Страна слепых

           OldYacobhadatendernessforhislastlittledaughter,andwasgrievedtohaveherweepuponhisshoulder. 

           "Yousee,mydear,he’sanidiot. Hehasdelusions;hecan’tdoanythingright." 

           "Iknow,"weptMedina-saroti. "Buthe’sbetterthanhewas. He’sgettingbetter. Andhe’sstrong,dearfather,andkind—strongerandkinderthananyIothermanintheworld. Andhelovesme—and,father,Ilovehim." 

           OldYacobwasgreatlydistressedtofindherinconsolable,and,besides—whatmadeitmoredistressing—helikedNunezformanythings. Sohewentandsatinthewindowlesscouncil-chamberwiththeothereldersandwatchedthetrendofthetalk,andsaid,atthepropertime, "He’sbetterthanhewas. Verylikely,someday,weshallfindhimassaneasourselves." 

           Thenafterwardsoneoftheelders,whothoughtdeeply,hadanidea. Hewasthegreatdoctoramongthesepeople,theirmedicine-man,andhehadaveryphilosophicalandinventivemind,andtheideaofcuringNunezofhispeculiaritiesappealedtohim. OnedaywhenYacobwaspresenthereturnedtothetopicofNunez. 

           "IhaveexaminedBogota,"hesaid,"andthecaseisclearertome. Ithinkveryprobablyhemightbecured." 

           "ThatiswhatIhavealwayshoped,"saidoldYacob. 

           "Hisbrainisaffected,"saidtheblinddoctor. 

           Theeldersmurmuredassent. 

           "Now,whataffectsit?" 

           "Ah!"saidoldYacob. 

           "This,"saidthedoctor,answeringhisownquestion.