But whatever you do, boys, do not forget Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The highest part of your nature is your spiritual nature, and, while you are building up the body and building up the mind, do not forget to build up your soul. If others will not assist you in this greater matter you can help yourselves. The Master said: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.”
I suppose there is not a little colored girl or boy in America who has not heard of the wonderful “Blind Tom,” one of the greatest musicians of the world. I wish that every boy and girl might have seen him and heard him give one of his remarkable performances with the piano. I had that high favor and privilege myself. During his life on the stage, or for more than forty years, “Blind Tom” was seen probably by more people in the world than any one living being. His stage career was closed somewhere in 1900. Everywhere, in this country and Europe, those who observed him most closely, and attempted to understand him, pronounced him a living miracle, unparalleled, incomprehensible, such as had not been seen before in the world, and probably never would be seen again.
Thomas Greene Bethune, better known to the public as “Blind Tom,” was born within a few miles of the city of Columbus, Georgia, on the twenty-fifth day of May, 1849. He was of pure negro blood, and was born blind. He was little less than four years old when a piano was brought to the house of his master, for he was born a slave. As long as any one was playing he was contented to stay in the yard and dance and caper to the music. Sometimes he was permitted to indulge his curiosity by being allowed to run his fingers over the keys. One night the parlor and piano had been left open. Before day the young ladies of the family awoke and were astounded to hear Blind Tom playing one of their pieces. The family gathered around him to witness and wonder at his performance, which they said was marvellously strange. Notwithstanding that this was his first known effort at a tune, he played with both hands and used the black as well as the white keys. Pretty soon he was allowed free access to the piano, and began to play off-hand everything he heard. As young as he was, he soon mastered all of that and began composing for himself. The record of his public life is too long for me to give, but that Blind Tom was known and honored around the world is known to everybody.