The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-10-15

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10 his les with even increased ardor.
All that Mr.. Woods could teach he
learnt. Among other books. Ire read
Virgil and Cicero, both of whom lie
faithfully studied, the latter he warmly
admired or the Latin classics, pre-
sumo there not one so familiarly known
to MIR. Webster as Cicero. 1t may seem
little strange, indeed, that with all his
early, eager, and constant study of
llome's greatest orator, he should not
have initiated unconsciouslY his manner
Of expression and thought. lie much
more resembeI Demostlcnes, in vgor
and terseness of expression, aud in Coz
pious vehemence whose works, in the
meanwhile, he never so completely mas
tered.
At Boscawen, Nff. Webster was fortu-
nate to find another circulating library,
the volumes Of which he fully npprecia-
ted |; was in tins library he met. for
the first time, Don Quxote, in English.
" | began to read it," Il have heard hm
say } "and it is literally true that never
closed my eyes until I had finished it
nor did | lay it down any time for ffrc
minutes; 81 great was the power of this
book on my Imagination"
In the summer Of this gear, August 1.91,
he entered Dartmouth College, a, n fresh
man. His college life, it cam DC easily Belle
we'd, was not an idle one. With such Il de-
sire for the acquisition of all kinds of knowl-
edge, the danger to be apprehcnded was, he
would undertake too ninch rT,hsr tlIan ton
little; that his reading would bc TOO misccl-
aneous, and that he would acquire there
from, habits of mental carelessncss. From
the testimony Of his intmates in college, it
is known that he read constantly. Besides
regular attention of the prescribed studies
Of his class, he devoted himself to the acqui-
silon of whatever wis useful in English his
tory, or graceful aud becoming in English
literature. lie superintendent also the pub
LEGATION Of II littlr weekly newspaper, making
selections for it from hooks and periodicals
and containing occasionally, an editorial OF
his own. These were, perhaps, the first Of
his productions ever published. knew not
if they are to be met with now. lie Gcliy-
cred some addresses while in College, before
litcrary societies., which also were published.
Ezekiel Webster-lhe soc brother of Dan
c of the whole hood-was destined by his
father to remain at home and carry on the
farm. But he had aspirations beyond this,
anl so had his brother for him. According
", when Daniel returned home on visit
in his sophomore year, in the spring of 80,
he held serious consultation with his brother
Ezekiel in relation TO his wishes. II was re-
solved between them, that Ezekiel should
20 to college, and that Daniel should be the
organ of communication with their father on
the suljec,-llc lost no time in opening the
negotiation. and experienced no great diff
Gully in obtaining the consent of lis father,
who lived only for his children, to their de
sign. The ressl; was, that in about ten davs
Mr.. Webster had gone back to college, hav-
ing frs, seen his brother bid ad:ea TO the.
farm, and place himself in school under a
teacher in Latin. Soon afterwards, Ezekiel
went to Mr.. Woods, and remained with him
until he was fitted for College. In March,
1901, his father carried him 10 college, where
he joined the freshman class.
lie had not great quckness Of apprchen-
sion nor viyacity of intellect, a1i was not
therefore early estimated at his full Value
But he had strong mind, great powers OF
observation, and memory. lie acquired
slowly but safely. Not fluent cf speech, he
was always correct in language and thought.
Few exctllcd him in clcarncss Or viror OF
style, none in argumcntatlye ability. lie
wanted but opportunity 10 have become
great man.
lie fell dead, while arguing a case in Con.
cord, New Hampshire. in 1929. 4 hand.
some monument was erected to his memory
in Boscawer, where he was buried
CONcLuDkD NEXT WEEK.