New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE OF SAMUEL JOSEPH MAY.


Tho snbiect of this memoir man of distin-
pplshed mark in the circles of philanthropy ana
progress which have formed so powerful an element
of New England society during the last forty OF
fifty years Without regard to personal interests,
and often indeed at great personal SACRIFICES he car
ried out his convictions to their practical conse-
'uuences deeoting himself to the cause which no had
at heart with the zeal of a martyr. No fear OF man.
no social enticemeuts no thirst for the enjoy
meHt of popular favor not even the blandlsh-
ments of personal sympathy, could divert him
from the path of duty however fOrbidding
and rcpulsive the aspect which it presented. Nor
did fis LOYALTY to the "stern daughter of the voice
of God" arise from any lack of softer and sweeter
traits in his composition, He was q man of singular
tenderness and delcacy of feeling, alive to all the
charities of social intercourse and of such remarka
Die amsnity of temper that even the bitterness OF
party spirit was allayed by his presence NO one
could mistake has devotion to humanity for the I'M
pulse of private passion. He had sinister ends to
accomplish no spteu prejudces TO crafty, no per-
eonal wrongs to avenge. He defended truth with
out malignity, and fought for principle without
wrath To employ much abused term, he had
certain chivary of nature which impressed his deedS
with the stamp of nobility. No man could better
deserve the title of Christian hero. In his dlsnter
eseaness of purpose his purity OF conservation and
bis boldness of action he was faithful knight OF
the true cross.
Mir MAY was born in Boston toward the end of the
wear 1884 He was connected with the families that
nv ancestral tradition and eminent public services,
were deemed to represent the highest social worth
and intellectual culture OF that day. The interesting
autobiographcal sketch contained in the volume
describes touching incident of his early childhood,
as follows:
had brother Edward two years older than myself
He tair-hared boy with blue eyes, bright playful
ufl4f q.
getbcr ate together ana he taught me all the sports
was old enough TO take part in. He had recently COM
need going 10 school, and every day awaited his re-
turn that he would bring me something
when he was years and eight months Old he came
home at early noon fun of gee, and summoned me to
the yard to partake of his sport He climbed the fence
against tie barn, pretending to sweep chimney ana
When The imaginary WORK was HOne ne atepeu 70 o
char, the top of which broken OFF, The post gave
eI inches under his arm Scrcamsfrom the servants,
who by brought our fond mother to the spot
tainted or been stunned by blow, ana ordered a
warm paln, but OH las I M ~ iiI, ind Sbe
tainted the floor by his side The servants ran for
physician neisn6Ors came in offering assistance
all was confusion and disInay. Ny father aud the
doctor arrived as soon as possible But the dear beau
lng Of my elder brother and sisters assured me that
something dreadful had happened; and there my be-
loved Edward was, eyes shut, body cold giving
plies the tender things that were said TO him. taking
notice OF all that was being done TO him or about him.
gave myself up to a passion of grief, knowing not
what IL wasbut that some strange, awful change mad
come over him. Then they put gIaye-clothes upon him,
sir@licned ont his limbs and folded his beautiful
hands upon his breast and covered him only with the
clean cOld white sheet. saw II afOr they could not
Keep ne away-and when father and mother and the
kind assisting friends mad daIkened the and
about 70 withdraw besought them to let me lie down
with Edward. Ny importantly was so earnest so pas
sionate that my parents were almost AFRAID ana quite
rather 1t, Well remember now Kissed his cOId cheek
aud lips, pulled open his eyeids begged him to speak
At teate Was carried to table; but the Weeping
OF all about me, added 10 my own dsmay destroyed my
permitted to go back TO the chamber and lie by
the sac OF EDWARD -, My request was granted;
again sleep, when L must have been removed
for found myself next morning in the he'd where
had usually slept with my brother in my mothers cham
Der But hurried back to the corpse OF Edward; and
kept with 1t almost all the time until was taken from
1t forever saw my father put the body into the coin
IN order as be told me- mat il might be aid away IN the
ground, and then we should see Edward no more But
he anu my mother and my brother and sisters, con
he had become angel, aud had gone TO heaven, TO
dwell with the good and the happy in the presence OF
Two days after the death, the house filed with
been particular fayOTite. Oar good minister read the
burial service. could not understand il; but 1t was
solemn, impressive, and listened with awe.
Then went slowly, IN solemn procession, 10 the
battle-ground all was new, strange, awful to But
TAXING the colin on toward the tomb insisted upon
5eSs anG y aT took me in n arms Descended
with the family vault. and showed me where the
me little collins in winch were the remains OF several OF
my aud sisters, VINO had lived ana dec before
Was born, and the cOtln which my grandfather was
buried egnt before. lily Kind uncle opened one of
come told me Edwards body going to decay
Ike manner ana at last become IKE the aust OF Tue
earth. ne again most tendery assured me that Ed
ward su living, that LIS spirit was not IN the coffin,
il clothed Win another more beautiful glorious
body, anu that ne hau gone 10 i've IN heN en- WIN Goa
and Christ ana the angels Then he lled once more the
liz u Edwards cOfg, and let me KISS AGAIN ana Tor the
last hs check, lis lips, his forehead went home IN
SORT OF maze cry Jag, asking questions which the
wisdom OF mau cJu0 not answer
My only brother Charles, then lad fourteen fifteen
wears oil age, teudcriy took up 10 his chamber lay
Win ais bed, and trled 10 comfort me and
himself by telling nc ali that lie imagined to
about heaven aud God aud ANGELS, and assuring NE
gau, others had done, mat t"drd id gone to i've
ia that blessed place, n,ppy and glorious
paIy. o. course believed du That such dear, good
II4ends ,O.G mt.
When night came, was put 20 bed the room where
Lad 50 often lam ana slept Will E1Gdd, Sleep soon
came 10 relieve ny young spirit wedred with grief and
strange excitement. And dIeamt-dTCGmt OF Edward.
All that had been told me proved by what saw
and felt The ceiling OF the room opened. over where
Waslying night glorious light burst and from the
InidstOI came my lost bother, attended By troop
OF little els. IL6y Lett n He lay by used TO
do his head on my ~ head his. H. told me
bow happy he was, what a beautiful place heaven was,
kiLu God and Christ were 10 MN, aud how all
angels loved one another There he lay unti lorUiug
when tue ceiling above opened again.. aud the troop OF
angels him back 10 lie kissed me,
.ent messages o. love 10 her and mother rJtler and
sstcrs, ana gladly rejOincd the celestial company.
SO 4 awOkc and dressed, hurried down 10
tel the family what had seem aud 10 give them the
kisses aud messages that dear Edward had sent them
All day long thought and talked OF what had seen
often, as nave since been told expressed upatcnce 10
have night and when IL came, went eagerly 10
bed, tire confident expectation that the heavenly
vision would he granted me again. Ana ii wap The
the felt presence my broth morning after morn
ing came down with tie ghty varied messages
Unt by degrees my glieI abated, the loss Of
my brother In supplied by other play
mates, Things ATTRACTED attention aud occupied
my thoughts bat nave never forgotten my Edward
the Of his death aud burial; and the
vivid ] 10y memory, although most 81 my Tor sew
eTal years aiterwaTd IS very indistinct
A litte childish episode in bis intercourse with