Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-03-13
WEBSTER AND HIS ScpooLm.srrp

WEBSTER AND HIS ScHooLmAsrER.-
Col. James Tappan, venerable citizen
@of Gloucester, Mass., now 81 years of
age, recently addressed "A letter to the
Hon. Daniel Webster, reminding him
that, more than sixty years ago he
1Mr. W.) was one of his pupils. when
he taught school at "New Salsbury."--
The Gloucester News publishes Mr..
Websters prompt answer TO his old
friend and early teacher, and remarks
1--WE doubt il any letter that Mr.. Web
ster has written, TO public bodies, or
any Of the thousand great AMI noble
-acts Of his life, reflect more credit up
on him than this kind and generous gift
10 his aged and unfortunate old school,
Master" 1t is, indeed, beautiful let
Ser, alike honorable to tie head and
heart OF the writer and, as the editor
Of the News remarks, "at a time when
envy and malice are dealing blows
from all quarters at Americas greatest
statesman, when his public course j.
decried and execraled by political oppo-
nents, and the basest charges are
drought against his moral chara ter .
1t sheds upon his name and character
fresh glory, that, long after his petty
traducers shal! be dead and forg' ttcn,
will remain undmmcd IN the hearts of
his countrymen.
Here is the letter Of Mr.. Webster,
and its value and interest are enhanced
by the fact that no mention is made III
it to an enclosed fifty dollar bank note
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 1851.
MASTER TAPPAN:-I thank you for
your letter, and am rejoiced TO hear that
you are yet among the living. rcmem-
ber you perfectly well as "A teacher. in
my infant years. lsuppose my mother
taught me to read very early, as have
never been able TO recollcct the time
when | could not read the Bible. !
think master Chace was my earliest
,schoolmaster, probably when wns
three or four years old. Then came
master Tappan. You boarded al our
house, and son eim,s, think in The
family of Mr.. Benjamin Sandborn, our
neighbor, the lame man. Most olthose
whom you knew in " New Salisbury"
have gone to their graves. Mr.. John
Sandborn the son ol Benjamin, Is yet
living, and is about your age. Mr..
John Colby, who married my oldes, Sis
ter Susannah, is also living On the
"North Road" is Mr.. ! cnjamin Hun
ton, and on the "South Road" is Mr..
Benjamin Pettingail. | think Of nore
else among the living whom you would
probably remember.
You have indeed lived chequercd
life. Hope you have been able 10 bear
prosperity with meeknees, and adversi-
ty with patience. These things are all
ordered Tor US, far better than we could
order them for ourselves. We may pray
for our daily bread we may pray Tor
the forgiveness OF sins we may pray
to be kept from temptation, and hat the
kingdom of God may come i'll US, and
-in all men, and his will everywhere bc
done. Beyond this we hardly know for
what good TO suppicate the Divine mer
cy. Our Heavenly Father knoweth
what we have need better than we know
ourselves, and we are sure that his eye
and his 10 wing kindness are upon us and
around us every moment.
I thank you agnin, my good old mas
ter, for your kind letter, which has
awakened many sleeping recollectons :
and with all good wishes ] remain,
Your friend and pupil,
q DANIEL WEBSTER.