386 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



in a rapidly growing Western community, they had 

 every prospect of growing up to honorable usefulness, 

 a comfort to their parents, a blessing to the world, and 

 capable of enjoying life in the highest degree. 



But suddenly certain manifestations appeared which 

 gave rise to grave apprehensions on the part of the 

 parents. It was observed that the elder of the little 

 boys no longer played about with that nimbleness which 

 he had formerly shown, but seemed slow and stiff in 

 his movements. Sometimes, indeed, he would stagger 

 a little when he walked. Soon, also, his speech be- 

 came affected in some degree; he mumbled his words, 

 and could not speak distinctly. In spite of all that 

 could be done, the disease continued, increasing slowly 

 in all its symptoms from week to week. Soon the hands, 

 also, became affected, so that he could not feed him- 

 self. The mind now began to fail. The bright eyes 

 became vacant and expressionless. Instead of the 

 merry light which used to shine in them, there was a 

 blank, idiotic stare. 



Imagine the grief and anguish of the poor mother ! 

 No one but a mother who has been called to pass 

 through a similar trial could know how to sympathize 

 with such a one. Her darling son she saw daily be- 

 coming a prey to a strange, incurable malady, with 

 no power even to stay the progress of the terrible 

 disease. 



But there was still greater grief in store for her. 

 Within a year or two, the younger son began to show 

 symptoms of the same character, and in spite of all that 

 was done, rapidly sank into the same helpless state as 

 his brother. As a last resort, the mother took her boys, 

 and came a long journey to place them under our care. 

 At that time they were both nearly helpless. Neither 



