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Use What You Have

Creator: n/a
Date: 1862
Publisher: American Tract Society
Source: American Antiquarian Society
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5

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Yes, they were so anxious for an education, that they were glad to be at the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, where they could be taught by teachers just suited to them, and have companions who talked like them with their fingers, and recited in perfect silence.

18  

You should have seen the classes there all looking at their teacher, while he asked them a question in history by signs, and then each turned to write the answer on the slate. He had but to fold his arms and walk up and down thoughtfully, and on every slate "Napoleon" would be written in a moment. If he made the signs for a ship sailing westward, and some person anxiously on the look-out for land, they needed no more; "Columbus " was at once written down.

19  

You perhaps think it is hard and tiresome for you to learn, yet you can hear and speak. Shame on a little child to whom God has given both a voice and a hearing ear, and who is so indolent as to be unwilling to use them.

20  

Perhaps you have heard of Laura Bridgman, the deaf, dumb, and blind girl. You would naturally suppose that she could never learn any thing; yet I once saw her do sums in arithmetic which might puzzle some of my young readers. I saw her point out on a map the capital of the State, without stopping a moment to look for it.

21  

In her books the letters were raised, like the carving on a cameo breast-pin, and she read with the tips of her fingers. In her maps, the rivers, towns, and boundaries were raised too, instead of being flat like the rest of the paper; so that she could pass over the map with her hand and find any place, almost as quickly as you could do it with the use of your eyes.

22  

There were many blind scholars in the Institution where I saw Laura, some busy with their studies, and some at their needle-work and their knitting. Yes, the deaf and dumb and the blind can be taught to read and to be useful. Shall little children, who have their eyes, their ears, and their voices in perfection, be lazy and ignorant?

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All our blessings come from God; and he expects us not only to be grateful for them, but to improve them, and be useful and happy in his service.

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But God has still stronger claims upon us. Christ has died to save us. If we ever enter heaven, it will be because we are redeemed by his precious blood. What then ought we to do with these tongues and eyes which he has given us? How quick ought our feet to be to run, and our hands to work in his service!

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