The morning news., 1897-08-29

MEMORIES or GEORGE PEABODY.
Interesting "Reminiscences Of "a
Cousin, Now In CharIestown, Mass.

Cousin, Now Ina CharIcstown, Mass.
From the Boston Evening Transcript.
When George Peabody. the eminent
banker and phianthropist, was, by the
death of his father, left an orphan at the
age of about 10 years, he, his sister and
their mother were given a home by the
mothers brother, Eliphaet A. Dodge of
Georgetown, then part of Rowley Mass.
The daughter of the generous-hearted
brother and uncle, Miss Amanda Dodge,
is now temporarily living I'm Charlestown.
As she is the youngest of a family of
thirteen children, she has, of course, no
recollection of her distinguished relative
before he was man of mature years.
Her father took great interest in the
lad and predicted for him a successful
career, not because of any early predilec-
tions for industry, but from the fact that
ne once observed literally The injunction
about killing two birds with one stone,
feat which he accomplished with one
throw of the little implement with which
one valorous David laid low the mighty
Goliath When the proud lad picked up
the trophies of his remarkable skill with
the sling, he expressed as much satisfac-
ton as he ever did over his marvellous
feats in the financial world the results
Of which were so lavishly distributed
among the objects of his bounty He not
only showed l!ttle inclination for labor as
a lad but he exhibited marked ten
dency for idl&gess, and his uncle used to
tell with great glee how he sent the boy
into field oVerrun with sumac with in
structions to clean it up He did so, but
In his own way; for instead of cutting
the bushes close to the ground, he left
the stumps as high as his houlders, being
too indole4t, as his uncle believed, 10
stoop He got bravely over this inclina-
tion to shirlS before he reached his 18th
year, when he left the hosptdbie roof
that had sheltered him during his years
of helplessness to become a clerk in a
grocery store.
Miss Dodge first saw her cousin in the
early sixties, when he visited the home Of
her father who was then living In the lit
tie village of Post NILS, part of Tbet-
ford, VT Mr. Peabody was on his way
from the Thousand Islands, in the St
Lawrence river, where in company with
the sons Of his sister, Charles and Single
Ton Daniels, he had been fishing for sal
mon sport of which ne was excessively
fond, as he was Of all outdoor diversions.
The young mems mother awaited at her
unces home the arrival OF her brother
and when he came he was greeted by near
rel1tiVes numerous enough to make
party of thirty II was regarded as most
remarkable that SO small a village should
De the nome OF 50 many members OF one
family. There was also present George
Peabody Russell, son Of Mrs Daniels by
her first husband. jeremiah Russell the
favorite nephew Of Mr.. Peabody. 20 whom
he LEFT the greater part OF his immense
property Mr.. Russell was accompanied
by his wife.
So pleased was Mr.. Peabody with the
hospitable manner in which he was en-
tertained. and so grateful for the many
knduesscs he had received from his uncle
in his youth. that az a compliment 20 him
he gave the village public library, send
ing most Of the books from London, ac-
companied by fund 60 sustain t and add
TO its treasures and a portrait of himself
similar 10 the one which was part Of his
gift Of a library TO the town of George
town Miss Dodge speaks enthusiastically
Of her distinguished relative as "thc
grand old man." six feet high finely pro-
portioned and OF noble presence. Diguihed
and impressive m his manner, he was
easily approached even by strangers. aud
genial and pleasant 20 al. Miss Dodge
bears a remarkable resemblance TO Mn
Peabody and would be ri once recognized
as near relative.