The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-12-09
NO. XXXIV.
From the N. Y. spec,ator-
Daniel Webster,

We have been favored with the perpsal Of !et
ter, written by Mr. Webster to an intimate friend in
thus city, dated Franklin, May, 8, 1916, from which
we make the extract belcY, and which we are sure
VIII be read a, this time with unusual interest.
81 have made satisfactory arrangements respecting
my ouse here, the best Of WHICH is that can eaye
y where is, and yet be comfortable notwths,and-
ing the railroad
This house f,ces due North It's front Windows
look toward the river Mcrrmack. But then the
riyer soon TURNS to the South. that the Eastern
windows look toward the river also. But the river
has so deepcned its channel in this stretch Of it, in
the last fifty years, that cannot its waters,
without approaching IT, 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 an d know something
OF the theory of the phenomenon; but doubt
whether the world will ever be benefited, either 10y
my fearnng, or nay observation, IN this respect
Looking out at the East windows, at this mo-
ment & +. NJ with a beautiful just break ing
OUT, eye sweeps rich and level field Of 100 acres
AT the end of it, a third Of mile off, l see plain
marble grave stones, designating the places whers
tepo{e my father, my mother, my brother Joseph,
and ny sisters Mehitable, Abigail and Sarah good
scripture names, inherited from their Puritan ances-
tors.
My fiher Ebenezer Webstcr.-- in Kings
ton, IN the lower part Of the state, in l733--the
handsomest man ever saw, except nv brother Eze-
kiel, who appeared TO me, and does he now seem
to me, the very finest human form that l ever laid
eyes on. | saw him in his cofin--a white forehead
"a tnged cheek-a complexion as clear ar heavenly
| light! But where am stravins!
The grave has closed upon hun, as il has on all
my brothers and sisters. We shall soon he all to-
ge'her., But this is Northumberland / leave it.
Dear, dear kindred blood, how love you ailr
This fair field is before mei coul,t see a lamb on
any past oft. have ploushed it, and raked il, and
hoed il, but never moved PIT, Somehow / could
never learn 70 hang scythc, had not wit enough.
Ny brother Joe used to say that my father sent me
to college In order to make equal to the rest Of
the childrcni
| OF hot day in July---it must have been one Of
the last years OF Washlngton's administration. | was
making hay, with my father, Just where now see a
remaining elm tree about the middle Of the afternoon
The Hon. Abiel Foster, NJ. c., who lived in Can.
tel bury, SIX miles off, called the house and came
into the field TO see nv father He was a WORTHY
nan, college learned, and had ieen a minister, bu,
was not person Of any Considerable natural powers
He talked awhile in the field, and went on his wav.
W hen he was gone, my father called me 10 him. and
| &c sat down beneath the elm, on a hay cock He
SAID, Only son, that is worthy man--he is a mem
ber Of Congress-he goes to Philadelphia and gets
six dollars DAY, whilc toll here 1t is because he
had an education, which never bad. II had had
his early education, should have been in Philadel-
pha in his place. | came near it, as it was. But
missed IT, and now | mus, work here INV dear
father said |, 'you shall not work. Brother and
will work for YOU, and oul hands out and yo,
shall rcst''-and remember to have cried and
cry now, at the recollection. my child" said he
"u is of no importance tpme--I now live but for nv
Children | could not give your elder brothers the
advantages of know ledge, but DO something for
you. Exert yourseli-lmprove your opportunities
f'an-leua--abd when gone, you will not need
to 60 through the hardships which have under.
gone, ana which have made i've an old man before
my time.l
The next May he took to Exeter, to the Phil
bps Exeter Acadcmy-laccd under the tuition
Of ITS excellent prefel tor, DIR. Benjamin Abbott sill,
living. -
My father died in April, 1906. / neither left him
nor forsook him. My opening Office at Boscawena
was that might be near him. ] closed his eyes, IN
this very house: Ic died years OF ago
after a lie Of exertion, toll and exposure-a pri-
vate soldier, au officer, legislator, judge-every
thing that man could be, to whom learning never
had disclosed her sample page" -
Ny first speech at the bar was made when he was
on the bcnch-he meyer heard ne, d Second time
He had in him what recollect to have been the
character Of some Of the old Puritans He was deem
ly religious, but not so,r-on the contrary good hu
mored, MISUNDERSTANDING even in his age uitli a
cortag Gus laugh, teeth, all white as alabas,er-
gentle, soft and liaylu--and vet having a heart in
him, that he seemed TO have borrowed from a hon
He could irowm; irown it was but cheerfuiness,
good humor and smiles COMPOSED his most usual as
pect.
Ever truly, yoar friend,