The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-31
Eaniel Webster.

A correspondent OF the Boston journal
finishes the following "reminiscences OF
Webster:
Mr. Webster, as every body knows, was
fond Of field sports-shooting and fishing
passionately fond Of them in early life and
to the last. While in college, and during his
professional studies in the Office OF Mr..
Thompson at Salisbury, lie was thoroughly
familiar with all the glens and streams Oft
neighborhood and Erant Rock and the
slcre OF tie bay, opposite to Marshticld, and
ali the EaHnt> OF the duck, tie sni pc and the
woodcock, as well as the sea itself, continued
to tempt him as long as he lived. But lie
was at the same me, pleased with the SC
ciety of animals, and interested himself in
their habits and sports, and had in them a
source OF happiness beyond all the men that
have lnown. Though Il sportsman i'll the
vacations Of professional and public life, Cow
per himself or Thompson, Lad not l.vcl:er
or mere fr,tcIna sympathy with Tie in,io-
cent creatures who spend their brief day wild
| lis ;iron Garth.
No man among Is out the professional ia
turalot had so carefully studied the animal
VOL Or knew so well the localities ard
history Of our rarer birds and fishes. lie
loved t. converse tn the OK, AMI to make
! much CO every Wild thing that came near
him.
lie carried into lis sports ard lis study Of
animals the same infcxible purpose and &c
termination which he cvinced in tie great
pursuits of LIE, AMI which made lis public
lreer continual triumph. While practi-
toner of the law in New Hampshire he was
once going on horseback, a favoritc way Of
riding with him at that time to attend one
Of the courts at Iiaverl.lll in this county.
1t was morning in May, and he was attract
ed by strange note from a wood in Rum
neg he tied his horse to tie fence and went
in pursuit of the songster. After wandering
about the greater part OF TIE forenoon, lie al
last discovered it in its secret retreat il
was then new conner in these parts, though
since we'll known as the Fife bird or tie
Fiddler
In 1919 tie writer went with him to
Pinery Point, On the Potomac While
spending few days there in tic heat Ct
July, Mr.. Webster proposed to me to 60
fishing with him. W e rose by daylight, ard
roWed by four men up the river some eight
called "Thc Rock" to fish for Sleeps
was bent on catching Sleeps Head. We
lished and fished and fshed, under a boiling
sun, without breakfast or dinner, till three
O'Clock i'll the afternoon, and caught nothing.
first heard fisll's voice here-tbat Of the
Drum-booming up from tie depths of the
river. Here first had any fear of fish.
Immense schools Of porpoises were playing
about, and every now and then rushing
towards US, plunging under the water ana
appearing on the opposite side of the boat
MIR. Webster was in great spirits, and per
fectly at home in those strange waters We
reached our hotel in time for a late dinner,
and before it was dispatched lie proposed to
try our luck again rext day. | pleaded
some doubt whether should be able to re-
peat the sport so soon. However, I rose in
good season, to go with him, but lie had
already gone alone. We were all engaged to
dine that day six or eight miles off, and
about two O'Clock bis boat appeared nearing
the shore, Himself holding the helm, with a
huge Sleeps Head swinging from pole
over the heads of the rowers.
Mr.. Webster was fond of a practical Joke.
but only Of harmless one, and, generally.
a benevolent one. He had in Mortified.
across the river from his Franklin farm. a
small piece of sandy barren land, with a
poor house upon it, in which very desti
tute family had been living some time with
out paying any rent. Upon one OF his visits
to the place, the good woman expressed her
anxiety about being able to remain. She
expected to be turned ont, and didn't know
where to 60 lie heard her through, and
told fer, with great gravity, that he knew it
was bard case for her he wished to con-
slider her, and didn't mean to be unkind
but ne had great many to provide for. At
the same time putting his hand into his
pocket he took out five dollar bill and
handed it to- her, saying he was sorry he
couldn't do better by her, but if she thought
she could afford to stay on the place another
year for that he should be very glad, and
rode off. TT
West Lebanon, \. II.