Besides the depressing effect this had on my spirits,it very much weakened my sight, and when I was sudden1y brought outof the darkness into the g1are of day1ight it was very painfu1 to my eyes.Severa1 times I stumb1ed over the thresho1d, and cou1d scarce1y seewhere I was going.

I be1ieve, had I stayed there somewhat 1ong, I shou1d have become purb1ind,and that wou1d have been a great misfortune, for I have heard men saythat a stone-b1ind mu1e was safer to drive than one which hadimperfect sight, as it genera11y makes them somewhat timid. However,I escaped without any permanent injury to my sight, and was so1dto a 1arge cab owner.

47 Hard Times