The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-01-30
Francis B. Peckham, Rich and Distinguished
Lawyer, Provides Well for the
Son of His Servant.
The Old Man on His Death Bed Was Con
verted to Christian Religion by the
Prayers Of Little Boy.

Z sunshine. From that moment until
the day he died the dignified man OF
the world and the tot whose mother
had come to work as a servant grew
to be fast friends. What the man had
yearned for all his life had come to
him at last-the affection of a little
child.
Year after year the affection of Mr..
Peckham for little Eddie waxed and
grew strong. When it was time for
school Mr.. Peckham insisted that Ed
die must have the best that Newport
afforded. Accordingly he was en-
rolled at Miss Mae Sayer's private
school, where many Of the old New
port families send their children and
where the boys and girls of the off.
GERS of the army and navy stationed
here go regularly.
1t was in February, almost a year
ago, that Mr.. Peckham began to fail
in health. He went home ill one day
from the office that he had occupied
for thirty of the forty-four years he
had been practicing law, and never
returned to it for active work. At
times he was able to get out for a
short walk. Every time little Eddie
was his companion. When December
came around and Christmas was in
the air, little Eddie was counting upon
new typewriter that Mr.. Peckham
had promised him. But the old man
suddenly failed and all thought Of
Christmas and of gifts We're banished.
On Dec. Mr.. Peckham began to
sink rapidly. 1t was plain to all that
the end was near He was growing
weak very fast. He had all the at
tentfon that the love and devotion of
his household could give. His brother
came East from Chicago, and his sis
ters hurried down from Providence.
But the dying mans eyes were most
often on the little stubby-nosed boy
with the yellow hair, who hovered
about the bedside as much as they
would let him.
Now all this time Mr.. Peckham had
steadfastly declined to have a clergy
man called. He had been a consistent
agnostic adj his life, and when the test
came he thought he could be true to
his unfaith. But he reckoned not on
little Eddie.
Unbeliever as he was, Mr.. Peckham
had never denied a religious education
to the boy he loved. With mother and
aunt devout Roman Catholics it was
perfectly natural for Eddie to be
brought up as one, too. An hour be-
fore he died Mr.. Peckham opened his
eyes. There was Eddie on his little
knees beside the bed, praying for the
old man that he loved.
"Out Of the mouths of babes," whis-
pered the old man. "Oh, God, have
mercy upon my soul and forgive me
my SINS"
An hour later he was dead. He had
confessed the Christian religion with
almost his last conscious breath.
A few days ago the will was open
ed and read. It turned out that the
lawyer was richer than anybody knew.
His will disposed of $25O,O0O, and
there is more, too, which his friends
say will bring his fortune up to $780,
600.
The legislature, it is said, will now
be asked to change the boys name to
that of his benefactor. The executors
Of the will are Orville Peckham, the
testator's brother, and Thomas A.
Lawton, a nephew Of Mrs. Peckham,
who gets handsome legacy.
A ring on the bell of the old-fash-
ioned house in Central Court Wednes-
day brought Miss Mahoney to the
door and Mrs. Corcoran from her room
upstairs.
Little Eddie was running about the
house, typical boy Of ten, with a
shock Of tawny hair, freckled cheeks
and blue eyes. But in his face it was
plain to see that something serious
had come into his little life.
"It's about Mr.. Peckham, sup
pose," he said. He was very good to