Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-22
The Home of Webster In 1863.

IL Is now eleven years since the statesman OF
Marshhed saw the last of earth, having just
previously uttered the words, which may be re-
earded as prophetic, I" sill live" During
these Years many changes have occurred. Tie
civil war, the shadow Of which he 50 clearly
saw and 20 distinctly depicted, has rent the
comparatively happy land, whose defender he
was until the last. The Union that he defended
wih power almost more tuan human, h
only remaining child, Colonel Fletcher Webster,
laid down his life Tor while leading on his brave
troops The venerable men that carried out his
BODY 20 It's burial have ALL or nearly all, like
him, passed that " bourne from which no tray-
eef returns" The many friends ir IN all por
;ious Of the country that visi ed him each sun
mer, are seen along those walks no more, Tor the
lord OF the manor is no longer here TO delight
them with hls presence, as s;rI 10y as that OF a
cathedral, Cud to chaIm them with his converse,
his every word weighing pound.
Aud We. ther Is mucn here to remind sou Of
/ Webster to-day there is on many things the
real Washington impress. That magnificent
/ lawn, 50 SPACIOUS, was all bis own work That
hedge on either side Of the long driveway to hIs
house from the Highway, Looks much as it did
/ in bls lifetime The IN lnson itself is III good
condition, externally and internally, aud is l-
most entirely as he lett IL Tor his grave. His
| largest barn was accidentally burned few years
| AGO. but another of about equal dimensiOns
/ has taken is place. Tne two cottages, for his
gardener and for his farmer, stand as in his life
time. His low office beside the garden is much
as he lett IT, The library is tull Of th' ame
books, .ed IN the same manner as when he
] A nd thara
same, or about five thousand, consisting chiefly
OF historical, biographical, legal, congressional
political, religious, and reference books such a'
cyclopedias, dictionaries, hour books, ETC., OF
which last class the library is uncommony full
The portion of the farm around the mansion
is still fruitful, and much through hs constant
care to dress It with kelp, fish, aud other fert
lizers, while the more distant portions OF the
farm, though sold to his neighbors, still befI
the marks OF his improvements Cut Rlvel
,ws into the sea near bis home, as when lii
fishing boats were there, waiting for the coming
Of him who loved to visit them very early in tn,
morning, for bis lavorite recreation The "darE
blue SEA beyond looks as it did when the far
mer OF Marshteld enjoyed so much its presence
aud sailed gaily over is waters.
The home ol Webster was constantly improv
ed by him for twenty years, At an expense 0
100000, and his neghbor farmers deriyeC
much benefit from his example and experiment
AZ a farmer. The house, itself, has most Of th,
modern improvements, and can hardly be excele
for roal comfort. Fronting upon the prlncIpa
lawn are the sitting, music, drawing rooms AM
library. In the rear of them are the dinin,
aud breakfast rooms, and kitchen and oihe
rooms. The second story is furnished witt
numerous chambers, several of which are par
ticuarly attractive From the chamber whicl
he called his own and in which he died, 20,
look out upon the circular pond, similar TO tha
ON Boston Common, where his tanned wild e $
and White Mountain geese were usually seen
aud where their offspring may be seen to-day
As much as anything their wild and pecula
sounds carry me back TO the days when Marsh
field was all IN its glory.