The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-22
Cur 0liu.
Why Geo. Peabody Never Married.

/ had married, then had Baltimore lacked the
two munifcent gifts which more than all
rest of her possessions, give her an individ-
uality as city How very near Peabody
came to marrying very remarkable girl
with the substantial name of Sarah Ann
/ Brown is not generally known, but the
story is worth the telling because of the
very unique way in which Peabody's rival
won the young woman.
If the reader will consult the "Encyclo-
pedia Biographical of the State of Mary
4 land he will find an article devoted to one
/ &C. c.. retired merchant and manufacturer, y
/ who is mentioned as the frst person in the
+ United States to manufacture cotton duck.
He was at the time of his rivalry with Pea
body a very wealthy man, while Peabody
was poor But, with all his money, his
mind had been so occupied with business
I that it had never seriously occurred to him
to get married until one day friend sug-
gested to him that he would be much hap
I pier and far more comfortable, if he had a
wife. The notion seems to have impressed
him very thorougly, 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.
II occurred 10 him that a very pretty
girl who. with her grandmother, ''old Mrs.
( Brown. had been in his store week or 50
before. and had been weighed, Esight suit
him. He had some acquaintance with the
grandmother. and with trivial excuse he
ventured TO call upon her that same day
{ He was So fortunate in his visit that he
met the young lady, fell in love with her
I on the spot, and raeked 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 a book ? No, but she
very much wished 10. Then be would
bring her copy, and he left her, feeling
thar he would procure the book for her it
he had to gallop on horseback all the way
TO New York to get it.
Those were ante-railroad days, when ar
dent lovers had room for heroic endeayors,
such as steam cars, tclegraphs and tele-
phones have dissipated But he found the
book in his own library, and, all unskilled
as he was in the arts Of love, he presented
himself the following evening with the de-
sired book In his hand. But the servant
who admitted him informed him that Miss
Brown was engaged with Mr.. Peabody.
Would Mr.. c. call again etc. Mr.. c.
was too furious for courtesy he leff the
book and the house in great anger, feeling
that all hope for him was lost, and venting
MS wrath upon the stuSiOas and poor young
Mr.. Peabody. who. he felt sure. was in pos
session ofthe heart Of the bright-eyed Sarah
Ann. That he was in fair way TO possess
both her affections and her hand there is
much reason 10 believe, If the richest man
ufacturer in Baltimore had not chanced to
erues his path that memorable night,
While Mr. Peabody was pushing his
suit in the pleasant parior the irAfe Mr. {.
was walking around the city Of Baltimore
at break-neck pace, walking to ease Of
his grand passion. About II O'Clock he
found himself again in the neighborhood
nr the Brown mansion. aud as he drew near
he cSpied two people ON the front porch,
one Of whom soon descended she steps, and
whom be recognized as Mr. Peabody At
sight Of him, or rather the young lady lin
gering on the poreh--ii 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 Mer-
eary. he seixed the astonished girl in his
arms and kissing her with the fury of a
nladnan. he ran away as fast as his legs
could carry him. He he'd not gone far
before sense Of what he had done came
over him with overwhelming shame and
humiliation, and be could scarcely wait for
the evening Of the following day To go and
beg pardon for his incomprehensible act.
But next night. after he had made ample
apology TO Miss Brown for his behavior,
and felt himself in a way reinstated in her
good geaees, he suddenly turned and EN-
braced her again, as ON the preceding even
ing. The novel and ardent wooing, or
whatever it may be called, won the day for
him. strange as it may seem, and the we'd
ding took place soon afterward, but not
until the triumphant manufacturer bad pre-
pared home for his bride furnished from
cellar to attic with every conceivable article
that could b. needed in a house. Much of
the furnishing of that house Is still in use
by the descendants Of the family, and the
grandchildren Of to-day distinguished the
grandmother that Sarah Ann eventually
became from all the other grandmOthers BY
speaking of her as "(irandma Brown.
She lived TO see the fortunes Of her hus-
band diminish as she saw that Of Peabody
increase but whether she regretted her
choice OF not she was an excellent wife and
most brave and resolute woman. At one
time she saw in the night light in her hus-
bands factory which she could not account
for, and summoning her maid, she went to
the mills, entered noiselessly, and found
man taking pennies from the spindles-they
having been placed upon the machinery to
serve some special purpose. He had already
quite bagfui of them, with some other
fixtures which would prevent the operation
of the looms, when the large eyes of Mis-
tress c. snapped in his face. give me
that BAG r said she. in her direct way, and
stretching out her hand she had it be-
fore the words had escaped her lips. "Now
run for your life, and let Baltimore never
see You again only your poor old mother $
broken heart keeps me from sending you
TO the penitentiary The man was dis
reputable person whom she knew; but he
acted upon her advice, and tbs brave woman
with her frightened maid returned home
with the bag of pennies, some of which are
still kept by her descendants as souvenirs
of her heroism. Upon another occasion
she declined to attend church in the morn
ing, as was her custom, much to the sur
prise of her husband, who, with all his bus
mess ventures, was a very religious man.
After he himself had left for church his
wife. armed with her maid, (the servant
still lives to recount the adventures she had
with her mistress, who she declares was al
ways frightening her to death with her
pranks, directed her steps to an unoccupied
house that belonged to Mr.. c., in which she
had heard that some tramps made rendez-
vous, passing the day in card playing By
a careful reconnoiter of the premises she
found that the rumor was true, and enter
ing the room where the fellows were busy
at their amusement, she walked directly to
the back of the man whom she took to be
the ringleader, and soundly boxing his ears
| to right and left, ordered the gang TO leave