The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-04
Tive Interesting Letters from Mr.. Webster
Concerning his early Life.
The following Is m extract from private letter
written BY Mr.. Webster TO . friend six yenrs ago.

yefpecnpg my house here the best OF which IS Lsat
can cave il where it is, and vet be comfortable,
Notwithstanding the railroad
This honse fases due north. It's front windows
look toward the river Menimack But then the ri
Yer sson Turns to the south, so that the eastern
wjndoss leok toward the river also. But then the
river has 6eepened its chapnel in this stretch Of
IT, in the last fifty years, thae cannot see its wa
tsrs without appro aching it, or going back to the
higher lands behind US The history OF this change
is OF coAside rabe importance in the philosophy Of
strssms | have observed it practically, and know
sonnet hing of tho theory Of the phenomenon; but I
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,
(2P M J, with beautiful sun just breaking out, my
Eye sweeps rich and level field OF 100 acres. At
the end of it, third OF mile oil, see plain marble
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, in 1739-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 rs clear as
heavenly light! But where am ssraying?
The grave has closed upon him. rs it has on all my
brothers and sisters We shall soon be all together.
But this is melancholy, and leave it. Dear, dear
kindred blsod, how ! love you all!
This fair field is before me. could see lamb
any part of it. have ploughed it, and raked it,
and hoed it, but ] never 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 Of the children!
OF a hot day in July-it must have been one of
the last years Of Washin gtons was
making hay with my father, just whore | now see
remaining elm tree, about the middle Of the after
noon. The Hon. Abiel Foster, M O., who lived in
Canterbury, six miles off, called 1t the house, and
worthy man, college learned, and had been minis
ter, but was net person of any considerable natu
raj powers. My father his friend and supporter.
He talked while in the field, and went on hs way.
When he was gone, my father called me to him. and
we sat down beneath the elm on haycock. He
said" My son, that is worthy man ; he is
member Of Congress; he gees TO Philadelphia, and
gets six dollars day. while toll here. It is DO.
cause he had educstion which never had. If had
had his early education, should have been in Phil
adelphia in his place. came near it, as it wa..
But missed it, and now raust work here
NY dear father, said |, you shall not work
hands out, and you shall rsst'and remember to
have cried, and cry now at the recollection. "My
child" said he, cit is of no Importance to mel
now live but for my children l could not give your
elder brother the advantages of knowledge, bat l
can do something for you. Exert yourself-improvs
your tes-learn-learn-and when l am
gone you will not need to 60 through the hardshps
which have undergone, and which have mado me
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 perceptor, DR.. Benjamin Abbott, still
living.
My father died in April, 1900. neither left him
nor forook him. My opening an office at Boscawen
was that might be rear him. / closed his eyes in
this very house. He died at sixty. seven years Of
age-after life Of exsrtion, toll and exposure-s
private soldier, an officer, . legislator, judge
everything that man could be, to whom learning
never had disclosed the " ample page"
My first speech at the bar was made when he was
on the bench--he never heard me second time.
He had in him what recollect to have been the
character Of some Of tho old Puritans. He was
deeply religious, but not sour-on the contrary,
good hum0red, MISUNDERSTANDING, oven in his age,
with contagious laugh, teeth all white aiabaster
that s ss seemed to ha1s from on
He could frown-a frown it was but checrfulness,
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
before the first day Of April all your land may be
ploughed. Buy the oxen Of Captain Marston, if you
= check for $l60 for these two objects. Put the
great oxen in condition to be turned out and fat
tened. You have good horse.tsam, and think,
in addition to this, four oxen and pair of four
year o!u Steers WIZ 20 your Work. you ninK SO,
then dispose Of the Stevens oxen, or unyoke them,
and SEND then tothe pasture for beef know not
when shall sec you, but hope before planting.
If you need anything, such ss guano, for instance,
write to Joseph Buck, Esq, Boston, and he viii
send it to you.
WhAtever ground you SOW or plant, see that it
is in good condition. We want no pennyroyal crops
" little farm well titled, is to farmer the next
your garden. Be sure to produce sufficient quanti-
ties OF useful vegetables. man may half support
his family from q good garden. Take care to keep
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 thsre
are in New Hampshire many persons who call them
selves wings, who are no wings at all, and no bet
ter thar Sisunionists. Any man who hesitates in
granting and occurring to every part of the country
its just and its constitutional rights, is an enemy to
the whole country.
John Taylor! if one Of your boys should say tina.
he honcrB his ietber and mother and loves his bro
thefs and sisters but still insists that one OF them
ahal be driven ont of the family, what you say
OF BIN but ths-that there 10 no real family love ia
hint You and ars farmers; talk politics,
our talk lie Of oxen; but remember this that any
man who attempts to excite one part OF the country
against another, is jus. as wicked as he would be
should attempt to get up quarrel between
Jokn Taylor and MS nsighbor old nr. Jno SaDbern,
or his othsr neig hbor, Capt Burleigh. There are
some animals that live best 10 the fire. and there
arc some men who delight in heat, smoke, combus-
lion, and even general confagration. They do net
follow the things which makefor peace. They enjoy
only 6ohtroversy, contention, and strife. Have no
with such persons, either as ncighbora,
or politicians. You have no more right 10 shy that
slavery ought 70 exist in Virginia, than Virgi-
man has 60 sag tnat savery ought to exist in
New Hampshire, This il n question loft to every
State decide for felf and If we mean 20 keep the
States together, must leave to every State this
power oil deciding for itself
think l never wrcte you wsTd before upon
politics. shall not dc il again / only say love
J our country, and yeur whole country, and when
men attempt to persuade you to get into n quarrel
with the Jaws OF other States tell them "that you
Near 10 mind your own business" and advise them
TO mind theirs John Taylor, you are free man;
you possess good principles; you have large fami-
~ TO rear ahd provide for by your labor Be thank
ful 20 The government that does not opprcss you,
which ooes rot bear you down by excessive taxa.
son, bat which holds out TO you and TO yours the
hero Of s the blessing which liberty industry and