The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-01-25

sudden and irredeemable death would
prevent him from taking his seat aud
paying his tribute to the great Webster,
they endesvored TO sober him up be-
fore sundown. IN this they partially
succeeded. Edward Everett preceded
him in polished Grafton. As I'VE
rose, the committee were in an agony Of
suspense, but, once on his feet, the
cobwebs were cleared from his brain
and he delivered a magnificent euiogy
of the guest of the evening. Drawirg
from his pocket q silver half dollar he
said:
Il trust shall be pardoued for re-
ferring to an incident Of which, l am
sure, our distinguished guest has 10
recollection, but which I shall remem-
Der to my dying day. This com he
gave me for some tritiing service when
was a small boy. / recall the cir
cumstances as If 1t were yesterday. 1t
was an era in my life. My heart
swe!!ed with pride and joy that L had
a personal memeDto of the greatest
man Of his time. have kept the coin
ever since, and treasured it most sa-
credly. l resolved never to part with
it, and l nave kept my resolve.
have been hungry and cold more than
once since that day. THIS little coin
would have given me food and shelter.
but l would not spend it. When l
felt it in my pocket; when pressed
it with my fingers; when remembered
the eminent man who had given it to
me-; when l thought of his shining
face, his deep, lustTous eyes, | was no
longer hungry and cold; The force and
magnetism 81 the mighty Webster were
communicated through his little gift.
aad poor and insignificant as was, l
ceased TO feel my vulgar needs. His
memory came back to me like glo-
rious presence, aud in its light l stood
exalted, Idealiz-d, trGnsmuted to my
self. Such is the effect of 4 great and
overmastcriDg genius"
II Webster endeavoTed to recall the
!me when, the place where, and the
circumstances under which he gave
the guerdon TO the lad who had gown
into his eloquent pauegYr'st, his men
| tai labor was in vain; but the ban
| queters, regarding TIE incident as en-
| trely truthful, were Weakened to en-
thusiasm which 10 speaker of the
evening could create. Tine story was
nothing but flight OF fancy sud
| den Inspiration fIum the father of lies.
| Nye was SO amused at the furOre IL
created that his love of the ludicrous
| Overcame lis Judgment, .and he after
ward blurted ont the truth, much 10
the dismay Of the gullible men who
were rcaey to believe any eXtravagant
story Of the power of Webster over his
fellow men.
Nye went to Secretary Stanton once
to make a petition for some dead sol
dier's orphans. 1t was in the darkest
days Of the war. Stanton said, ~
have not time, Mr.. Nye, to see to what
you want" Suppose you take time,
Mr.. Secretary" said Nye. ''You are
unreasonable, Mr.. Nye, in pressing
such a thing at this time" said Stan
ton. Permit me to say that you are
the unreasonable man, answered Nye.
''If you were not United States Sena
tor l should say you were very i'm
pertinent" said Stanton, haughtily. III
you were not great Secretary of War
| should be tempted to say you are
making damned fool of yourself, )
replied the old Gray Eagle, with hi'
eyes blazing. Stanton looked at him {
momen', and then -softening, said
''Aaybe, l am, Jim-who knows
core inside and tell me all about it. ,
"Now, Ned, my boy, you are growing
sensible" said Nye, and the bushes:
| was OuicklV arranged