Dotty Dimple at Play | Page 2

her."
"Has you got a headache, mamma? I's solly. Lean 'gainst ME,
mamma."
Horace wished the conductor had been in that car, so he could have
seen Miss Flyaway trying to prop her mother's head against her own
morsel of a shoulder--about as secure a resting-place as a piece of
thistle-down.
"When was it be dinner-time?" said she at last, growing very tired of so
much care, and beginning to think "'Naplis" was a long way off.
But they arrived there at last, and found Mr. Parlin waiting for them at
the depot. After they had all been refreshed by a nice dinner, and
Flyaway had caught a nap, which took her about as long as it takes a fly
to eat his breakfast, then Mr. Parlin suggested that they should visit the
Blind Asylum.
"Is it where they make blinds?" asked Dotty.
"O, no," replied Mr. Parlin; "it is a school where blind children are
taught."
"What is they when they is blind, uncle Eddard?"
"They don't see, my dear."
Flyaway shut her eyes, just to give herself an idea of their condition,
and ran against Horace, who saved her from falling.
"I was velly blind, then, Hollis," said she, "and that's what is it."
"I don't see," queried Dotty,--"I don't see how people that can't see can

see to read; so what's the use to go to school?"
"They read by the sense of feeling; the letters are raised," said Mr.
Parlin. "But here we are at the Institute."
They were in the pleasantest part of the city, standing before some
beautiful grounds which occupied an entire square, and were enclosed
by an iron fence. In front of the building grew trees and shrubs, and on
each side was a play-ground for the children.
"Why, that house has windows," cried Dotty. "I don't see what people
want of windows when they can't see."
"Nor me needer," echoed Katie. "What um wants winners, can't see out
of?"
They went up a flight of stone steps, and were met at the door by a
blind waiting-girl, who ushered them into the visitors' parlor.
"Is she blind-eyed?" whispered Flyaway, gazing at her earnestly. "Her
eyes isn't shut up; where is the see gone to?"
Mrs. Clifford sent up her card, and the superintendent, who knew her
well, came down to meet her. He was also "blind-eyed," but the
children did not suspect it. They were much interested in the specimens
of bead-work which were to be seen In the show-cases. Mr. Parlin
bought some flowers, baskets, and other toys, to carry home to Susy
and Prudy. Horace said,--
"These beads are strung on wires, and it would be easy enough to do
that with one's eyes shut; but it always did puzzle me to see how blind
people can tell one color from another with the ends of their fingers."
The superintendent smiled.
"That would be strange indeed if it were true," said he; "but it is a
mistake. The colors are put into separate boxes, and that is the way the
children distinguish them."
"I suppose they are much happier for being busy," said Mr. Parlin. "It is
a beautiful thing that they can be made useful."
"So it is," said the superintendent. "I am blind myself, and I know how
necessary employment is to MY happiness."
The children looked up at the noble face of the speaker with surprise.
Was he blind?
"Why does he wear glasses, then?" whispered Dotty. "Grandma wears
'em because she can see a little, and wants to see more."
The superintendent was amused. As he could not see, Dotty had

unconsciously supposed his hearing must be rather dull; but, on the
contrary, it was very quick, and he had caught every word.
"I suppose, my child," remarked he, playfully, "these spectacles of
mine may be called the gravestones for my dead eyes."
Dotty did not understand this; but she was very sorry she had spoken so
loud.
After looking at the show-cases as long as they liked, the visitors went
across the hall into the little ones' school-room. This was a very
pleasant place, furnished with nice desks; and at one end were
book-cases containing "blind books" with raised letters. Horace soon
discovered that the Old Testament was in six volumes, each volume as
large as a family Bible.
In this cheerful room were twenty or thirty boys and girls. They looked
very much like other children, only they did not appear to notice that
any one was entering, and scarcely turned their heads as the door softly
opened.
Dotty had a great many new thoughts. These unfortunate little ones
were very neatly dressed, yet they had never seen themselves in the
glass; and how did they know whether their hair was rough or smooth,
or