Stammering, stuttering, and other speech affections : their causes and cure / [William Abbotts].

  • Abbotts, William.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Stammering, stuttering, and other speech affections : their causes and cure / [William Abbotts]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ Come I will show thee an aUliction unnumbered among this worl4’s sorrows. Yet real, and wearisome, and constant, embittering the cup of life. There be who can think within themselves, and the fire burneth at their heart. And eloquence waiteth at their lips, yet they speak not with their tongue ; There be whom zeal quickeneth, or slander stirreth to reply. Or need constraineth to ask, or pity sendeth as her messengers ; But nervous dread and sensitive shame freeze the current of their speech. The mouth is sealed as with lead, a cold weight presseth on the heart. The mocking promise of power is once more broken in performance. And they stand impotent of words, travailing with unborn thoughts. Courage is cowed at the portal, wisdom is widowed of utterance ; He that went to comfort is pitied, he that should rebuke is silent. And fools who might listen and learn, stand by to look and laugh ; While friends, with kinder eyes, wound deeper by compassion, And thought finding not a vent, smouldereth, gnawing at the heart. And the man sinketh in his sphere for lack of empty sounds. There may be cares and sorrow's thou hast not yet considered. And well may thy soul rejoice in the fair privilege of speech , For at every turn to want a word—thou can’st not guess that want; It is as lack of breath or bread, life hath no grief more galling.” M. F. Tupper.