184 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



case of one of these captive pets, life was prolonged to the ripe old 

 age of twelve years, and the same fatherly hand that nursed its infancy 

 daintily prepared its skeleton, which now graces the Academy's collec- 

 tions. If now, Prof. Sheldon had only given us, in the simplest way, 

 the information thus gained of the life-habits of these curious and ob- 

 scure denizens of our woods, we should have had a gem of Natural 

 History worthy the pen or pencil of an Audubon or Thoreau. But, 

 alas! such information has now gone beyond our reach. 



Better than all this, however, though in the same line of research, was 

 his earnest life-study of humanity; from the obscure pages of ancient 

 lore, in which he was well versed, he ever turned with delight, to "read 

 that hidden book, the human heart." He studied, with ever-increased 

 interest its manner of growth and its manifold development, never so 

 happy as when seeing it take a wise direction, under his plastic hand. 

 His pupils soon learned to know and recognize his power for good, and 

 yielded to his persuasive influences; the bad were reformed, the per- 

 verted turned from their evil courses, and all that was generous, noble, 

 and manly brought up to its full measure of excellence. 



Pity that a mind so gifted, a character so ennobled, and an ability for 

 usefulness so exalted, should not, for want of proper appreciation, have 

 been allowed full scope for its exercise ! Great pity, that disappoint- 

 ment in the apparent failure of his educational schemes for this, his 

 chosen home, should have dimmed the evening of his beneficent life ! 

 With what satisfaction would those who knew him best, and, therefore, 

 loved him most, have seen him occupy, for many years, the pleasant 

 home erected under his own auspices, and displaying his own delicate 

 and refined taste; his simple, every-day wants supplied by the gentle 

 hand that had been reared under his fostering care from childhood ; 

 attaining to a green old age, surrounded by the substantial evidences of 

 a well-spent life, and cheered by the affectionate gratitude of those who 

 had reaped the benefit of his labors, or were made better by his wise 

 example. But, from a higher than human source came, too soon for 

 us, but not for him — June 5, 1886 — the blessed summons: "Well 

 Done, Good and Faithful Servant;" — faithful alike in few'or many 

 things — "Enter Thou into the Joy of Thy Lord!" 



