Pike County GaArchives News.....He Sees Again January 12 1889 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net January 27, 2003, 12:07 am The Griffin Daily News. Griffin, Georgia He Sees Again How a Pike County Man Lost and Recovered His Eyesight We take account of the following remarkable occurrence form the Zebulon Journal: The Lower Ninth district of this county furnishes the most remarkable bit of news that has ever been our pleasure to learn. Mr. John Wright of that district is an old and respected citizen of Pike and has long been living in that neighborhood. For fifty years or more he had been making a comfortable living. He moved along swimmingly and nothing apparently indicated the reverses of life. But the smoothest course of nature must have its endings and its pains. Something more than three years ago at the honored age of 75 years Mr. Wright went entirely blind. He could not see anything - stone blind - and for the past three years he has been groping about the house in darkness with no one but his faithful and loving companion to administer to his wants. He had seen the sunshine of 75 summers and the frosts of as many winters, and it is no easy matter to imagine with what regret his mind brooded over his great misfortune. All hopes of ever again being able to see his wife and his friends had long since been abandoned. On last Tuesday morning he was sitting in his lonely home reflecting upon the vicissitudes of life and perhaps, more than anything else, longing for the summons of God, while his wife had gone to milk. All at once a change began to come over him. What! The sight is returning! He says he saw at first very dimly the outlines of the door facing. Then it became more visible - plainer and plainer it became until he could see the entire house as well as ever. The forests, though denuded of foliage, the wide stretching fields and the blue canopy above them now loomed up before him as vividly and more beautiful than in the halcyon days of boyhood. Never had he appreciated sight as he did then. Mrs. Wright heard someone skipping about the house, and fearing that something terrible had happened, she dropped her milk pain and rushed in to see what was the matter. Imagine her surprise on finding her husband had recovered his eyesight! Then the skipping increased, for there were two overjoyed souls in the business. Neighbors on their way to the voting precinct were attracted to the house by the noise and all joined in the demonstrations of delight. It is said that the joy was so earnest and genuine that bystanders were brought to tears. Mr. Wright accompanied Charlie Barret to the polls and took pleasure in pointing out objects and describing color in the minutest detail. There is no doubt that but that he can now see as well as the average man of his age. Have those eyes that have watched the haughty tramp of the red man as he roamed the woods of Georgia just been taking a three years rest? Anyway it caused much delight - so much that should you visit that home for the first time you would conclude that "Uncle John" and his wife were spending their honeymoon. (Transcribed 1/26/03 Lynn Cunningham) Additional Comments: Note: 1880 Census Place: District 581, Pike, Georgia Source: FHL Film 1254161 National Archives Film T9-0161 Page 155B John W. WRIGHT, Self, M, M, W, 69, GA, Occ: Farmer, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Mary M. WRIGHT, Wife, F, M, W, 40, GA, Occ: Keeping House, Fa: GA, Mo: GA William WRIGHT, Son, M, S, W, 14, GA, Fa: GA, Mo: GA This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb