“How I wish I could give you a peep at Dover, for though I looked with fast-failing sight at the high cliffs at the foot of which the old town seems to nestle, almost lovingly, their grandeur made an impression upon my mind that years of blindness have not been able to efface.
“I loved the town near which I lived for several years so well that when I began to learn English history I was almost disappointed to find that so little worthy of note had happened there, though I have thought sometimes that when that weak monarch John was on the throne, Englishmen and women must have been ashamed of their king when they saw him kneeling at the feet of the haughty Pandulph, who had been sent from Rome by the Pope to demand the submission of King John, receiving his crown from his hands, and promising always and in all things to obey the Pope.
“My father was stationed at Dover Castle, and we had quarters within its enclosure. I cannot tell you half the delight and amusement that grand old castle was to us children. We never seemed to get tired of climbing the steep flights of stone steps that led to its ancient keep. I wanted very much to know why its walls were so thick, and why it had been built with such care in the very center of the castle.
“I was also puzzled to know why it was not lighted by windows, but by long narrow slits in its walls. I do not think it was all at once, but little by little that my questions were answered, as I learned how hundreds of years ago, in the times of the Norman and Plantagenet kings, there were many castles in England, some of which always belonged to the king, while others were the homes of the barons, or nobles, who were often very rich and had great power. Every castle had its keep, and very strong and safe these keeps were.
“‘What was their use,' did you say, Maud?
“When war raged, as was often the case in those days, round the castle, the women and children and all the jewels belonging to the baron or his wife, all the weak things and all the precious things were taken into the keep, and though outside all might be strife and confusion, the walls of the castle must fall before harm could come to those who had fled for refuge to its keep.
“Arrows, too, were shot upon the foe beneath from the narrow slits, the use of which had been such a puzzle to me.
“I had not many books when I was first converted, but I think the Lord used the memory of that old keep to teach me some precious lessons. It helped me to understand how it was that I had not only shelter from the wrath of God through the precious blood of Christ, but a refuge, a hiding-place in the Lord Himself. I often, very often say to my own heart, in moments of difficulty and danger—
“‘The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.' (Psa. 121:55The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. (Psalm 121:5).)
“But our talk about Dover Castle and its keep has led us quite a long way from our story. I had not done any lessons since the injury to my eyes, and was beginning to get almost tired of all play, and sometimes wished I could go to school like other children, when one afternoon, as I was at play with the others, a gentleman came into the castle yard. He called us to him and gave us text-cards and little books, which we thought very pretty, as they were printed on red and blue paper. He had such a kind, pleasant way with us, that we soon found ourselves talking to him as if he had been an old friend.
“He asked me if I went to school, and when I said, ‘No, sir; the doctor will not let me,' he seemed greatly interested, and drew from me the story of my accident.
“He then told me that not being able to attend a day-school was not a reason for my not learning to read. He had, he said, quite a number of friends who, though quite blind, had been taught to read by the use of a system invented or improved by a Dr. Moon, who, though himself blind, had been used in doing good and useful work among his fellow sufferers.
“I was at once interested, and asked how any one without eyes could be taught to read?
“He smiled, and explained that different signs, which stood for letters, were raised or embossed upon very stout paper, and by passing the tips of their fingers over these they were able to distinguish them one from another, and after a little practice to read almost as quickly as sighted persons can from printed books. He asked me if I would not like to learn to read in this way, and when I said I thought I should, he was pleased and offered to go at once and see my mother, in order to allow him to send a lady, who had, he said, quite a number of pupils, some of whom were grown-up people, others children like myself, whom she was teaching to read at their own homes.
“My mother gave her consent, and two days later my new teacher came. How well I remember her first visit? She gave me a card on which the letters of the alphabet were embossed. I learned several letters in the first lesson; my teacher was pleased, and said I had a good memory, and had been attentive.
“In great delight I ran to my mother thinking that she would be as much pleased as myself, but to my surprise, she sank into a chair, covered her face with her hands, and cried so long and bitterly that I was almost frightened.
“I learned to understand those tears better when I grew older.
“Dear, patient mother The hope to which she had clung for quite three years, that after all the doctors had told her, my sight might still be spared, seemed at that moment to slip from her grasp.
“But good I am sure came out of it, as from that day her unwillingness to allow me to be educated with blind companions and schoolfellows seemed little by little to melt away, and my home-teacher still continued to come always once, and sometimes twice, every week till I was able to read any book embossed in Dr. Moon's type with ease and correctness. I soon grew fond of reading, and was always greatly pleased when my kind teacher brought me a book I had not read before.
“But a great change was coming into my life. It was at last decided that I should be sent to school, and as beyond Miss M—'s work as home-teacher nothing was at that time done for the blind living in or near Dover, arrangements were made for my admission into a school at Brighton, which was under the personal superintendence of Dr. Moon.
“Though I liked the idea of going to school, the parting with my mother was a very sad one on both sides. Miss M—was so kind as to offer to travel with me, and she talked so pleasantly that after we had been for a little while in the train I dried my tears, and began to wonder if all the teachers would be as kind to me as she had been.
“It took some weeks to get used to school-life. Everything was so new to me. The large airy schoolroom, where during lessons we took our places in our classes, and there was the buzz of many voices. How strange it all seemed, and yet I liked it.
“The dormitories, with their long rows of white beds, were bright and cheerful. On half-holidays, when the weather was fine, we were taken to the sea-front, where those of our number who could see a little would search for seaweed on the pebbly beach. Still I do not think there was a spot we loved better than our own school playground. We had swings and skipping-ropes, and many a merry game we enjoyed within its walls.
“We had scripture and history as well as reading and spelling lessons. A good deal of time was spent and pains taken with our singing, and most of the elder girls learned music. We were also expected to help in such light household work as dusting, making beds, etc., while some of the girls did really beautiful knitting, or wove willow and straw plait into dainty baskets.
“My schooldays were on the whole happy ones; our teachers were kind, and work and play kept us so fully occupied, that though sometimes I used to long for home and mother, it was always a comfort to count the weeks and then the days till the next holidays were due.
“'Will I tell you about my school friends?' Yes, Flora; but as this will bring me to another and it always seems to me more interesting part of my story, it will have to stand over for our next talk.”