Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-02-03
INCIDENT IN Mr.. WEBSTER's EARLY LIFE.

In answer TO some fanatieal ;mputa-
tions of Mr. Webster's religious princi-
pies. because of his support of the Compro-
mise measures, widow lady who resided
in the vicinity of Mr. Websters early home
said
"Mr Webster an inidel l cannot be-
lieye that. | have known him long. and,
if it would not SAVIOR too much of egotism,
| could relate some incidents that would
[ think. convince you that, whatever his
political views may have been, he certain
ly was not an intdel"
She was requested to DO so, ard accor-
dinghy wrote the following
"Mr Webster and my husband became
acquainted in early life, and the friend
ship of youth extended to riper years =
They were truly eongeuial spirits, and
sought each others society as much as
possible, but the cares Of business at
length separated them, and for many years
they seldom met My husband settled
down in this place, and Mr.. Webster
went forth to battle for the right in the
councils of the nation.
UE SOlllS time VIC NEtt EEGdllE pEOs-
pered 4 lucrative business brought US
wealth almost beyond our hopes Two
children came like sunbeam to light up
our happy home with their joyous smiles,
and to cheer our spirits with their inno-
cent prattle. Those were happy days, aud
| love to recall them But, alas they
were soon covered with clouds of darkness,
that even tue eye of fate could hardly pen
citrate
'Some of the firms in which my hus-
bands funds were placed became involved
and our little all was swept from our GRASP.
When he found that every effort to recov-
er it but plunged him deeper into difficult
ty, he became dishearteuod Soon his
health failed, and he was compelled to g;ge
up his business entirely. lie then sold
the shop, and what else we could spare,
and with the avails paid every dept except
one This was due to friend, who chose
to wait for his money rather than take
from US the cottage where We lived, the
only property, we could call our own
But hardly was the arrangement made
when the gentleman died leaving the note
in the hands of one who knew not how to
show mercy He demanded immediate
payment, and We were about to sell our
house when our oldest child was taken
down with fever, and soon left US, as We
hope. for better world The same dis
ease prostrated my husband, and when
the physician told me be must die. [ felt
that my cup of sorrow was full But 20
I was mistaken There was set another
drop to be mingled IN that cup of bitter
ness While my husband yet fingered be-
tween life aud death, my daughter, the on
ly remaining child, was taken sick also,
and after FIVE days suffering, she too left
US, to rejoin her brother in the spirit
land"
"Do YOU ask how I bore this second be-
reavement2 | believe l bad not leisure to
think Of it. All my time, all my attention
was given TO my sick husband who was
slowly but surely going down to the grave.
had even forgotten the hard hearted cred
itor But he did not forget Inexorable
as death itself be came at the time ap-
pointed and demanded the money [
think he must have been intoxicated, for
] am sure no man In his sober senses could
have been so cruel told him nav hus-
band was dying, but he replied, Sorry,
sorry to hear 1t He won't earn any more
money. and as you can't pay up, I'll just
take the house. Oh can live somewhere
else. as you'll have no one TO look after =
interrupted his cruel remarks and think
ing to move his feelings, [ led him to the
room where lay the cold form Of my
child
"Vain hope I might as we'll have tried
to move an iceberg After much entreaty
| obtained permission to remain in the
house while my loved one lived, on condi-
tion that gave up the furniture This [
promised, that | might DC more be troub-
led with his loathsome presence
The man left me, and [ sank into a
chair, utterly overcome ut She prospect
before me At that rIoneut | heard
rap 1T the door / could not rise to obey
the summons | felt that my heart was
( breaking. Bot the door slowly opened,
and Mr. Webster stood before me. He
( had come home on a visit. aud, without
I knowing anything Of our sorrows, he rode
+ over T. -ee and embrace his ea-ly friend.
+ What was his surprise to find him thus
7 And when the story Of our troubles had
been told, when he had assured himself
I that his long cherished friend had but a
few more hours to live, he sat down aud
wept
Then he asked to see the corpse of
his little pet, who, when be last visited US,
sat upon his knee and played with his
watch. As he rose to leave the bed, my
husband said in whisper .Fetea her TO
me. that too may look upon that sweet
face once more