BORN BLIND AND DEAF. 69 



When he would express that he has been on horseback, he 

 raises his foot, and brings the fingers of each hand together un- 

 der the sole, in imitation of a stirrup. He places his hand on 

 his mouth to signify his wish for food ; and when he would go 

 to bed, he inclines his head sideways, as if to lay it on a pillow. 

 When I arrived at Ardclach, young Mitchell was not at home; 

 he had wandered to the shoemaker's, several hundred yards 

 distant, where he was sitting in anxious expectation of a pair 

 of new shoes. He was brought to the manse ; but after he 

 had remained with us contentedly in the dining-room for about 

 half-an-hour, he shewed an anxiety to get away ; and as he mo- 

 ved towards the door, he made use of a sign, from which no 

 one could fail to discover whither he was going. It was, an 

 exact imitation with his arms, of a shoemaker's motion when 

 he pulls his thread. 



All the signs employed by others in order to convey ideas 

 to him, are addressed to his organs of touch. The most im- 

 portant, certainly, of these signs, are those which his sister has 

 invented, to express her approbation or disapprobation, her as- 

 sent or dissent. Miss Mitchell's explanation of them is ex- 

 tremely satisfactory. Her brother has always been particular- 

 ly attached to her, and she has always had most influence over 

 him. He courts her good opinion. When she would signify 

 to him her highest approbation of his conduct, she pats him 

 much and cordially on the head, back, hand, or any other part 

 of the body. This expression more sparingly and less fer- 

 vently bestowed, signifies simple assent ; and she has only to re- 

 fuse him these signs of her approbation entirely, and to repel 

 him gently, to convey to him in the most effectual manner the 

 notice of her displeasure. 



When I suggested to Miss Mitchell that it would be a 

 highly interesting task, though doubtless a difficult and tedious 



one 



