The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-10-10

"And it is mine,' said Sanders; lit is my
books
''Your books p
Eyes, sir, my books, my Latin, Greek, and
Hebrew. What is The freight p
''Nothing, nothing, you big>6oned fool :;
it is prepaid
Without taking any notice Of the mans
uncourteous answer, Sanders shouldered The
box, and in few moments il was placed in
triumph upon the old rickety table.
Excitement is no evidence of great mind;
yet great minds, under peculiar circumstan-
ces. have been greatly excited. So it was
with MIR. Sanders on this occasion. The
children gathered around, expecting, no
doubt, 10 see some live monster burst from its
confinement, on the opening Of the box. The
lid was quickly removed, when, 10 the asIon-
shment and inexpressible delight the faith
er, nine large volumes, no, secondhand, but
new, presented themselves. They were
out, one by one, and last Of all came small
case of mathematical Instruments.
The next three years of Sanders life
almost Frustrated the strength of the high
minded and resolute man. Poor and
scanty fare, excessive labor, and nightly
study, began to make rapid inre ads upon
naturally strong constitution but the
time Of his reward was near at h md.
a mathmetical problem hal cen put
forth in a scientific journal copy which
his city friend had sent him: fer the solu-
ton of this problem reward one hun
bred dollars was offered. Tfry five COM
petitors appeared; and among the rest,
Sanders, with the greatest possible modes
ty, ventured solution. In ten days he
received a letter by mail, containing a
draft for one hundred dollars. and announ-
cling the altogether unexpected but joyful
news of his successful effort.
we will not follow him through the
next seven years of his life. He was sue
cessful in almost every branch of learning
TO which he addressed himself, and the
man who, at thirty years of age, was the
renter of miserable cabin, worn with toll
and crushed with poverty, was seen at for
ty the owner of comfortable and even
elegant mansion, in the superbs of the
great commercial city of C.. The
unlearned mechanic, who barsaiIed with
schoolboy for the use of his books at
night. seven years afterwards was publicly
known as man Of rare literary attain
ments. For twenty-five years Sanders
acted as foreign correspondent to the
principal business establishments in the
city. being perfectly familiar with the mod
ern languages Of Europe. He was also
distinguished as mathematician, and ge-
ologist, and indeed in almos, every depart.
ment of learning. The real greatness and
glory Of the man. however, consisted in
the purity of his character. A firm be-
lever in revealed religion, his was deep
toned, practical Christianity, making him
eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
He visited the widow, and sustained the
fatherless, and the blessings of many ready
to perish descended upon him. His de-
parture was such as might have been ex.
pected-calm, triumphant, and glorious
L have been, said he, when near his end
confined for many years in dark prison.
house, where the lightest and brightes
moments ] enjoyed only served to show
how deep the darkness was in which
walked. In my strongest moments l wa:
only atle to drag my spirit to the window
of its cell, 10 gaze with rapture upon tn,
fair vision that lay beyond, but which
could not reach. The spirit indeed wa
willing, but the flesh was weak powerless
The prison door will soon be opened; tn,
letters struck off, and the captive spiri
set forever at liberty, will rejoice in til,
fulness of glory and power. Ihave some
times thought, he continued, that thu
most perfect state attainable by man, Will
tied to mortality, is to acquire all abilit,
TO discover between the right and tn
wrong to love the good, and long after
complete conformity to the pure and holy
10 bow the spirit willing. though the fles
should remain in weakness. In this broken
impotent state, how grand, how glorious
are the hopes Of Immortality how de
sirable to be clothed with lightr 'Yes
he exclaimed, 'all of life begins at death
While the words trembled OH his lips, tn
spirit was emancipated.'
Thus lived and died man of true nc
bility. A strong faith and firmness ofpul
pose was the secret Of his success.