The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-04
Tive Interesting Letters from Mr.. Webster
Concerning has early Life.
The following is N extract from private letter


can cave it where it is, and yet be comfortable,
Notwithstanding the railroad
This house feses due north. It's front windows
look toward the river Merrimack. But then the IL
sson turns to the south, so that the eastern
Windows look toward the river Also Bat then the
river has so ceepened its channel in this stretch Of
it, in the last FIFTY years. thai we cannot see its wa.
tiers without approaching 1t, or going back 20 the
h,s her lands behind The history OF this change
is OF considerable Importance in the philosophy Of
Streams have observed it practically, and know
sonnet hing Of the theory OF the phenomenon; but ]
doubt whether the world will ever be benefited,
either by my learning or my observation, IN this
respect
Looking out ut the east windows, Mt this moment,
(1P M J, with beautiful sun just breaking out, my
eye sweeps rich ard level field OF 100 acres At
grave stones, designating the places where re-
pose my father, my mother, my brother Joseph,
and my sisters Mehitable, Abigail, and Sarah
good Scripture names, inherited from their Puritan
ancestors
My father! Ebenezer Webster born at Kings
ton, in the lower part of the State. ip l739-the
abandonment man ] ever saw, except my brother
Ezekiel, who appeared to me, and SO does he now
seem to me, the very finest human form that ever
laid eyes on saw him in his cofin-a white fore
bead-a tinged cheek-a complexion clear rs
heavenly light! But where am straying?
The grave has closed upon him, as it has on all my
But this is melancholy, and leave It, Dear, dear
kindred blsod, howl love you all!
This fair field is before me. could see lamb
on any part Of it. have ploughed it, and raked 1t,
could never learn to hang scythe. ! had not wit
enough. My brother Joe used to say that my father
sent to college in order to make equal to the
rest Of the childreD
OF q hot day in July-it must have been one Of
the last years Of Washingtons administration-I was
making hay with my father, just where now see
remaining elm tree, about the middle OF the after
noon. The Hon. Abel Foster, M c., who lived in
Ia rhurv piy ilas nA al All Ia hOu1 nd
came into the field, to SEQ my father He was .
worthy man, college learned, and had been minis
ter, but was net person OF any considerable natu-
raj powers My father was his friend and supporter
He talked while in the field, and went on his way.
When he was gone, my father called me to him, ana
we sat down beneath the elm on hayoock. He
said" My son, that 10 worthy man he is
member 81 ne 70 phsapha ana
cause he had an educstion which never had If had
had his early education, should have been in Phil
adelphia in his place. came near it, as it was.
But missed it, and now must work here"
Brother and / will work for you. and wear our
hands out, and you shall rsst"-and ! remember to
have cried, snd cry now at the recollection. "My
now 1--we but for my children could not give your
elder brother the advantages of knowledge, but |
can do something for you Exert yourseH-improVs
your tes-learn-learn-and when l am
gone, you will not need to 60 through the hardshps
an old man before my time
The next May he took me to Exeter, to the Philips
Exeter Academy-placed me under the tuition of
its excellent pereeptor, Dr. Benjamin Abbott, still
living
My father died in April, 1900. neither left him
nor fosook him. My opening office ut Boscawen
was that might be rear him. closed his eyes in
this very house. He died ct sixty seven years Of
sge-atter life Of exsrtion toll and expoure-a
private soldier, an officer, legislator, judge
everything that man could ., to whom learning
never had disclosed the 8 an ple page"
My first speech ut the bar was made when he was
on the bench--h he never heard me second time.
He had in him what recollect to have been the
character OF some of the old Puritans. He WAS
deeply religious, but not sour-on the contrary
good humored MISUNDERSTANDING, oven in his age,
with contagious laugh, teeth all white alabaster
gentle, soft, playful-an and yet having heart in
him that be seemed to have borrowed from lion.
He could frown-a frown it was; but cheerfulness,
good humor and smiles composed his most usual as
poet. Ever truly your friend, DANIEL WEBSTER.
on AGRICULTURE AND POLITICS.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1852.
Go ahead The heart of the winter is broken, and
plouehed Buy the oxen of Captain Marston, if you
think the price fair. Pay for the hay, l send you
q check for $l60 for these two objects. Put the
great oxen in condition to DC turned out and fat
in addition to this, four oxen and pair Of four
year old steers will do your work If you think so,
then dispose of the Stevens oxen, or unyoke them,
and send them to'the pasture for beef. l know not
when / shall sec you, but hope before planting.
If you need anything, such as guano, for instance,
write to Joseph Buck, Esq, Boston, and he will
send it to you.
Whatever ground you SOW or plant, see that it
A little farm well titled" is to farmer the next
best thing to "a little wife well willed y Cultivate
your garden. Be sure to produce sufficient quant-
ties OF useful vegetables. A man may half support
h .1vy {rrxt, ovNAn nol-A lr>1..
my mothers garden in good order, even if 1t cost
you the wages Of man to take care Of it. have
sent you many garden seeds. Distribute them
among your neighbors Send them to the stores in
the village, that everybody may have part Of them
without cost. am glad that you have chosen Mr..
Pike representative. He is true man; but there
are in New Hampshire many persons who call them
selves wings, who are DO wings at all, and no bet
ter thar <isunionists Any man who hesitates in
granting and occurring to every part of the country
its just and its constitutional rights is enemy to
the whole country.
John Taylor if one Of your boys should say that
no honcrs his father and aothsr, and loves his bro
theirs aud sisters but still insists that one Of them
ahall be driven out of the family what can you say
Of him but thsthat there is real family love in
hint You and are farmers; we never talk politics,
our talk lie 81 oxen; but remember this: that any
man who attempts to excite part OF the country
against another, is jus. IS wicked rs ne would be
WAC should attempt to get up quarrel between
John Taylor and his naighbor, old Ar. Jno Sanben,
VI ZIG Otuol utiguUpTs OdpI. OuEleiku. lbciS aIc
some animals that live best 10 the lire; and there
some men who delight in heat, smoke, combus-
ton, and even general conhagration. They do not
follow the things which make for peace, They enjoy
only Controversy, contention, and strife. Have no
communion with such persons, either as ncighbors,
or politicians. You have no more right 10 say that
slavery oueht not 70 exist in Virginia, than Virgil
man bias 20 RAP tnat slavery ought to exist IN
New Hampshire This is question lot to every
State eecide for tfef; ard II mean 20 keep the
States together, must leave to every State this
power oil deciding for itself
think never wrote you q wsrd before upon
politics. shall not de il again. / only say love
Jonr country, and yeur whole country, and when
men attempt to per,uade you to get into quarrel
with the jsrs Of other States, tell them s.hat you
mean 10 mind your own busincss," and advise them
TO mind theirs John Taylor, Jon o free man;
you possess good principles; you have large tami-
~ TO rear and provide for by your labor. 30 thank
ful 70 the government that does not oppross you,
which ooes rot hear you down BY excessive taxa.
tiop, but which holds out 10 You and TO yours the
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