ELISHA KENT KANE. 133 



modern, have never yet attained so exalted a con- 

 ception ; if this be one of the chief elements of 

 Christianity which proves its measureless superi- 

 ority over all human systems of belief and duty; 

 then he who possessed the almost unparalleled 

 courage and conscience to fulfil that precept de- 

 serves to be applauded to the echo as a wise, a 

 good, and even a great, man. 



This last duty having been performed, and when 

 the voice of maternal tenderness was repeating the 

 comforting words of *the Great Teacher of men: 

 "Let not your heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, 

 believe also in me. In my Father's house are many 

 mansions : if it were not so I would have told you. 

 I go to prepare a place for you;" the spirit of the 

 sufferer, gently severing the cords which bound it 

 to its scarred and battered tenement of earth, sprang 

 upward and away to other and nobler spheres. This 

 event occurred on the 16th of February, 1857. 



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