A MEMOIR. 39 



His Humor and Pathos. 



He could hardly be called a wit, but he had a rare 

 fund of humor, and few men possessed a keener sense 

 of the ridiculous than he, and while his sense of the 

 ridiculous was ever near the surface, no man was 

 more careful not to hurt another's feelings. The weak- 

 nesses of his fellow men never aroused his sarcasm, 

 but pretence or affectation of any sort, he would cut 

 with words of scathing scorn. Genuine himself, he 

 despised all false metal, and in small things, as well as 

 in great, no man ever rang more true. 



He was ever easily approached, and many a man and 

 woman to-day bless him for the time he took from his 

 busy days, to write them a letter of desired counsel, or 

 the few moments he gave to impart asked for advice. 

 His sympathy was universal ; no man had a more tender 

 heart than he, towards suffering or distress of any kind. 

 His helpful words of hope and cheer have been an in- 

 s'piration to thousands who to-day have an ache at their 

 hearts because he walks this earth no more. 



His Love of Poetry and Fiction. 



Many who saw only the practical business side of 

 Peter Henderson, will be surprised to know that he was 

 as full of poetry and sentiment as he was of hard com- 

 mon sense. He was very fond of novel-reading ; his 

 favorite authors being Scott and Dickens, and few of 

 the general reading public were better posted on modem 

 light literature of the day than he. His love of poetry 

 was very marked, and, as a Scotsman, he was naturally 

 fond of Burns' poems, at the same time he had a decided 

 preference for poetry that had a war-like ring. Camp- 

 bell's "Hohenlinden," Tennyson's" Charge of the Light 

 Brigade," " Lord Clyde of Clydesdale," and especially Sir 

 Walter Scott's " Lady of the Lake," and '' Marmion " 

 were great favorites with him. Of all poetical produc- 

 tions, however, "Marmion" always held the first place 

 in his affections. We cannot batter illustrate the senti- 



