Year: 1871




am very old, but 1 don't know my
own age. was borna long, long time
ago, and have forgotten who my father
was, or in what country he lived. But
have always understood that I was borr
in small box made of bones, DARK
abode where mind and matter meet and
act together, as they do nowhere else
There is sort of cushion in the room in
which 1 was born, balled "the brain y but
how 1t helped to create me | could never
tell My father rolled me over and rub.
bed me down long time before he was
satisfied to own me as his child. When
he felt sure that / was worth raising, he
got reed and made pen, and piece OF
the papyrus plant for paper, and drew me
out in sort of picture to see how | would
look. And then he smiled, and felt that
| was sinart young fellow, and so he
sent me out into the world TO make my
own way. And now for ages | have con-
tinued to keep alive. Sometimes i have
been shut up in scrolls written on parch-
ment, and tucked away in some silent
library, and after lying there until forgot
ten, and thought myself dead, som am
bitious fellow would lind me and dress me
up a little differently, and send me out as
his own newborn child. 1t would be
curious to know how many fathers have
had, If every one claiming me were a
father. Then again, | have been some
times called a Greek or a Roman, a Span
lard, or of some modern nation. have
seen myself dressed up as a German, a
Frenchman, an Italian, or an English
man, or an American.


AT last found myself on the way TO a
printing office. 20 dear!" | exclaimed,
Il shall now be squeezed To deathr' So
they dipprd me into the blackest ink, and
brought down the press on me with all
its power. l seemed to be smothered /;
when presto. came out again, not only
alive, but multiplied, so that now l seem
cd to have a thousand mouths through
which TO speak. How l was admired, A
thousand pair Of eyes could see me at the
same time if they chose / could now go
to many libraIies, with strong hopes that
| should not be forgotten. How many
have been startled on seeing me
for the first time. How many have
put to think as l raped On their
brain! OF how many young thoughts
many claim to be the father. At last
Was put III u new position. The new spa
pers got hold of ME, and they didn't stop
to inquire when, or where I was born, or
who owned me; how would nien lock On
me! Would they think and talk about
me. So uey tossed me ou, in the wet
sheets of Il daily paper. Away l flew on
railroads and by steam, everywhere, and
in every direction. entered the family
was admir- in the railroad car, | was
noticed by all kinds of people Then |
was cy,ghi up by other papers, and tossed
over the land, sometimes so altered
through the world, picked up and fondled
by all nations, as l leaped from press to
press. till | had gone round the globe.
have been round the earth and seen nv.
self in India, in China, and in every parl
of the world. have confirmed the
doubling, scattered darkness that was
making men sOrowful, strengthened
goodness and created faith


And now ] am just Is fresh as when
first came into being. Time does not
wear me out Men come and go. but
live. | am ever rolling, and yet at rest
l leave my impress on the young, and
make memory wake up in the bosom Ct
the aged. have helped 10 form human
character. And great future is before
me- shall live on earth as long as earth
herself shall live, and when she dies.
shall still live in the great kingdom ot
eternity; and the time will never come
when | shall die and be forgotten! There
Is to be no grave for me- am imperish.
able; and my unknown father gave the
world great gift when was born.


Gentle ieader. you will die, but shal
live. You may cease to influence men
but | shall not. You may be forgotten,
but l shall fly on wings that never tire
| shall forever be hailedas "a great thing
a SINGLE HUMAN THOUGHT.