THE BLIND ]\rAN. 323 



the ride a deep bog, and just before the trio reached the 

 gateway, the cart and the donkey stuck fast. j\Iany 

 struggles took place to effect progress, with intervals 

 between to permit the little donkey to catch her wind, 

 but all in vain. Prayers and exhortations, and the 

 most endearing expressions, were used to " Cliarlotte" 

 and to " Pilot," for the donkey went by both names ; 

 but, though she was as true to the collar as any Lon- 

 don dray-horse, poor little Pilot could not accomplish 

 the way. I watched their proceedings from my am- 

 bush, and the more so, because not once was the 

 donkey sworn at or struck ; and the man himself 

 pushed behind the cart with all his might. The child, 

 a little boy, was too young to be of any manual ser- 

 vice. Resting my rifle against a tree, I addressed the 

 man, and told him to put his shoulder to one wheel, 

 while I put mine to the other, and we pushed the 

 cart throu2;li, till it was landed on tlie firmer heath. 

 Having paused to take breath, on looking into the 

 poor fellow's face, I saw he was blind ; in short, that 

 he had hardly any eyes, not much nose, and scarce 

 any lip ; his face being one frightful scar. On asking 

 him if he was not blind, he replied, " Yes ; all he 

 could ascertain, by vision, was the difference of night 

 and day ;" having a shilling in my pocket, I gave it 

 him, the more induced to it, as he told me " that 

 the parish refused him any allowance." He was very 

 thankful for the aid I had given him in each in- 

 stance ; and when complimented on not ill-using his 

 donkey, he told me " he was too fond of her ; that 

 she cost him four-pence soon after she was born, and 

 that he reared her by hand, and shared all he had 

 with her." We parted, and having made some in- 

 quiries as to the character of the poor fellow, which 



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