The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-06-26
VOLUME---NUMBER As.
.HE is A POOR BoY.n

Daniel Webster was the son of a poor woman
The first grandeur he knew was that of the hills
that lifted their granite brows in eternal worship
towards heaven the only splendor that of ma
jestic clouds and leaping torrents, the triumphal
entry of the sun through avenues of golden glory,
and his western march like that of monarch wrap
ping robes of crimson and carmiue about him
And yet for greatness intellectually speaking, the
the world hath scarcely his equal Who knows if
the babe Daniel Webster, had been rocked in rose
wood cradle and lulled to sleep with silver rattle
in his hand. reared in the midst of city street,
with no wild anthems of the forest-no thunder
leaping from crag to crag to bring out the strong
elements of the mind-no birds in the branches,
and no silver streams to awaken the more ethereal
and picturesque characteristics of his intellect and
group them into harmony; who knows but the
world had sighed greatness born to blush
unseen, to droop, to die in comparative solitude?
Sons of poor mothers? What a host of them
have scaled the summit of immortality! They
have left their impress in the lands of idols, and
many a dark k-browed heather has learned the way
of salvation through their almost superhuman ex-
ertons Everywhere throughout the world, how
they stand forth and challenge our homage! Not
with glossy kids and aultless coats, patent boots
and slender canes, do they go forth, the admired
whiskerandoes ofthoughtless girls, but with sturdy
step and clouted shoes-wth signs Of the much
used needle here and there showng-with patch
knees and elbows, and with many an evidence be-
sides, that they were the sons of poor mothers.
All honor to the sons of poor mothers! To
them the nation looks for statesmen and defenders.
For them there will always be vacancies in the
halls of science, seats in the temples Of the legis-
latures, and pulpits in churches. For them
the doors of the White House have sprung wide
open, and shall again, while the people gather in
crowds to do them reverence.
"He was the son ofa poor woman!' Let it nsv-
er be spoken with the sneer of selfsuficient shal.
owness for it is 10 the hearts Of poor women that
the noblest resolves have birth. They make sacri-
fees that would put to blush the Incidence and
negligence Of the purse proud. Over their hum
BILE homes shine the stars that heralded the event
of heaven torn intelligence 1t has ever been so
since the star Of Bethlehem blazcd above the spot
where Christ, the King of heaven, lay upon the
bosom of a poor woman. While they toll. with
tears, and struggle with adyersty, angels whisper
the destination Of the babes that sleep againsttheir
hearts At their lowly hearthstones the young
mind is mbued with the holy principles oft he
Bible. When the child comes sobbng home
grieved and indignant, because those better dress
ed have scorned him. the poor mother, her heart
filed with faith, points out his noble destiny
She it is who Inspires him with glowing hopes
teaches him that merit lies not in the patry adorn-
ments of the outward man; that in the years CON-
ing those who sneer at him now may feel honored
by his ca :eess glance; that it lays with himself
whether he shall be master spirit-in his con-
uuerng all grosser nclinations i'm his aspirations
after the exalted, the things that pertain to the
intellectual might of MANN his subjugatng of
every vicious incnaton--in his resolute will to
be an honor to his country-Spirt Of the Age.