Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22
WEBsTERIAN REMISIsCENCES
Life Pictures and Character
Anecdotes.

We5ster.l
Mr.. wEBsTER's FRIEND. CAPTAIN THOMAS
The intimacy and friendship between Cart.
captain, though much Mr. webster's senior,
soon learned TO look up to kim with respect
and admlratien; he made Mr.. Webster his
hagnus Apollo. and at the same time enter
tanned Tor ham sort OF paternal affection. He
deferred To him in all matters. excepting i'm
some practical rules Of farming, the nicer
points OF Sporting. and the habits of birds, wild
fowl and fiSh-in all which matters the cap
tain was Mr.. Webster's instructor. Their asso-
citation, always pleasant, grew into mutual
affection, and Captain Thomas, who, at Mr..
Webster's suggestion subscribed for the semi
weekly Columbian Sentinel watched with the
most intense interest Mr.. Webster's course i'm
the Senate as reported in that journal In
ls2e-3p the good captain read Haynes first
speech He waited in confidence for trium-
plant reply. 1t came, and he was entirely
satisfied. The faithful Sentinel, however, soon
brought him Haynes second speech He read
it with esteem and painful interest. 1t excited
IN him me grayest apprehensiOns for the Idol
of his old age. He was overwhelmed with
gTlef. His hero, his great man. his beloved.
almost worshipped friend, was Overthrown i'm
debate by his southern antagonist. The kind
Old gentlemans pride was humbled he was i'm
despair-his heart almost broken. Casting
away the paper he rose and retired slowly to
his rOOm directing some one to come and take
his boots away, as he should never want them
again; His family tried In vain 20 console him.
He refused To be cOmfOrted. Like one of Old
he was ready TO exelaim: /" We have taken away
my gods, and what have more?''
For three days he kept his bed, mourning
over the fall Of his friend. and refusing all con-
ISOLATION. His eldest son tried to persuade him
that Mr.. Webster was able tOdefend the cause
OF New England, and would yet have his tri-
umph. His only reply was, at can't be an
swered, Henry. il can't be answered"
The fatal semi-weekly Sentinel came again
In due course IL was evening. Henry entered
his fathers room with the paper and candle.
The old man groaned, and asked what he
wanted. Henry Replied
Father, have brought you the Sentinel: /
thought you might like to lock at it,"
No, Henry don't want to see it,"
1t contains second speech of Mr.. Web
ster, I'm reply to Col Hayne.'
"Oh, HENRY said the old gentleman. lit is
Of no use. it can't be answered.; / don't want
to see it,"
Henry fingered and seemed greatly distressed
at his fathers refusal. At last Capt. Thomas
consented to have the paper and candle left.
and said that perhaps he would look at it.
Henry went down stairs and reported the ap-
parently unsuccessful result of his mission:
and the family drew closely around their win
ter fire more glOOmily than before.
Some time had thus elapsed. when they We're
al suddenly startled by tremendous shout
from their fathers room. They all rushed up
stairs together To see what had happened. The
captain was sitting on the side of his bed. with
the paper in one hand and the candle i'm the
other. As Henry entered, the captain roared
out
Bring me my boots, Henry! Bring me my
Capt. Thomas recovery was so complete that
he never again suffered a relapse Of that men,
tai complaint.
DANIEL PRAYs AND Is PRAYED FOR.
John Colby was harum-scaTum, goddess
fellow, who married Webster'S eldest half sis
ter. Learning of his conversion Webster who
had not seen the man (much his senior, by the
euriOsity's sake To witness the change that
conversion had wrought in him.
Is IL possible" said Mr.. Colby, when the
embarrassment of the first shock of recogni-
Vnll h1 n IN h.ar..
see me? Is this Daniel? Why cannot be
lieve my senses. Why, Daniel l read about
you, and hear about you in all ways. Your
name seems to be constantly in the newspa-
perS. They say that you are great man, and
you can't tell how delighted am when | hear
such things. But, Daniel, the time is short
one important question. You may be great
man; are you good man? Are you a Chris
tian mani Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?
That is the only question that is worth asking
or answering. You know. Daniel. what I
have been. have been one of the wickedest
of men. But the Spirit of Christ and Almighty
God has come down and plucked me as a
brand from the everlasting burning. If you do
not love the Lord Jesus Christ i'm sincerity and
truth. all your roridly honors will sink to
you love Christi You have not answered me
All this was said in the most earnest and
even vehement manner.
John Colby" replied Mr.. Webster, ''you
have asked me very important question, and
one which should not be answered lightly. |
intend TO give You an answer, and one that is
truthful; or won't give you any. i hope that
But while say that wish to addrand ' say il
with shame and confusion of face-that am
not such Christian as wish l were. have
and its temptations; and i am afraid. John
Colby. that am not so good Christian as
ought to be. i am afraid have not your faith
and your hopes: but still, hope and trust thai
which has converted you and made you an heir
OF salvation will do the same for me. / trust
II and also trust, John COlby--and it won't
DE long before our summons will cOme-that
we shall meet i'm better world and meet
hose who have gone before us, whom we
knew, and who trusted in that same divine
John Colby, how much delight 1t gave me to
you used to be.'
"Oh. Daniel!' exclaimed Colby, s1eu don't
remember how wicked was how ungTateful
! was; never thought of God, never cared
for God; was worse than the heather, until
was arrested by the grace of Christ and made
You might be powerful Christian, and trust
you are. Daniel:n he added with deep earnest
ness Ws q tn voice Down VII yy you pray with me'
as he had pronounced the Amen" Mr.. Colby
followed in most pathethic, stirring appeal
TO God. He prayed for the family, for me and
to feel aserene happiness In having thus Joined
his spirit with that of Mr. Webster in prayer.
The brOthers-in-law soon took an affection
ate leave of each other, and We left. Mr.. Web
ster could hardly restrain his tears. When we
got into the wagon he began to mOraliZe.
Il should like" said he, ito know what the
enemies of religion would say to John COlby's
There was man as unlikely,
humanity speaking, to become n Christian as
any man ever saw. He was reckless, heed
less. implOus. Whatever people may say, add
ed Mr.. Webster, nothing can convince me that
short of the grace of Almighty God
could make such change as i with my own
eyes have witnessed in the life of John Colby
THE sTATESMAN'S GREATEST SPEECH.
Speaking Of his speech one day, said:
Mr.. Webster, your speech in answer to
Hayne has been read / think, by more Intelli-
gent persons than any other speech in the
English language
.'Oh, no, replied he, II think you must be
mistaken about that. You must remember
that the speeches of English orators and states
men were not reported as ours are neither
were the English to great extent reading
people. Everything that is worth 70 aiding and
Is eloquent our people read
Alter pause, he went on
well, j don't know: You may be right i'm
that. But that was not my best speech"
l said that II 1t was not the greatest speech
it had the greatest fame.
We'll, said he, =" / suppose Ii has. Never
theless, 1t was not, in my judgment, the best
\. do, b,,t