Year: 1874

The New Y ork Commercial AdpeTGSer,
q journal that is usually as resdable ~
any other newspaper published in this
country, recently commented upon the
death of young Americus in such sn
appropriate manner that We make no
apology for transferring its remarks to
our columns. No one can read the
following without being profoundly ip'
pressed BY its truth and tenderness


1t The circumstances surrounding the
death oil little Americus. the child vio-
linist, are correctly reported, they not
only furnish an incident full to the
brim OF the most touching aud tender
pathos, but they offer a psychological
phenomenon OF no slight importance
The picture OF the gifted child alone in
its bed at dead OF night. lifting up his
tiny voice in its last gaspto solicit rom
Almighty God a little place in his
Kingdom is positively sublime In the
simplicity, yet power Of it's devotional
attitude ..


"MercilM God, make Ipo,, for a lQt'e leVou!"
Where are all the dogmas. the creeds,
the worn PHILOSOPHERS OF the Church,
beside the natural ou.pouring Of that
chid's spirit TO his Maker While the
dead ages bear with them into the past
their burden OF siD, corruption, cruelty,
aud deceit, in the connection OF these
with the propagation Of Christian
faith, one such incident ss this chllds
prayer would do more to the cutliva>
ton oil true religion in the hearts OF
the masses, than has been effected by
all the msrtyrdoms, massacres and
miracles ever noted in the history of
the Church. Still another thought
appeals 10 US in considering this occur
renee. II, as is believed by many. the
child OF genius be nearer allied to his
Maker and to eternity than is the case
with commoner clay, then certainly
this death presents o feature
Of startling psychological in
terest. Here was case Of death-suds
den, unforeseen, unprepared for. The
summons came with the speed OF light,
finding the body in health, the mind
active and serene. A lesion, an uneI-
pected change, transformed life in
simultaneously into death, How. then,
was that child informed as 10 the peril
Of the moment, and Of the coming oi
the Angel OF Death ? Yet, il not 80 in
formed, his solictous appeal is more
uuexplsinable than ever We are,
therefore, left to assume that his sub
tie perception appreciated bis approach
iug end as it were by intuition, and
that thus instructed, his cry Was pure
ly involuntary, the manifestation OF bis
spiritual and immortal soul in COM
muniou with its sublime Creator and
original. The idea that the child
should have walked in the night, i'm.
agrned from his sensations that be was
dying, and appealed to his Heavenly
Father when bis earthly one was nesi
beside him, Is not consistent with child
nature. 1t is probable tha, this Incl.
dent will be seized upon by clsp-trsE
clergymen TO point moral and adoru
a tale" 10 the customary process o.
their professional duty. To us, how.
ever, it seems lifted entirely out OF the
sphere OF ordinary phenomena. and to
illustrate chiefly the sympathy tha,
must exist between every individual
and bis God, aud that needs not yica-
rious interference or interpositIon TO
strengthen its influence. There 10 one
principle we are willing TO accept: j


there is no place IN the hereafter for
that little fellow" then the chance oj
most OF US lie very feeble one, and lit.
tie likely TO be strengthened by The
efforts OF the whole Christian hierarchy
or by the labors OF the priesthood oj
the civilized world