Lydia Maria Child, Isaac T. Hopper: a true life

[460] the breeze, that always refreshes the city of New-York, after a sultry day. On such occasions, the children of the neighborhood soon began to gather round him. One of the most intelligent and interesting pupils of the Deaf and Dumb Institution had married Mr. Gallaudet, Professor in that Institution, and resided in the next house. She had a bright lively little daughter, who very early learned to imitate her rapid and graceful way of conversing by signs. This child was greatly attracted toward Friend Hopper. The moment she saw him, she would clap her tiny hands with delight, and toddle toward him, exclaiming, ‘Opper! Opper!’ When he talked to her, she would make her little fingers fly, in the prettiest fashion, interpreting by signs to her mute mother all that ‘Opper’ had been saying. Her quick intelligence and animated gestures were a perpetual source of amusement to him. When he went down to his office in the morning, all the nurses in the neighborhood were accustomed to stop in his path, that he might have some playful conversation with the little ones in their charge. He had a pleasant nick-name for them all; such as ‘Blue-bird,’ or ‘Yellow-bird,’ according to their dress. They would run up to him as he approached home, calling out, ‘Here's your little Blue-bird!’

His garden was another source of great satisfaction to him. It was not bigger than a very small