Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-11-26
Memorials TO webster.

Tho following letter from Mr. Webster, dated at
t,anklin n H., May 3. 1886, has been furnished
r publication in the New York Commercial Adver-
,rr by the gentleman to whom It addressed -
Tis Characteristic of the man, and will be read with
,.nar interest at this time:
have made satisfactory arrangements respecting
49, house here, the best of which is that can leave
trhcrc it is, and yet be comfortable, notwithstan-
. ding the railroad
Ills house faces due north. It's front windows
link towards the River Merrimack But then the
river soon turns to the south, so that the eastern
windows look towards the river also But the river
has 50 deepencd its channel in this stretch of it, in
the last fifty years, that cannot its waters,
without approaching it, or going back to the higher
lands behind us. The history of this change is of
considerable Importance in the philosophy of streams
have observed it practically, ard know something
Of the theory of the phenomenon but doubt whelh
err the world will ever be benefited, either by my
learning, or my observations in this respect.
Look out at the cast windows at this moment @
P NJ w tn Il beautiful sun INST breaking out my
eve sweeps a rich and level field of 100 acres. At
the end of it, third Of mile off see plane marble
grave stones, dcSi Snang the places where repose
my father, my mother. my brother Joseph and my
sisters Mehitible Abigail and Sara! good Scripture
names, inherited from their Puritan ancestors.
Nv father Ebeuczer Webster born al kinston.
in the lower part of the State, in l739-the hand
soonest man | ever saw, except my brother Ezekiel,
who appeared to me, and so Goes he now seem to me-
the hncSC huma form THAT ever llio eyes on
| saw him in his cofhn-a willie furehead--a tinged
check--a comp lcxion clear as heavenly light
But where am straying
The grave has closed upon him. it has on all
nay brothers and sisters. We shall soon be all to
rcther But this is melanchoy-and ! leave it
Dear, dear kindred blood. how love you all
This fair field is before mel could lamb on
any part of it. have pioughed it, and raked it, and
hocd it. but moved it Somehow | could
never learn to hang scythe: ] had not wit enough
My brother Joe used to say that my father sent me
to college in order to make me equal to the rest o
the children.
Of hot day in July-it must have been o
The last years of Wa<hingtons Administrations Wa
making bay with my father. ust where | now sec
remaining elm tree. abont the middle of the after
noon The Hon Abiel Foster NJ c., who lived i,
Canterbury. six miles off called at the house. ant
came into the field to see my father. He was a wor
thy college learned and had been minister
hut was not person of any considerable natura
powers. My father was his friend and supporter
lie talked while in the field and went on his way
When he gone. my father called me to him, ant
sat down beneath the elm on hay cock HI
SAID = My son, that is a worthy mamie is a mem
Der of Congress-he goes to Philadelphia, and get
six dollars day. while toll here. 1t is because H.
had an education, which never had If | had hi
carly cdu alton should have been in Philadelphia
IN his place came near it, as it was. But miss
ell II, and now | must work here - My dear faith
or. said ], you shall not work Brother and
shall work for you. and wear our hands ont, an
sou shall reSt--and rcmeber to have cricd-an'
cry now, at the recollection. My child' said he
lit is of no Importance to mel now live but 70
ny children =; and could not give your elder broth
the advantages of knowc' ge, but do some
thing for you. Exert Your>eif-improve your OPP
portuntes -tearn-leaJn- and when | am gone
you will not need go through The hardships whic
have undergone, and which have made me oil
man before my time.'
The next day he took me to Exeter, to the Phil
lips Exeter Academy-placed under the tuition
of its excellent preceptor; Dr. Benjamin Abbott sill
lnrg.
My father died in 1906 I neither left him no
torsook him. My opening an office at Boscawen Wa
that | might be him | closed his eyes in thi
very house. He died at sixty seven years of age
after life of exertion, toll and expOSure-a privat
soldier. an officer, Legislator, a judge-every thin
that man could he, to whom learning never ha
disclosed her . ample page
My first speech at the bar was made when he wa
on the bench--he never heard me a second time.
He had in him what recolIect to have been tn
. character Of some Of the old Puritans. He wa
deeply religious, but not sour-on the contrary. goo
humored, MISUNDERSTANDING in his age wit
contagious laugh, teeth all as white aabaster-
gentle, soft. play ful-and yet having heart in hin
that he seemed to have borrowed from a lion. H
could frown frown it was hut cheerfulness goo
humor and smiles composed his more usual aspec
Ever truly your friend, DANIEL WEBSTER.