186 MARY BRADLEY, THE DEAF AND BLIND MUTE. 



weeks elapsed before the slightest sign of intelligence was mani- 

 fested. After six weeks of daily perseverance, however, her face 

 suddenly indicated that her mind had received an impression. Not- 

 withstanding her complete isolation from all the sources of enjoy- 

 ment around her and the difficulties of communicating information 

 to her, she by slow degrees made considerable progress in acquiring 

 a knowledge of language, and was enabled not only to read the books 

 printed in relief for the blind, but was also able to communicate her 

 thoughts in writing to others. This latter she performed by meana 

 of a tablet which Mr. Patterson invented for her, and by its aid she 

 held correspondence with Laura Bridgman and others, tihe became 

 quite an adept at the peculiar language of the deaf and dumb. She 

 was also provided with a case of types, which she " set," and which 

 was of great value to her, not only as a means of communicating 

 but also as exercise in languages. Her favourite books were the 

 gospels, which she frequently read, drawing comfort and satisfaction 

 from them. Her temper was peculiar, probably from the peculiarity 

 of her case ; as a rule she was amiable and tractable, but she was 

 from time to time subject to fits of suUenness and irritation, when 

 nothing could please or pacify her, and she was left to herself until, 

 as if exhausted, she would return to her usual mood, and continue 

 tractable for weeks. Much of her time she spent in knitting and 

 sewing small articles, which she generally gave to friends and those 

 who were kind to her." 



The generous zeal with which her humane instructor devoted him- 

 self to the rescue of this seemingly hopeless outcast from her lonely 

 and dark prison-house is deserving of the highest encomiums ; and 

 none the less so from the quiet and unobtrusive manner in which his 

 successful labours have been carried out. The remains of Mary 

 Bradley have been laid to rest in Harpurhey Cemetery ; and it is 

 pleasing to be able to add that she died in the firm conviction that 

 she was entering upon a life where the senses of which she had been 

 deprived here would be fully developed. 



