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Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind, by
Frances Martin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions
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Title: Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind
Author: Frances Martin
Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31721]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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ELIZABETH GILBERT
Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind, by 1
[Illustration: Logo]
[Illustration: (signed) Elizabeth Gilbert]
ELIZABETH GILBERT AND HER WORK FOR THE BLIND
BY FRANCES MARTIN
AUTHOR OF 'ANGÉLIQUE ARNAULD,' ETC. ETC.
London MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1887
All rights reserved
INTRODUCTION
There is a sacred privacy in the life of a blind person. It is led apart from much of the ordinary work of the
world, and is unaffected by many external incidents which help to make up the important events of other lives.
It is passed in the shade and not in the open sunlight of eager activity. At first we should be disposed to say
that such a life, with its inevitable restrictions and compulsory isolation, could offer little of public interest,
and might well remain unchronicled. But in the rare cases where blindness, feeble health, and suffering form
scarcely any bar to activity; where they are not only borne with patience, but by heroic effort are compelled to
minister to great aims, we are eager to learn the secret of such a life. No details connected with it are devoid of
interest; and we are stimulated, encouraged, and strengthened by seeing obstacles overcome which appeared

insurmountable, and watching triumph where we dreaded defeat.
Elizabeth Gilbert was born at a time when kindly and intelligent men and women could gravely implore "the
Almighty" to "take away" a child merely because it was blind; when they could argue that to teach the blind to
read, or to attempt to teach them to work, was to fly in the face of Providence. And her whole life was given
to the endeavour to overcome prejudice and superstition; to show that blindness, though a great privation, is
not a disqualification. Blind men and women can learn, labour, and fulfil all the duties of life if their
fellow-men are merciful and helpful, and God is on the side of all those who work honestly for themselves
and others.
The life of Elizabeth Gilbert and her work for the blind are so inextricably interwoven, that it is impossible to
tell one without constant reference to the other.
A small cellar in Holborn at a rent of eighteen-pence a week was enough for a beginning. But before her death
she could point to large and well-appointed workshops in almost every city of England, where blind men and
women are employed, where tools have been invented by or modified for them, where agencies have been
established for the sale of their work.
Her example has encouraged, her influence has promoted the work which she never relinquished throughout
life.
Nothing was too great for her to attempt on behalf of the blind, nothing seemed impossible of achievement.
One success suggested a new endeavour, one achievement opened a door for fresh effort.
Free from any taint of selfishness or self-seeking, all her thought was for others, for the helpless, the poor, the
friendless. Her pity was boundless. There was nothing she could not forgive the blind, no error, no ignorance,
no crime. She knew the desolation of their lives, their friendless condition, and understood how they might
sink down and down in the darkness because no friendly hand was held out to them.
Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind, by 2
And yet she was unsparing to herself, and a rigid censor of her own motive and conduct. This she could not
fail to be, because she believed in her vocation as from God. She never doubted that her work had been
appointed for her; she never wavered in her belief that strength given by God, supported her. She knew that
she was the servant of God, sent by Him to minister to others. This knowledge was joy; but it made her
inexorable and inflexible towards herself.
There are but few incidents in her peaceful life. It was torn by no doubt, distracted by no apprehensions, it
reached none of the heights of human happiness, and sounded none of the depths of despair. If there were

unfulfilled hopes, aspirations, affections, they left no bitterness, no sense of disappointment. A beautiful life
and helpful; for who need despair where she overcame and gained so great a victory?
The materials for recording the history of Elizabeth Gilbert are scanty, but all that were possessed by her
sisters and friends have been placed at my disposal. My love for her, and our long friendship, have enabled
me, I hope, to interpret them aright.
FRANCES MARTIN. October 1887.
CONTENTS
Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind, by 3
CHAPTER I
PAGE CHILDHOOD 1
CHAPTER I 4
CHAPTER II
IN THE DARK 14
CHAPTER II 5
CHAPTER III
LITTLE BLOSSOM 27
CHAPTER III 6
CHAPTER IV
WHAT THE PROPHETESS FORESAW 39
CHAPTER IV 7
CHAPTER V
THE PALACE GARDEN 51
CHAPTER V 8
CHAPTER VI
A SENSE OF LOSS 70
CHAPTER VI 9
CHAPTER VII
THE BLIND MANAGER 82
CHAPTER VII 10
CHAPTER VIII

ROYAL BOUNTY 94
CHAPTER VIII 11
CHAPTER IX
REMOVING STUMBLING-BLOCKS 110
CHAPTER IX 12
CHAPTER X
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS 129
CHAPTER X 13
CHAPTER XI
REFLECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 142
CHAPTER XI 14
CHAPTER XII
HER DIARY 150
CHAPTER XII 15
CHAPTER XIII
THE FEAR OF GOD AND NO OTHER 158
CHAPTER XIII 16
CHAPTER XIV
EVERYDAY LIFE 175
CHAPTER XIV 17
CHAPTER XV
TIME OF TROUBLE 192
CHAPTER XV 18
CHAPTER XVI
THE FIRST LOSS 212
CHAPTER XVI 19
CHAPTER XVII
HOW THE WORK WENT ON 221
CHAPTER XVII 20
CHAPTER XVIII

BLIND CHILDREN OF THE POOR 238
CHAPTER XVIII 21
CHAPTER XIX
IN TIME OF NEED 249
CHAPTER XIX 22
CHAPTER XX
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW 259
CHAPTER XX 23
CHAPTER XXI
LIFE IN THE SICK-ROOM 279
CHAPTER XXI 24
CHAPTER XXII
TWILIGHT 293
CHAPTER XXII 25