Years of Blindness. 45 



Youmans first met Horace Greeley the beginning 

 of a warm friendship. 



Dr. Elliott had expressed a belief that the cure 

 could be effected in six months. In saying this he 

 probably stretched a point, for it was evident that a 

 less hopeful view might prevent Edward from under- 

 taking the treatment. Edward felt that the doctor's 

 fee of one hundred and sixty dollars, besides the cost 

 of board in the city for six months, would be a heavy 

 burden for his father. A longer stay would at that 

 moment have seemed impracticable. 



At first the progress toward recovery seemed 

 rapid, but painful and vexatious relapses kept occur- 

 ring. Sometimes the patient would be able to read 

 the signs over shop doors, then for a long time he 

 would be totally blind. It thus gradually became 

 evident that years rather than months might be 

 needed for the cure. After the first installment of 

 sixty dollars had been paid the doctor would not 

 accept any further payment until the cure should be 

 complete ; and so many years passed before this result 

 was reached, and so many occasions had there been 

 for mutual good offices, that further payment was 

 never thought of. 



Edward's home was with Mrs. Cook throughout 

 the year 1841, except now and then in .the summer, 

 when he was able to superintend the workmen upon 

 Dr. Elliott's estate on Staten Island, which he was al- 

 ways glad to do, for when there, besides the welcome 

 opportunity of earning his support, he had healthful 

 outdoor life, sea bathing, and even some horseback 

 riding, and was much improved thereby. Neverthe- 

 less the relapses would come. If he happened to catch 

 cold, however slightly, the congestion always seized 



