinking him stupid,
because he cannot ask questions or tell anything that is in his mind, until
at last he really becomes stupid, and his mind grows dull from want of use.
I am glad to tell you that a way has lately been found, by which children
who have never heard a sound may be taught, not only to understand the
speech of others, but to speak themselves. It is true that their talk
sounds strange and unnatural, and is not easy to understand, but where
this method is known it makes a wonderful difference in the lives of the
poor children who have been so cut off from intercourse with others.
By carefully watching the lips of their teachers, those who learn this
"lip-reading" can tell what is said, and I have seen them write it down,
just as you would write a dictation lesson; and quite as correct, though
they only see the words, and you hear them.
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