62 A PEEP AT 



instructed deaf mutes, and had formed quite an exten- 

 sive circle of acquaintance, -v^'ith ladies for the most 

 part, who had taken pains to learn the manual alpha- 

 bet, and with whom she was very fond of talking. 



" These influences were found to be favorable to 

 the development of her character, and she was left to 

 them. I thought it better to pursue this course than 

 keep her as strictly under the influence of her teach- 

 er's mind as she had been in the early period of her 

 instruction. She needed, however, and has continued 

 to have, special instruction. Miss Sarah White has 

 continued to give all her time and attention to her 

 education. She has been to her a constant com- 

 panion, friend, teacher and exemplar. She has 

 devoted herself to Laura for years, by day and by 

 night, in health and in sickness, in joy and in sorrow, 

 with zeal, patience, and discretion, and has had a 

 wholesome influence upon her mind, heart and 

 character. 



" I can claim no other credit for the improvement 

 which Laura has made in latter years than that of 

 securing for her such a teacher. If she is short- 

 coming of any natural qualification for the task which 

 she undertook at my urgent request, I can only say, 

 on the other hand, it would be very hard to find any 



