Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-12-08
Peabody's Advice to the Young.

George Peabody, on the occasion of his visit to
his native town, South Danvers, Massachusetts,,
on the Sth Of October, addressed the school chill
dren, who assembled to meet him at the Peabody
Institute, as follows:
Nv Dear Young Friends-Nearly two gener-
ations have passed away since left this, my ma
tive town, with probably less education than
even the Youngest among those | now address,
and with prospects of future success in life,
beyond that of any boy now before me who pos
sesses good health, industry and perseverance,
with heart and mind determined to make pure
principles his guide Ny course is well known,
and fear too much appreciated by our whole
country bnt praise. even but practically de-
served, tends to stimulate to extra exertion, both
physically and morall ally-particular the young
and hope and pray that every one who is now
within the sound of my voice may experience as
| have, the truth of these remarks, and deserve
that pride and satisfaction which are sure TO at
tend all those who conscienciously strive to do
right and to benefit their fellow men,
All of you, my young friends, should aim at
high mark in this respect, and undoubtedly
many of your number of both sexes will rise to
distinction in society, but neither my regard for
truth or past experience will justify me in prom
ising you the success what has attended me-
Scarcely one in an age attains it, and feel most
sensible that it is only by the guidance and
blessings of my Heavenly Father, from early life
to my present advanced age, that | have been
enabled to accomplish so much for the purpose
of laying the foundations of the physical COM
forts of the needy, and the promotion of know-
eye and morality for the present and future gen.
crations. As you advance in life you will find
that years will grow short in comparison with
those occupied by your studies at the present
time. This is my second visit to my native land
in thirty years, and the period appears brief to
me. Time and generationSpass most rapidly.
Ten years ago last week beautiful autumn
nal day, addressed from the front of this Insti-
lute the scholars OF the Danvers schools, num-
bering, think, in the neighborhood OF seven
teen hundred. and | then said to them: 81
would bid YOU remember that but q few days
will capsc before you will occupy the same po-
stion toward YOUR own children which your pa
rents now hold towards You. The training You
are now receiving, therefore, is precious talent
for the use or abuse Of which each will, on a fu
ture day lie called upon to give account. =
This language my young friends. wish equally
to apply to you now, as then applied it to them
Where is now that assembage Of nearly two
thousand scholars? In this short space of time,
doubt if fifty Of them occupy the place Of schol-
are here to-day. Many of them have become
husbands and wives, and nearly all have entered
upon the duties. the cares, and the anxietic5 Of
more matured life. You have taken the place
which they occupied in 1856, ,=and by the great
centennial celebration of tbc birth of our glori-
ous Union, in 1876, they, Your fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters, viii Nhave taken another
step forward on the stage Of life, and you viii
take the place they fill. Be prepared for
that important change while your present high
privileges of learning remains open to you.
On the eth of October, 1885, did not antic-
pate the pleasure of being here at this time
but God has graciously permitted my living be-
yond the allotted limit of three score years and
ten, to return, and enter upon the realization of
hopes and plans which have entertained for
many years and to cndeavor to show my gratitude
for his goodness and watch!ul care, 10y taking
further and wider action in extending to the in
hnbitants OF my native town, Of my native State,
and of my native country, not only for the pres
ent generation, but for those who will appear
and act upon the stage of existence in future
ages, the means OF mental culture and mora! i'm
provement.
AT my advanced age cannotlcxpect to meet
Won again collectively. 1t is to me Il saddeniDg
! thought for though since addressed your pre-
decessors ut the time have mentioned. | have
met assemblies Of children, and to some have
/ spoken-founded on long perence-words OF
simple advice and caution, yet in none, on either
side OF the Atlantic, can | feel so deep an inter-
estas in the children of the schools Of South Dan
vers. They seem intimately associated with
Thoughts of my childhood anG early youth they
take the same lessons they occupy my play
/ grounds, and their feet tread the same paths
over Which once trudged 20 school. With such
! feelings therefore. | earnestly cxhort you, my
dear Young friends, to strive by your present ad-
van,ages to prepare yourselves for life of use
funess in the responsible positions which You are
to fill, to honor. and if necessary, protect and
support your parents to never depart from the
path of honor and integrity, and above all Re
member your Creator in the days of your youth,
and when you old he will not torsake YOU"
/ Farewell, farewell.