THE BAMBOO, RAIN-COATS AND BLIND MEN. 225

The blind men had heard the jinrikishas,and were now scattering
like a flock of sheep at the coming of a big dog. They were
speedily left behind.

Ralph thought of a visit he made the winter previous to the
Institution for the Blind at South Boston, Mass. There he
saw the sightless pupils bending over their books, with their finger-
tips feelmg their way along the curiously raistd letters into a
larger knowledge, — “a bigger place to think and live in,” as he said.
He saw the work-shops where the blind were trained to an acquaint-
ance with various useful occupations. He recalled one lady who,
guided by her finger-tips, read for him several verses out of the
blind folks’ Bible. Remembering these things, Ralph could but hope
that everywhere the blind might receive an education, and above
all the Gospel. :