A Thrilling Announcement

1835

So matters ran on, until I was fifteen years old: and then, one day, something was told me that brought a thrill of joy and delight never, never to be forgotten. “Fanny, arrangements have been made for you to attend the school for the blind, in New York.”

Only a few words, but what a flood of joy they admitted to the poor sad little soul that had SO long pined and prayed for knowledge! God had responded to my prayer, at lastthrough His own means, and by His own faithful helpers. Oh, if the founders and sustainers of such institutions could only know a millionth part of the joy they cause, they would feel repaid for their money and their efforts — again and again!

Of course, I was upon the very tiptoe of expectation — my joy only tempered by the fact Starting for School at Last!

that I should have to leave behind my dear mother, and the friends whom I had learned to love. But the distance was not great, and, so to speak, was becoming less and less all the time, owing to constantly increasing facilities of travel; and I was told that I could return during every vacation, and oftener if I or they should at any time be ill.

The preparations were few and simple: a girl then did not require so many appurtenances when starting for school, as she does now. I was soon ready: and left home on the 3d of March, 1835 — searching, as upon my voyage of ten years before, for light — but this time for the mental, instead of the physical, light that should illuminate my mind, and make me happy ever after.

This time, we did not go down the Hudson River, upon a sail-boat: we first journeyed to Norwalk, and there took a steamer for New York.

This, although vastly different from the mammoth sound-steamers of today, served the turn, and brought us through very comfortably: and I was cordially received by Dr. John Denison Russ, who was then Superintendent of the Institution. He was only thirty-four years old, but had already been through an interesting and varied experience. He had settled in New York as a physician after graduating at Yale College, but one year afterward, in 1826, he was so moved with pity at the suflferings of the struggling Greeks, that he went to their aid with a cargo of supplies, from Boston, and remained there three years, during which time he estabUshed a hospital at Poros, and conducted it personally for fifteen months.

Returning to New York in 1834, he began at his own expense the instruction of six blind boys; but the same year, was appointed Superintendent of the Institution of which I was happily so soon to become an inmate.

While in Greece, he had been intimately associated with Lord Byron. I shall never forget the thrill of delight, upon meeting some one that had actually known the great poet, whose verses I had already learned to admire. He was full of reminiscences of the poet-patriot, and his recounting of them at times had a great fascination.

Everything started off well: I was a little homesick at first, but frequent letters and new-made friends soon softened that feeling; while fresh facts and ideas were sent thronging every day into my mind.