Patterson.] ""■* [Dec. 16, 



ooniplisbed, from a kite to a complicated engine, "was beautiful in form 

 and finish. On occasions, and especially if a charitable object were to be 

 promoted, he would don the costume of an Eastern Juggler, and astonish 

 the young, and even children of a larger growth, with apparently miracu- 

 lous feats, for which he had constructed apparatus of his own. Even to 

 the brute creation the same tender nature was exhibited. A scientific 

 friend recalls even now the self restraint with which, when a youth, 

 ardent in the search for entomological specimens, he spared a water- 

 si)ider, of rare species, that had shown a touching instinct in the pro- 

 tection of its young. He was always most ready in imparting information 

 to inquirers whom his happy faculty and clearness in explanation gathered 

 round him. An enthusiastic lover and explorer of natine, it was in the 

 fields and woods that he became perhaps most interesting. He was 

 familiar with the names and habits of plants, animals, and insects, and 

 mineralogy and geology, and from the fulness of his knowledge dispensed 

 liberally. 



A marked characteristic of Mr. Peale was his untiring energy. He 

 was never idle, always laboring on some systematic plan. Even his re- 

 creations were methodically arranged, and a part of the means by which 

 his body and mind were invigorated for work. And with him there were 

 no small duties. Each one was sacred. No temptation or pleasure could 

 induce him to forego a responsibility. A promise was its performance. 

 Punctuality was a prominent virtue, any infringement on which he re- 

 gretted as wasting another's time. 



Finally, Mr. Peale was a reverential, humble, Christian man, A faith 

 better than philosophy sustained him in the closing hour, and he went 

 calmly to his rest murmuring "The Lord is my Shepherd," like unto a 

 little child trusting to a parent's promise. His dying words distinctly and 

 clearly uttered were : "If this is death, it is as I wished, perfect peace, 

 perfect comfort, perfect joy." 



The vigoi'ous constitution of Mr. Peale carried him iu robust health to 

 a term some years beyond, that allotted to man by the Psalmist. For 

 months before his death, however, he was observed to be failing, a fact 

 of which he was himself fully conscious, speaking to his friends with 

 perfect composure of his approaching end. He was nevertheless able, 

 almost to the last, to attend to his accustomed duties, and his closing 

 illness was but a brief one. He died at his residence, 1131 Gii'ard Street, 

 on the 5th of May, 1870, in the 75th year of his age. 



