The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-10-05
'Mistellaneous,.
THE DYING HOUR OF A NO
satisfied BILE MAN. ~

/ Z
Few men, either in ancient or modern
times, have devoted long life more per-
s.stently to the good of his brother NOR
tails than HORACE MANN. There is some
thing grand in his devotion to the educa-
tional interests of the People. For this,
he was willing to yield health, wealth,
worldly honors--in truth, everything that
gives q zest to our enjoyments. Such a
man belongs not to one nation, for he is
one of the few great spirits who deserve
to be a model to the young men Of all ma
tons.
"A young student, w. G. Sherwin, who
was present at tho death-bed of Horace
Main, on the I'd of August, 1859, thus
fills out the picture Of the close Of this
good man'slfe. Washington did not de-
part this life with more nobility =
How aul /. Doctor? Do You think |
shall recover 7soon? Are the symptoms
favorable Z" ave thought last night
replied the Doctor, ''the disease might,
perhaps. take favorable turn; and in
deed we have all the time thought your
recovery possible ;. but Mr.. Mann's eye
carefully watched the face of the Doctor
whilo making the foregoing answer, and
when he hesitated he sternly said, "But
what? Don't hesitate. Go on, Doctor
say what you were going to" 81 will
leave Mrs. Mannto say theIrest.' mo,
Doctor, say.it Yourself. III am going
to die / would like to know it. / have a
great many things to say, and it will take
some time to say them He was then
told that he could live but few hours
more, and whatever he had to say must
be said speedily. All then left the room
but his wife and two younger sons, 0he
older one being absen) with whom he
conversed for nearly an hour. He was
perfectly calm, perfectly free from all ex-
element. He scarcely oven alluded to
his own suffering betrayed no symptoms of
fear--no .nisg ;v:ngs for the future, nor
any solicitations for the happiness of that
future. He spoke not of himsclf-thought
not of himself. His care was for others
bis anxiety was for others. He spoke
confidingly, but firmly; and with that
same sweet voice, clear accent and mclo-
diouscadeuce with which he so often
81 armed and thrilled the scholar and the
multitude. After having given his part
ing advice to his family and three or four
of bis immediate friends and attendants,
he sent for all the students remaining in
town. He spoke with each one from
three to five or six minutes. With some
few bis interviews were private, but 10
most of them he spoke 50 as to be heard
by several others. lie gave to each one
of them such advice as seemed appropri-
ate. One pale, slender student was adj
yised to be more careful of his heaith-io
battle, exercise, and to go more in lively
company. a5".@' |
Another one, who was wearing himself
away ly too constant application, was adj
vised to study with less intensity, and take
more recreation. Another one, who was
prone to lose some time lettering, was ad-
monished that Gas time is one ofthe most
precious gifts bestowed upon mankind, it
shonld always be industriously used, but
never wasted" Another was cautioned
against allowing his appetites and passions
to control him. To one he said "hold
your be ad closer. Let me see. once more
before | die, that mammoth brain-that
brain fill of electricity and fire! Oh! if
+ [ had possessed head like that, could
have accomplished ? far greater amount
of good for tho hnman race! That brain
is capable Of doing an immense amount
of good, or an immense amount of evil.
Consecrate it! Consecrate it.' To one
poor student who7had been working bis
way through College, and had borrowed
some money from him, he said, ''Mrs'
Mann will return your note to you. You
need never pay it, 81 > IsI 1886
To another one he said, 81 have no spe-
cial advice to give to you. You know II
already. You know what is right, and
have determined te do it. You have made
a glorious beginning. Your future sue
cess is almost certain. A good, solid,
honest, industrious, heroic young MAN.
.Perge stque cepisti.' 'Psrge atqae ea-
p;st;., PEReE ATaUE cGpIsTI!H inns
-, f,,,otad eack time with greater en-