Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-15


good Docto. was impatient 10 60,
and asked his pupil how much far
ther he could read. ETo the end OF
the twelfth book OF Eneid,7 was
the prompt reply. The Doctor
never had occasion TO reprove him
again. His study hours, ever alter,
were sacred. In less than year,
he read with his teacher, Virgil
and Cicero, and, IN private, two
large works of Grotius, and Pufen-
dorI, written in Latin. During the
month of July, his father called him
home to assist him on the farm. AT
this time of life, young Daniel had
but slender frame and was not
able 10 endure much fatigue. The
trial of single half dsv brought
the bov home with blistered hands
and wearied limbs. The next morn
ing, his father gave him his little
bundle Of books and clothes and
bade him seek his old teacher again.
DIR. Wood met him. with cordial
greeting on his return. and assured
him, that, with hard study, he might
enter College 1t the next Commence
ment. He then had TWO months 10
/ devote 20 Greek; and, he had not
vet learned the alphabet. With
characteristic energy, he grapPled
with the task and achieved a victory
Of which few can boast. What one
of those College idlers, who talk so
flippanly about the idleness Of Dan
ieI Webster when a student, has
prepared himself for like station in
two short monthsl The students Of
4 that day were deprived OF many OF
the comforts and IuxurieS of lie
which are now so liberaily enjoyed.
They usually travelled on horseback.
Their dress was entirely OF domes-
tic manufacture. When Daniel
/ Webster went to College, he took
the least valuable of his fathers
horses, which would no; be missed
from the farm, and deDositing his
scanty wardrobe and library in a
pair of saddlebags, sci out for Hano-
yer. Scarcely had he lost sight ol
his fathers house, when a furious
northeast storm began TO beat upon
the solitary traveller. The rain
poured down. necessarily, tor two
days and nights. A necessity was
laid upon him 20 be present at the
commencement Of the term. He,
therefore, made such speed as he
could. with his slow paced Rozinante,
over bad roads, through the pelting
storm, and reached the place at the
close of the second day, if moi a
"sorrowful Knight" at least, in a so;-
rowful condition. He joined his
class the next day and, at once, took
the position in it, which he has since
held in the intellectual world. By
the unanimous consent, both Of
teachers and classmates. he stood al
the head OF his associates in study;
and, was as far above them, then, in
all that constitutes human greatness,
as he is now. After a residence of
two years at College, he spent a
vacation at home. He had tasted of
the sweets OF literature and enjoyed
the victories Of intellectual effort
! He loved the scholars life, He felt
! keenly for the condition of his broth
er Ezekiel, who was destined to re-
main on the farm and labor to lift
the mortgage from the old home
stead and furnish the means of his
brothers support. Ezekiel was a
larmer in spirit and in practice. He
led his laborers, in the field. as he af-
terwards, led his class, in Creek
Daniel knew and appreciated his
superior intellectual endowments.-
/ He resolved that MS brother should
4 enjoy the same privileges with him
self. That night the two brothers
retired to bed, but not to Sleep
4 They discoursed OF their prospects.
Daniel utterly refused to enjoy the
fruI Of his broiher's labor any lon
ger. They were united, in sympa-
] thv and affection, and they must be
united in their pursuits. But how
could they leave their beloved pa
rents, in age and solitude, with no
protector? They talked and weptand
! wept and talked tiIl dawn Of day.
4 They dared not broach the matter TO
their father. Finally. Daniel resoI
we'd to be the orator up n the occa-
sion. Judge Webster was then
somewhat burdened with debt. He
was advanced in age and had sci his
$ heart upon having Ezekiel as his
. helper. The very thought OF separa
t lion from boih his sons was painful
to him. When the proposition was
made, he felt as did the patriarch OF
! old, when he exclaimed, t'Joseph is
} not aad will We
also take Benjamin away!" A fami
: " council was called. The mothers
: opinion was asked. She was a
!. strong-minded. energetic woman.
She was not blind to the superior
J.