Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-11-11
rn,er...sns Sketch sr Szr. webster. HON,
t,os and RamiIY by HImself.

The New York Commercial has
been favored with the perusal OF
letter, written by Mr.. Webster to an
intimate friend in that city, dated
Franklin, May 8, 1916. from which
we make the extract below, and
which we are sure will be read at
this time with unusual interest:
al have made satisfactory arrange-
ments respecting my house here, the
best OF which is that / can leave il
where II is, and yet be comfortable,
notwithstanding the railroad.
"This house faces due North. It's
front windows look toward the
river Merrimack. But then the
river soon turns TO the South. so
that the Eastern windows look to-
ward the river also. But the river
has so deepened IFS channel in this
stretch OF it, in the last fifty years,
that we cannot see its waters, with
out approaching it, or going back to
the higher lands behind US. The
history OF this change is Of con-
siderable importance in the philoso-
phv of streams. have observed il
practically, and know something OF
the theory Of the phenomenon; bul
doubt whether the world will ever
be benefited, either by my learning,
or rmy,ebsefyaiion, in this respect 3
.tsLoeking out. at the East win
dows,- at this moment, q P. NJ
with a beautiful sun just breaking
out, my eve sweeps rich and level
field oi 100 acres. At the end Of it,
a third OF mile of, see plain mar
bic grave stones, designating the
places where repose my father. my
mother, my brother Joseph, and my
sisters Mehitable, Abigail and Sarah;
good Scripture names, inherited from
their Puritan ancestors.
"My fatherl Ebenezer Websterl-.
born at Kingston, in the lower part
Of the State, in l739-the hand
soonest man ever saw, except my
brother Ezekiel, who appeared to
me, and so does he now seem 10 me,
the very finest human form that ever
Laid eyes on. saw in his coffin
awhile forehead-a tinged cheek
a complexion as clear as heavenly
liphilso Bat where am strayingl y
"The grave has closed upon him.
as it has on all my brothers and
sisters. We shall soon be altogeth-
er.i But this is melancholly-and |
leave il. Dear, dear kindred blood,
how | love you alll 1at -i@s. - -
z "This fair field is before us-l
could see a lamb on any part of it.
have pIoughsd it, and raked it, and
hoed il, butsI never moved it,
Some how, ! could never learn TO
hang a scythel / had not wit
enough. My brother Joe used TO
say that my father sent me to college
in order 10 make me equel- 10 the
rest Of the children. %
si"O a hot day in July-it must
have been one OF the last years ol
WashinglOn's administration, l. was
making hay, with my father. just
where 1 nov see a remaining elm
tree, about the middle of the after.
noon. The Hon. Abiel Foster, NJ
c., who lived in Canterbury, SIX
miles of, called at the house, and
came into the field to see my father
He, was "a worthy man, college
learned, and had been a. minister
but was not.a person OF any con
siderable natural powers. Ny iath'
er was his friend and supporter
He talked awhile in the field, and
went on bis way. When he wa:
gone. my, father called me to him
and we, sat down beneath the elm
onn hay cocE. He said, my son
that is a verify maH-he Is mem.
ber Of gopgress-he goes 70 Phifa'
deIphia, and gets six dollars a day
while | toll here. Il is because be
had an education. which j never had
IF i had had bis early education \
should have been in Philadelphia il
his place. | came near It as II was