Year: 1866

George Peabody, on the occasion of his
visit to his native town, South Danvers, Mas.
sachusetts, on the 9th of October, addressed
the school children, who assembled to meet
him at the Peabody Institute, as follows:


My Dear Young Friends-Nearly two
generations have passed away since left this
my native town, with proboblv less education
than even the youngest among those l now
address, and with no prospect of future sue
cess in life, beyond that of any boy now be.
fore me who possesses good health, industry
and perseverance, with heart and mind
determined to make pure principles his gnide.
My course is well known, and fear too much
appreciated by our whole country; but
praise, even but partially deserved, tends to
stimulate to extra exertion, both physically
and morally-particularly the young-and
hope and pray that every 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 conscientiouslv
strive.to do right and to benefit their fellow
men.


All of you, my young friends, should aim
at high mark in this respect, and undoubt
edly many of your number, of both sexes.
will arrive at distinction in society, but nei-
ther my regard for truth or past experience
will justify me in promising you the success
which has attended me. Scarcely one in an
age attains it, and feel most sensibly that
it is only by the guidance and blessings of nv
Heavenly Father, from early life to my pres
ent advanced age, that have been enabled


to accomplish so much for the purpose of Law.
ing the foundations for the physical comforts
of the needy, and the promotion of knowledge
and morality for the present and future gen.
erations. As you advance in life you will
find that years will appear short in compari.
son with those occupied by your studies at


the present time. This is my second visit to


my native land in thirty years, and the pe-
riod appears brief to me. Time and genera.
tions pass most rapidly.


Ten years ago last week, on a beautiful
autumnal day, | addressed from the front of


this Institute the scholars of the Danvers


schools, numbering | think, in the neigh.


borhood of seventeen hundred, and / then
said to them: :" would bid you remember


that but few years will elapse before YOU
will occupy the same position toward your
own children which your parents now hold
towards you. The training you are now
receiving, therefore, is precious talent, for
the use or abuse of which each one WILL on a
future day, be called upon to give an &C.
count This language, my young friends,
l W sh equally to apply to you now, as then
applied it to them. Where is now that as.
semblage of nearly two thousand scholars?
In this short space of time, l doubt whether
fifty of them occupy the place of scholars here
to-day. Many of them have become hus.
bands ana wives, and nearly all have entered
upon the duties, the cares, and the anxieties
of more mature life. You have taken the
place which they occupied in 1856 and by
the great centennial celebration of the birth
of our glorious Union, in 1876, they, your
fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, will
have taken another step forward on the stage
of life, and you will take the places they now
fill. Be prepared for that important change
while your present high privileges of learning
remain open to you.


On the 9th of October, 1856, | did not an.
ticipate the pleasure of being here at this
time; but God has -graciously permitted my
living beyond the allotted limit of three score
years and ten, to return and enter upon the
realization of hopes and plans which have
for many years, and to endeavor
to show my gratitude for His goodness and
watchful care, by taking further and wider
action in extending to the inhabitants of my
native town, of nv native State, and of my
native country, not only for the present gem
Grafton, but to those who will appear and act
upon the stage of existence in future ages,
the means of mental culture and moral i'm.
provement.


At my advanced age cannot expect to
meet you again collectively, and it is to me a
saddening thought, for though since l ad-
dressed your predecessors at the time l have
mentioned, | have smet assemblies of chill
dren, and to some have spoken-founded on
a long experience-words of simple advice
and caution, 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
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, earnestly ex-
hort you, my dear young friends, to strive by
your present advantages to prepare your
selves for life of usefulness in the RESPONSE
BILE positions which you are to fll to honor,
and if necessary, protect and support your
parents; to never depart from the path of
honor and integrity, and above all, RE
member your Creator in the days of your
youth, and when you are old he will not for
sake you" Farewell, farewell