Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-12-22
NO. vi.

children gong to school or gathering Der.
ries, so that be might lovingly inquire theil
names and ask after their parents. He
was in fire spirits, and seemed to be de.
lighted with the singing of the birds, which
positively seemed anxious to manifest their
gladness at his presence. But alas those
sweet and much-loved sounds will never
again greet his ear. He looked with a crit
ical eye upon all the fields and gardens,
and every bit of scenery that we saw, fit
for picture, he expatiated upon most elo-
quently.
1--WE rode through part of the village
of Boseowen, and he pointed out the SPOT
where he went 10 school in his fourteenth
year and where he subsequently first be-
came acquainted with Grace Fletcher, This
first Wife whom he mentioned at that time,
and always mentioned, as the mother of
his children To her he was married in
the summer of 1907, and she died in the
city of New York in 1927. The yisitto the
spot Of his birth was pleasant but mourn
full. We drank cup ofwater together out
of the old well, and it was with subdued
feelings that he walked over the sod where
he sported in childhood. and talked in the
most afectionate manner of the olden times.
As the writer has everywhere else remark
ed, the house in which he rds born is not
now standing; and it is due TO the writer
to state, that the only authentic view of that
house, with the neighboring elm and well.
is the one which the writer drew while Mr..
Webster was bending over his shoulder,
and an engraving from which embellishes
this volume. -
"Another place that we visited was the
Big Pasture, SO called, which Belonged to
Mr.. Webster, and where he was then keep
ing about one hundred head of splendid
cattle. The pasture contained nearly four
hundred acres and from the highest point
there is fine prospect ofthe White Noun
tains. To see Mr.. Webster in his regular
farming suit, and with his white slouched
hat on his head, and stick in his hand,
walking among his cattle, which were col
lected together for his inspection, was in
deed an interesting and beautiful sight. A
stranger would have taken him for stall
warth drover or butcher selling or purcha-
sing stock while i'll reality he was the mas
ter-mind of the world. The writer was
also privileged to wet line for trout while
Mr. Webster sat in his carriage and looked
on, IN Punch brook, upon which are located
both the birth place and the Big Pastures
and which empties into the Merrimack o.
Elms Farm.
"We also took drive around Lake CO.
mo, which is beautiful sheet of pure wa
ter, distant from the farm some three miles,
about two miles long, and surrounded with
handsomely cultivated country. The lake
abounds in perch and pike and, of course,
Mr. Webster ever had fsh-house there.
and boat in which he was accustomed to
enjoy, and permit his friends to enjoy, the
pleasant recreation OF angling. On the
borders of this lake we halted before nice
country-house, fanked by noble farm,
when Mr.. Webster sent in for its master;
and on his appearance, introduced him to
the writer as his 'Uery ,corihy nephep.' The
who looked as if nature had formed him OF
its toughest sinews, and Drowned him with
the hues of the most substantial health
The nephew returned the civilities ot-hls
distinguished uncle in plain, blunt, man.
ner, but with affection, and little did he be-
lieve that the mere fact of his being thus
connected would elevate him, in many parts
of the country, into decided lion.
"We also visited the junction Of those
two mountain streams which form the Mer-
rimack. The scenery at this point is wild
and romantic; and as the immediate banks
of the main river as you descend are rank
with vegetation, and all the interval lands
highly cultivated, and the residences of the
farmers all neat and comfortable, ride Of
half dozen miles down the river is ihde-
scribably beautiful and when enjoyed with
such companion, who recognised an old
friend in every tree and stone, the reader
may well imagine that the pleasure was un-
alloyed. BY the writer it can certainly
never be forgotten.