Page:Daughters of Genius.djvu/262

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

254 LAUEA BRIDGMAN. Since that period her thoughts have evidently had but slight relation to this world and its delights, although her enjoyment of life appears to be undiminished. The change in her religious feelings was far from lessening her regard for her illustrious teacher, Dr. Howe. He died in 1876. A few days after his death she wrote to a friend : " I think much of Dr. H. day & night, with sorrow, & gratitude, & love, & sincerity." She spoke and wrote frequently of him, and looks forward with perfect confidence to meeting him again. She retains the tastes and the habits of industry which she acquired at the Institution in her childhood, taking pleasure in decorating her room. She has named her room Sunny Home, from one of its windows which lets in the sunlight, of which she is as fond as though she could behold the pictures it creates. She never finds time hanging heavily upon her hands. Besides reading the books and periodicals printed in raised letters for the blind, she sews, knits, crochets lace, makes mats and other fancy articles, which she sells to visitors with her auto- graph attached. She retains, too, her power to enjoy a jest, and has wholly recovered from her propensity to bursts of anger. I conclude with one of her poems :

LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

Light represents day. Light is more brilliant than ruby, even diamond. Light is whiter than snow. Darkness is night-like. It looks as black as iron. Darkness is a sorrow. Joy is a thrilling rapture. Light yields a shooting joy through the human. Light is as sweet as honey, but Darkness is bitter as salt and more than vinegar.