CALEB COOKE MEMORIAL TABLET. 



21 



will never be called upon to accept a more honorable trust than its 

 perpetual care. 



Regretting that I cannot be present at the ceremony of presen- 

 tation, 



I remain, 



Yours very truly, 



r. W. PUTNAM. 



Providence, R. I., Jan. 17, 1883. 

 I received your postal card iu reference to the dedication of 

 the memorial to Caleb Cooke, and being much occiipied with sickness 

 in my faraily did not answer it at once, supposing that the exercises 

 would not take place immediately. I regret exceedingly that I did 

 not send a letter at once to be read on the occasion with the others. 

 I had a peculiar regard and affection for our departed friend. His un- 

 selfish devotion to his friends, his zeal for science and the very mauy 

 unostentatious Services he rendered to those working upon scientific 

 subjects, as well as the hearty and wholesome manner in which he 

 labored for the Essex Institute and Peabody Academy of Science, as 

 well as the Salem Fraternity, are deserving of the permanent record 

 which has been made. 



Yours very truly, 



A. S. Packard, jr. 



It is with regret that I am unable to accept your kind 

 invitation to attend the presentation of the Caleb Cooke Memorial to 

 the Trustees. I venture to send a word of tribute which you may hide 

 away with your account of the evening's exercises ; it is simply the 

 word of a witness who knew him not only in the work of the Summer 

 School and the Essex Institute, bnt through his generous regard for 



children. 



Kind hands erect this Tablet 



To the meraory of one, 

 Whose hand was ever ready 



To assist his fellows, 

 Whose heart was kind and tender 



As a child's ; as loyal and true 

 As any knight of old; 



Simple and unpretentious, 

 Yet great, because himself; 



Honest, iipright, sincere, 

 Such was the man we honor, 



He lived and labored here. 



Salem, Jan. 12, 1883. 



Yours cordially, 



Kate Tannatt Woods. 



