The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-02-03
How George Peabody Was ''Cut Out"
ga Funny COurtship.


the whole political face of the world
might have been changed" and if Pea
body and Johns Hopkins had married
then had Baltimore lacked the two mu-
nificent gifts which. more than all the
rest OF her possessions, give her an in
dlviduality as city. How very near
Peabody came to marrying very re-
markable girl with the substantial name
OF Sarah Ann Brown is not generally
known, but the story is worth the tell
ing because of the very unique way in
which Peabody's rival won the Young
woman.
If the reader will consult the Ency-
clopadia Biographical of the State of
Maryland he will find an article devoted
to one e. c.. retired merchant and
manufacturer" who is mentioned as the
| first person in the United States to man.
ufacture cotton duck. He was at the
time OF his rivalry with Peabody very
wealthy man, while Peabody was poor
But with all his money, his mind had
been so occupied with business that it
had never seriously occurred to him to
get married, until one day friend sue-
gested to him that he would be much
happier and far more comfortable if he
had wife. The notion seems to have
impressed him very thoroughly, and he
at once began to look about him for a
wife with the same sort of energy and
interest that he applied to his business
enterprises. 1t occurred to him that
very pretty girl who, with her grand.
mother, 6 old Mrs. Brown had been
in his store week or so before, and had
been weighed, might suit him. He had
some acquaintance with the grandmoth-
CT, and with a trivial excuse he yentured
to call upon her that same day. He was
SO fortunate in his visit that he met the
young lady, fell in love with he on the
spot, and racked his brain as he was
leaving for an excuse to call again.
The gods of good fortune attended him,
for he had the grace to ask her about
her reading-had she read such book?
No, but she very much wished to. Then
he would bring her copy and he left
her, feeling that he would procure the
book for her if he had to gallop on
horseback all the way to New York to
get it.
Those were ante-railroad DAYS, when
ardent lovers had room for heroic en-
deavors, such as steam cars. telegraphs
and telephones have disspated. Blu.
he found the book in his own library,
and all unskilled as he was in the arts
of love, he presented himself the fol
lowing evening with the desired book
in his hand. But the servant, who adj
mtted him, informed him that Miss
Brown was engaged with Mr.. Peabody.
Would Mr.. c. call again? etc. Mr.. c.
was too Infatuated for courtesy; he left
the book and the house in great anger,
feeling that all hope for him was lost.
and venting his wrath upon the studious
and poor young Mr.. Peabody, who he
felt sure was in possession of the heart
OF the bright-eyed Sarah Ann. That
ne was IN fair way to possess both her
affections and her hand there is much
reason to believe, if the richest manu-
factu er in Baltimore had not CHANGED
to cross his path that memorable night.
While Mr.. Peabody was pushing his
suit in the pleasant parlor, the irate Mr.
Z. was walking around the city of
Baltimore at break-neck pace, walk
ing to ease off his grand passion. About
eleven o'clock he found himself again |
in the neighborhood of the Brown man
sion and as he drew nearer he espied |
two people on the front porch, one OF
whom soon descended the steps, and |
whom he recognized as Mr.. Peabody. |
AT sight of him, or rather of the Young
lady lingering on the porch-it was in
the mildness of the early autumn-he
was seized with a species of
frenzy, which he always after
ward declared he could never account
for, and mounting the steps like a
winged Mercury he seized the aston
lshed girl in his arms, and kissing her
with the fury of mailman he ran away
as fast as his legs could carry him. He
had not gone far before a sense of what
be had done came over him with over
whelming shame and humiliation, and
he could scarcely wait until the evening
OF the following day to 60 and beg par
don Tor his incomprehensible act. But
next night, after he had made ample
apology to Miss Brown for his behavior
ana felt himself in way reinstated in
her good graces, he suddenly turned
and embraced her again as on the pre-.
ceding evening. The novel and ardent
wooing, or whatever it might be called
won the day for him, strange as it NAV
seem. and the wedding took place soon
afterward, but not until the triumphant
manufacturer had prepared home for
his bride furnished from cellar to attic
with every conceivable article that
could be needed in house. Much of
the furnishing of that house is still in
use by the descendants of the family.
and the grandchildren of to-day distin-
gulsh the grandmother that Sarah Ann
eventually became from all the other
by speaking of her as
Z" Grandma Brown
She lived to see the fortunes of her
husband diminish, as she saw that of
Peabody increase, but whether she re-
sretted her choice or not she was an ex.
eellent wife and most brave and reso-
ute woman. She has little grand
laughter in Baltimore now who IS the
mage of what she was that autumn
evening many year ago, when Young
Mr. Peabody Toasted his ewes on her
aee-a flashing black-eyed little girl,
VINO will grow to be tall as was her
and with a complexion
painted like the inside of a sea-sbeU.