Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-11-11
THCEaS =. BENTON.

Inc " 2snlnGton correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Commercial tells this story of
Thomas y. Benton
Shillington is an Irish boo seller here.
Of credit and renown. Benton was
neighbor and friend of his, and made Shil-
lingtoa cut out of books and newspapers
every conceivable article on the Pacific
railway and bring it to him. He also en-
ployed Shillington to select from the
Congressional Globes, which were brought
to his house in street by the CARLOAD,
the matter that be wished in publishing
his "Aoridgenent Of the Debates Of
Congress. y
1T was strange and remarkable study"
said Shillington, "to see that old man
lying there fat on his back, unable to rise,
his spectacles poised on the tip of his nose,
looking through the long debates, whose
huge folios he held on his breast He
knew that he had but week or two TO
live, and he was running race with
death to get the book finished for he be-
IleVed that 1t was the vital thing to keep
the country together He used 10 send
ne word four or fve times 8 day to cone.
up there, and the people said that | vas
his slave, If | did not come promptly or
time. the old gentleman seemed 70 fec
that was il some gay 3erelict in my
duty to the country. One day, when the
shop was full OF people, word came down,
Dir. Benton wants you to come at 2 O.
clock TO he p him on an important mat
ter As soon as [ could possibly leave
[ went round to his eiling and found
him asleep, breathing very hard, with
large volume of the Globe on his breast
| lifted the boos off and set il on table
little out of reach. Then, seeing that
he did not yet awaken, fastened back to
my work. In about two hours returned,
and the old man looked very severely at
me.
81 cent for you, sir, two hours ago.
| have but month at most to live, sir !:
and it is Important for the country that
this book shall be finished before [ die
You did not come, Sir"
YES, Mr. Benton, I did. And
found you asleep
81 have not slept for fifty hours, sir {!
1t was impossible that I coulu sleep, sir,
with so much on my mind
Benton never trusted man that told
him lie, SO l found it necessary to clear
myself
Mr.. Benton, said | you were asleep
with volume of the Glsbe on your breast
when | entered the room, and | found
you breathing hard, SO put the book GU
the table yonder.'
The old mans eyes lighted up.
"'Well now, sir he said, / know I
had that book on my breast or on the bed
somewhere, and [ wondered how it got oH
there so far. Perhaps did doze little
unconciously. But come, sir, we mus,
| get to work. [ have but little time to
do great deal of work in
DIR. Hall and his colleague, to proong
the life OF Benton, opened the old man :
abdomen and, taking out his bowels while
he was still conscious, proceeded to cleanse
them. At one place they found aome
! grape skins then they found bits Of wood
which he used t, chew abstractedly while
wiring or reading.
d" Look on, gentlemen said the old
man, feeb!y; [ dare say you will find
! Congressional Globes next
when Benton was about to die, 50 Vi
tai did he think his advice was to the
country, he sent for Buchanan, had the
door closed, and solemnly devo, ed bis last
| hours to i'm sressing upon the President
his opinion of the mode in which the
country should be administered. IF ever
there was man, concluded Shillington,
who thought tina in his mind aud reason
lay the true destiny Of the Union, it was
Tom. Benton His family, lis fame, his
future we're all subordinate 10 the love Of
country "