Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-02-19

Mr.. George Peabody, on the occa>
sion Of bis recent visitto his native
town, South Danvers, Mass, address,
ed the school-children, who assem-
bled to meet him at the Peabody ms
stitute, as follows
aMy dear young friends Nearly
1.-TWO generations have passed away
since I left this, my native town,
with probably less education than
even the youngest among those I
now address, and with no prospect of
future success in life beyond chat Of
any boy before me who possesses
good health, industry and persever-
ance, with heart and mind deter
mined to make pure principles bis
lgnide. My course is we'll known,
and fear too much appreciated by
our whole country but praise, even
but partially deserved, tends to slim
ulate to extra exertion, both physic-
ally and morally particularly the
| young, and | hope and pray that ev-
cry 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 attend all those
who conscientiously strive to do
| right and to benefit their fellow-men.
"All Of you, my young friends,
should aim at high mark in this re-
Spect, and undoubtedly MANY Of vour
number Of both sexes, will arrive at
distinction in society, but neither my
regard for truth or past experience
will Justify me in promising any one
OF you that great success which has
ever attended me. Scarcely one in an
age attains to it, and l feel most sem
sibly that.it is only by the guidance
and blessings Of my Heavenly Father
from early life, to my present adj
vanced age, that have beer able to
accomplish SO much for the purpose
of laying the foundation for the phys
ical comfort of the needy, and the
promotion Of knowledge and moral
lty for the present and future genes
rations. AS you advance in life you
will find that years will appear short
in comparison to those occupied by
your studies at the present time
This is my second visit to my native
land, for thirty years, and the period
appears brief to me. Time and gen
erations pass most rapidly.
"Ten years ago last week, on a
beautiful autumnal day, I addressed,
from the front Of this institute, the
scholars of the Danvers schools,
Numbering, I think, over seventeen
hundred, and | then said to them :
4 would bid you remember that but
a few years will elapse before you
will ssoccnpy the same position to,
wards your own children which your
parents now hold towards you. The
training which you are now receiv>
ing is a precious talent, for the use or
abuse of which each one will, on a
future day, be called upon to give an
account This language, my young
friends, | wish equally to apply to
you now, as | then applied it to them.
Where is now that assemblage of
nearly two thousand scholars ? In
this short space of time, I doubt
whether fifty of them occupy the
place ofscholars here to-day. Many
of them have become husbands and
wives, and nearly all Of them have
entered upon the cares, the duties
and the anxieties Of more mature
life. You nave taken the place they
occupied in 1856, and by the great
centennial celebration of our glorious
Union, in 1876, they, your fathers
and mothers, brothers and sisters,
will have taken another step forward
on the stage oflife, and you will have
taken the places they now occupy.
Be prepared for that important
change whilo your present high priv
lleges oflearning remain open to you.
Con the 9th Of October, 1856,
did not anticipate the pleasure of be.
ing here at this time; but God has
graciously permitted me to live be.
yond the allotted time 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 endeavor to show
my gratitude and watchful care, by
taking further and wider action in
extending to the inhabitants Of my
native town, my native State, and
my native country not only for the
present generation, but to those who
will appear and act upon the stage Of
existence in future ages, the means
of mental culture and moral improve
ment.
"At my advanced age I cannot ex-
pect TO meet you again collectively,
and it is to me saddening thought,
for predecessors at the time I have
mentioned, | have met many assem>
blies Of children, and TO some have
spoken-founded on long experience
words of simple advice and eau,
ton, yet in none, on either side of
the Atlantic, can | feel so deep an
interest as in the children of the
schools of South Danvers. They seem
intimately associated with the
thoughts Of my childhood and early
youth they take the same lessons,
they occupy my play grounds, and
their feet tread the same paths over
which / once trudged to school
With such feelings, therefore, ! ear
nestiy exhort you, my dear young
friends, to strive by your present ad-
vantages to prepare yourselves for a
life of usefulness in the responsible
positions you are to fill, to honor,
and, if necessary, protect and support