An Example of Perseverance.
BISHOP SIMPSON, in one of his “Yale Lectures,” related the following touching incident:— “I shall never forget an exhibition I once attended. Shortly after schools for the imbecile were commenced in Europe, a young man, moved with benevolence, crossed the ocean to examine their mode of operation and success. Assured of their utility, he returned and commenced a similar institution. He advertised for the most idiotic and helpless child that could be found. Among those brought to him was a little boy four years of age. He had never spoken or walked, had never chewed any hard substance, or given a look of recognition to a friend. He lay on the floor, a mass of flesh, without even ability to turn himself over. Such was the student brought to this school. The teacher fruitlessly made effort after effort to get the slightest intentional act. Unwilling, however, to yield, at the hour of noon he had the little boy brought to his room, and he lay down beside him every day for half an hour, hoping that some favorable indication might occur. To improve the time of his rest, he read aloud from some author. One day, at the end of six months, he was unusually weary and did not read. He soon discovered that the child was uneasy, and was trying to move itself a little, as if to turn toward him. The thought flashed upon his mind, It misses the sound of my voice. He turned himself closely to it, brought his mouth near the child’s head, and after repeated efforts the little fellow succeeded in placing his fingers on the teacher’s lips, as if to say, make the sound again. The teacher said that moment he felt he had the control of that boy. He gained his attention, and by careful manipulation of his muscles, succeeded in teaching him to walk, and then to read; and when I saw him at the end of five years he stood on a platform, read correctly, recited the names of the Presidents of the United States, and answered correctly a number of questions on our national history. Application! what patience! what devotion!”