<> Part Three Linen Hall Library 1951 Linen Hall Library Thursday, April 7, 2016 TIFF Hanna210 Manuscript Master, Dumb English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/hanna210 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Hanna210_0.jpg LHL Archive 205 "Maybe,” said, the master. "But there was no pretence today. He broke down - and I was wondering were you doing anything about it." "Ach, he gets hummings and drummings in his ears, but they come and go wi' the weather. Anyway, what can ye do about things like that?" "Well, you could take him to a doctor, and if his hearing is really threatened, there's a special school in Belfast to treat children like that." "He doesn't need any more schooling. He's near thirteen now, and Mr Echiin was just saying t'other day that it was time the lad was brought home -" "I dont think you understand me, Mrs Echlin," Herriot said, interrupting her. "I know Andrew will soon be staying at home, but it was his ear trouble I was thinking about. Believe me" he continued earnestly, "There's nothing more tragic than the loss of hearing. We look on blind people and dumb people with pity and admiration when they make the best of their disability, but a deaf man is a dead man, for we always leave him out of our reckoning." He stood up and lifted his hat. "I hope you'll see your way to doing something about Andrew, anyway." Sarah appeared to be considering his words. 'Well" she said, "I'll see what Mr Echlin says." as she followed Herriot to the door she added. "But the boy'll soon be leaving school, and deafness will be no hindrance to him working on the land. But thank ye all the same, Mr Herriot." "That's all right. I just thought I'd better let you know," and touching his hat to her, the master left the farm. Later that evening, when they had all gathered in, Andrew watched his mother apprehensively. She laid his Text