10 



Yes, we answer ; but, gentle friend, you went in your inspec- 

 * tion as a butterly from flower to flower, scarce lighting ere 

 flown, not as the busy bee who dives at the heart of rose and 

 lily to extract its sweets, or you would have observed that the 

 article you found less pleasing was the work of one that is 

 blind. On one article the needle quickly wrought, and with 

 eyesight's aid, produced a few more moi-e stitches ; on the 

 other the needle slowly counted distance, and her patient hours 

 were rewarded by no after contemplation of the soft blue upon 

 the silver ground. That exhilaration one always feels viewing 

 a completed work, that compensates for labor, was denied her. 



We could explain much that may seem unjust, if space per- 

 mitted. I think, however, a deaf Committee would find less to 

 dissatisfy them with their long labors. 



Again, articles of underwear are brought that are attractive, 

 but what has the donor done but put together the fruit of 

 the looms? The fine embroideries are not of her deftness, the 

 laces are not her workmanship : then, she is entitled simply to 

 as much praise as is due to the skill with which she combined 

 them. The owners of home-knit lace or hand embrtndery no 

 doubt were satisfied with our judgment, while the possessor 

 of the eye-catching combination of bought torchons and Ham- 

 burgs wonder what blunted our appreciation. The lady's 

 work, who, after her seventieth birthday, hemmed with such 

 regulirity and fineneps, and who wove the floss into flannel 

 with marvelous care, restored our blunted faculties very 

 quickly. We did have the best of many, and " their works do 

 praise them." 



It is not quantity that is desired : six square inches of can- 

 vas can show marvelous shading, intricacies of color, and 

 wonders of industry, while a yard of Java canvas can be gone 

 over in one hundredth part of the time, and something accom- 



