Deaf and Dumb!, Page 4

may be only a temporary deafness. At present, thislittle boy is the most to be attended to;" and he took his name and agedown in his pocket-book, while the grateful mother put up a secretprayer that it might be attended with success.

  William watched all that was done, with an expression of anxiety whichcould not be accounted for, unless he thought that something either verypleasant or distressing was to happen to his mother from it. The reststood in silent attention, listening to what was said; and thecountenance of each bespoke their earnest wishes for their brother'swelfare.

  Mr. Beaufort now invited Henry to ride with him to the spot Mr.Rawlinson had wished him to see; and Mrs. Goldsmith, seeing it was justone o'clock, pointed to the door, for William to go and call his fatherhome to dinner. Lucy, who had been accustomed always to accompany him onthat errand, made a sign to do so now; but William, by stepping out hisfeet in a peculiar manner, let her know that he must make great haste,and that she could not walk so fast as he; and with this information shewas made satisfied to remain at home.

  While Henry was riding before Mr. Beaufort, all their conversation wasrespecting William and the Asylum. "I will give all the money I have,for him to go," said the kind-hearted boy; "and I think that Carolinewill too: I'll ask her when I get back." And on his return he called hissister on one side, to make the request: "Mr. Beaufort says that agreat deal is wanting to support the children," said he, "and that theyhave built a new house for them to live in; the other was not largeenough: won't you give _your_ money towards it." "Yes, that I will;"replied she, "and as soon as we get home, we will speak to papa andmamma about it."

  Mr. Beaufort had taken his leave, but not without a liberal earnest ofhis generosity to Mrs. Goldsmith, and an assurance that William shouldnot be forgotten. He had brought his father and eldest brother home todinner, to whom the poor woman related the circumstance of Mr.Beaufort's visit, with the greatest pleasure.

  Never was such a happy dinner as these affectionate parents sat down towith their young guests, though their feelings could scarcely alloweither of them to partake of what was placed before them. "Why he'llspeak as well as neighbour Goodyer's boy," said the delighted father,"_he_ has been up to London to see him, and he says all the children aretreated so kindly!" "The time of admission is the second Monday in nextmonth," said his mother, "and perhaps he may be admitted _then_. _We_are only expected to keep him decently clothed. I must begin making himsome shirts; won't you let me buy him a few?" continued she. To this herhusband readily consented; and Miller said she was sure her mistresswould give him a jacket and trowsers. This point being settled, and thedinner ended, the children returned to their play, till the time of tea;after which, the horse was again harnessed to take them home, and thesame party which he had brought in the morning, with the squirrel, andtwo rabbits Henry had obtained leave to take with him, were all placedin the cart, with a large basket of nuts, and some greens for therabbits. They took their leave of nurse, with many thanks for thepleasure they had had, and expressions of kindness to all the children,particularly William and Lucy, the latter of whom had, in the course ofthe day, become so sociable with Caroline, as to cry at seeing herdepart.

  When they reached home, they found their parents, and Mr. Beaufort,sitting, after dinner, with another gentleman or two, and the littleGoldsmiths were the subject of their conversation. Henry would havedirectly asked his mamma for his little store of money, that he mightput it into Mr. Beaufort's hands, for the benefit of the charity, hadnot a significant look from Caroline prevented him. When they retiredfor the night, he asked her the reason. "It is like asking thegentlemen, who were strangers, to praise you," said she; "and besides,you know mamma has told us, that whenever we give any thing away, weshould not speak of it: to-morrow, when she is alone, will be timeenough."

  In a day or two after this, Mr. Beaufort returned to town, after fixingthe day for William and his mother to come up, in time for the meeting,when he hoped to be so fortunate as to get him admitted. The interveningtime was fully employed in preparing his clothes, in which Carolineassisted, and in endeavouring to make him understand the good fortunewhich awaited him. Mrs. Rawlinson had him to visit her, a day or twobefore he was to go; she took him to the school, to which, herecollected, his eldest brother had gone, and gave him a copy-book,pen and ink, and slate. William blushed, and lifted up his handaffectingly, he shook his head, as if to say, "I don't know how to usethem." He had been very fond of their neighbour's son, who was alreadyin the Asylum, and before he went they were constant companions. Williamhad for a long time understood he was gone somewhere greatly to hisadvantage, and whenever he went into the cottage of his parents, hepointed to the stool on which his old companion used to sit, as if toenquire how he was, while an approving smile from Mrs. Goodyer alwaystold him he was well off.

  On their return from Mrs. Rawlinson's, his mother took him to theirneighbour's, and directing his attention to the stool, which alwaysrecalled the idea of his friend, she showed him the books and slatewhich Mrs. Rawlinson had given him, and made him understand that he wasgone to be instructed how to use them. William nodded his approval, butwhen she distinctly said, "_you_ are to go _to_ him, (and such asentence as this he could understand by the motion of her lips,) hedanced for joy, he kissed his mother and Mrs. Goodyer, caught up thebooks and hugged them, then the pen, with which he showed them he shouldsoon know how to write; and then, by every means in his power, he askedthe question _when_ he should go? He looked up to the sky, then wavedhis hand with the sun, once, twice, thrice, as if to enquire, was it insuch a number of days? His mother held up one finger; and then, bymoving his hand, as if in the act of driving, he asked if _that_ was tobe the mode of their conveyance. On receiving a nod of assent to thisquestion also, he again capered round the room, and all the way, as theywalked home, delighted his mother with his expressive gestures ofpleasure.

  When there, he met his brothers and sisters with increased affection,and with the same significant motions, made them sensible that he knewwhat was designed for him. He marked the return of the next evening withsome appearance of regret, and, for the first time, seemed to recollectthat all his family could not go with him; and he kissed them all againand again, especially little Lucy, who as yet had not a notion that shewas so soon to lose him. He led her to his mother, and, with anexpressive look, bespoke her double affection for her when he was away,and waving his hand towards the door, he tried to tell his sister he wasgoing a great way off. In this manner he led her round to each of thefamily separately, as if to beg them all to be attentive to her in hisabsence.

  The next morning, he and his mother were up before any of the children;and to spare him the pain of taking leave, she directed Mary not toawake them till they were gone. Our travellers had about a mile to walkto meet the coach, to which his father accompanied them, and, with themost earnest wishes for his success in gaining admittance, he bade hisaffectionate child--farewell.

  Poor William had, till then, been all joy and ecstasy, but when he sawhis father turning back, a tear stole from his eye. He had hoped, fromhis coming thus far with them, that _he_ was also to accompany him; andwith an enquiring look, he turned to his mother, with whom he was seatedon the top of the coach, to know why he did not. The novelty ofWilliam's actions soon attracted the attention of the other passengers,and the recital of his case excited their pity. Among the number, thepoor woman met with one who very well knew the part of the town she wasgoing to, and where Mr. Beaufort had secured a room for them to sleepin, near the Asylum: and in the morning this benevolent man called tosee her before the committee assembled. William instantly knew himagain, and, from his mother's behaviour, he saw that it was to _him_ hewas obliged for the education he was about to receive, and with all theeloquence of silent gratitude he expressed his thanks.

  At length eleven o'clock came, and William was introduced to thegentlemen. The votes were given, and he obtained his admission by amajority only of one; and that was from Mr. Beaufort having the numberof votes whic
h constitutes a governor for life; and the pleasure withwhich he informed Mrs. Goldsmith of her son's success, could only beexcelled by hers on hearing it.

  William was then introduced to some of the scholars, among whom wasJacob Goodyer: they immediately recollected each other, and ran toexpress their pleasure in thus meeting. "How do you do, Mrs. Goldsmith?"said Jacob, delighted thus to use his newly-acquired speech, and to havean opportunity of displaying his improvement. "How are my father andmother?" The poor woman could not answer him: she burst into tears. "Andwill my boy ever speak so well as he?" she exclaimed to one of thematrons of the school, who was with her. "No doubt he will," answeredthe woman, who was equally affected. She then described more of