Washington telegraph., 1853-02-02
Incident in Mr. Webster's Early
Life,

Mr.. Websters's religious principles, be-
cause of his support of the compromise
measures, widow lady who resided IN the
vicinity of Mr. w. S early home said:
"Mr. Webster an infdel! | cannot be-
lieve that. I have known him long, and, if
it would not SAVIOR too much OF egotlsm, |
could' relate some incidents that would, l
think. convince you that, whatever his po-
litical views may have been, he certainly was
not an inidel.
She was requested to do so, and accord
ingly wrote the following
"Mr. Webster and my husband became
acquainted in early life, and the friendship
of youth extended to ripper years. They
we're truly congenial 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
Ny husband settled down in this place, and
Mr.. Webster went forth to battle for the
right in the councils of the nation
For some time we were greatly prospered.
4 lucrative business brought us wealth al
most beyond our hopes Two children came
like a sunbeam to light up our happy home
with their joyous smiles, and to cheer our
spirits with their innocent prattle. Those
were happy days and l love to recall them.
But, alas! they were soon covered with
clouds of darkness, that even the eye of faith
could hardly penetrate.
Some of the firms in which my husbands
funds were placed became involved, and our
little all was swept from our grasp. When
he found that every effort 10 recover it but
plunged him deeper into difficulty he became
disheartened. Soon his health fuiled, and he
was compelled to give up bis business en-
tireIy. He then sold the shop, and what
else we could spare, and with the ayails
paid every debt 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 then
call our own 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 hoped for
a better world The same disease pros
trated my husband, and when the physicians
told me he must die, | felt that my cup Of
sorrow was full. But no. I was mistaken
There was yet another drop TO be mingled
in that cup of bitterness. While my hus-
band yet fingered between life and death
my daughter, the only 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 bore this second be-
reavement? | believe had not leisure to
think of it All my time all my attention,
was given to my husband, who was slowly
but surely going down to the grave I had
even forgotten the hard-hearted creditor
But he did not forget InexorabIc as dcatI,
itself he came AZ the time appointed and de-
manlal the money I thiak he must have
been Intoxicated, tor am sure 40 man in
his sober senses could have been 50 cruel
ltold him my husband was dying, but he re-
piled sorry to hear it. lie wont earn
any more money, and, as you can't pay mp.
III just take the house You can live some
where else, as You'll have no one to lool, af-
ter. interrupted his cruel remarks, and,
thinking to move his feelings, l led him to
the room where lay the cold form OF my
child
Vain hope Tmight as we'll have tried to
move an iceberg. After much entrcaty I
obtained permission to remain in the house
while my loved one lived, on condition that
| gave up the furniture. This promised,
that | might no more be troubled with his
loathsome presence.
The man left me, and I sank into chair
utterly overcome at the prospect of desoa-
ton before me At that moment | heard a
rap at the door, could not rise to obey
the summons, l felt that my heart was
breaking. But the door slowly opened, and
Mr.. Webster stood before me- He had
come home on visit and, without knowing
anything Of our sorrows he rode over to see
and embrace his early friend What was
his surprise to find him thus? And when
the story of our troubles had been told, when
he had assured himself that his long-cher-
lshed friend had but a few more hours to
live, he sat down and wept
Then he asked to see the corpse of his lit
tie pet, who, when he last visited us, sat up
on his knee and played with his watch. As
he rose TO leave the bed, my husband said
in whisper: Fetch her to me, that l too
may look upon that sweet face once more
We placed the still beautiful form beside
the bed, and standing near it, gave ourselves
up to uncomfortable grief When able to
command his voice, Mr. W. said: Let US
pray. And kneeIing there, beside the dy-
ing and the dead, be prayed as none but
Christian can pray. Sure | am that pray
er 50 earnest, 50 full of ffaith and hope in the
Redoemer, was never poured forth from the
lips of an infidel
Gladly would he have stopped with US
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