Page 30 - Fairbrass

* Fairbrass, we have long felt that you
would ask this question, and we have often

wondered how we should answer you. We
think now that the time has come when you

should be told the truth. You cannot speak
to your father or mother, brothers or sisters,

or, indeed, to any human being, because
you are what the world calls dumb.1

1 Dumb ? ’ said Fairbrass, 'W hat is
“ dumb ” ? That is a M7ord they are always

using* when they speak of me.’
‘ Yes/ said the shorter Poplar; ( but

they would not dream of saying so, if they
did not think you were deaf, too/

1 Deaf ? 1 asked Fairbrass. * What is
e( deaf" ? They say that, too.1

‘ Listen to me, dear/ said the elder
sister, 1 Sometimes people are born into

the world who cannot speak ; that is called
“ dumb.” Most of these poor creatures

cannot hear; that is being “ deaf/* In the
house they think that, because you cannot
speak, that is the case with von; but Heaven

has been kinder to you, dear, than that.