Smyrna times., 1878-01-09
SMYRNA, DEL, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON JANUARY g. 1878

| uty, Win udruly sign OF llIe notlceaOle,
Mr.. Webster accosted a lad in the street,
and asked where John Colby lived.
"That is John Colby's house," said he
! pointing to a very comfortable two-story
house. with green lawn running down to
the road. We drove along towards it, and
little before we reached it, making our
horse secure, we left the wagon and pro.
ceeded to the house on foot. Instead of
steps leading to it, there were little flag
stones laid in front of the door and you
could pass right into the house without
having to step up. The door was open.
There was no occasion to knock, because,
as we approached the door, the inmates of
the room could see us. Sitting in the mid
die of that room was a striking figure, who
the door, in very comfortably furnished
farm house room, with a little table, or
what would perhaps he called a light.stand,
before him. Upon it was large. old.
fashioned Scott's Family Bible, in a very
large print and of course a very heavy
volume. 1t lay open, and he had evidently
been reading it attentvely. As we entered,
he took off his spectacles and laid them
upon the page of the book, and looked up
at us as we approached, Mr.. Webster in
| front: He was man, | should think,
over six feet in hight, and he retained in a
wonderful degree his erect and manly form.
although he was eighty-fvc or SIX years
old. His frame was that of once power.
iul, athletic man. His head was covered
with very heavy, thick, bushy hair, and it
was white as wool, which added very much
to the picturesqueness of his appearance.
As | looked in at the door, thought |
never saw more striking figure He
Strengthened himself up, but said nothing
until Just as we appeared at the door, when
he greeted us with,-
Walk in, gentlemen
He then spoke to his grandchild to give
US some chairs. The meeting was, saw. a
little awkward, and he looked very sharply
at Us, as much as to say, You are here.
but for what l don't know: make known
your business" Mr. Wcbstor's first saluta.
ton was,-
This is Mr.. Colby, Mr.. John Colby, is it
not?"
"That is my name, sir" wos the reply.
" | suppose you don't know me-" said
Mr.. Webster.
"No, sir, don't know you; and should
like to know how you know me-"
Il have seen you before, Mr.. Colby" re-.
piled Mr.. Webster.
Seen me before p said he; "pray. when
and where?"
Have you no recollection of fme?" asked
Mr. Webster.
No, sir, not the slightest = and he
looked by Mr.. Webster toward me. as if
trying to remember if he had seen me-
| Mr. Webster remarked
i think you never saw this gentleman
before; but you have seen me-"
Colby put the question again, when and
where?
" You married my oldest sister," replied
Mr.. Webster, calling her by name. Il
think it was Susannah.)
" / married your oldest sister y exclaimed
Colby; "who are you?"
" | am little Dan," was the reply.
1t certainly would DO impossible to de
scribe the expression of wonder, astonish-
ment, and halfincredulity that came over
Colby's face.
" You Daniel Webster!'' said he; and he
started to rise from his chair. As he did
so, he Hammered out some words of sur
prise. " Is it possible that this is the little
black lad that used to ride the horse to
water? Well, cannot realize itl'
Mr.. Webster approached him. They
embraced each other; and both wept.
as it possible" said Mr.. Colby, when
the embarrassment of the first shock of re.
cognition was past, "that you have come up
here to see me? Is this Daniel? WHY
Why said he, 81 cannot believe my senses.
Now, sit down. l am glad, oh. I am so
glad to see you, Daniel never expected
to see you again. I don't know what to
say. am SO glad" he went on, "that nv
lie has been spared that l might see YOU.
why, Daniel, l read about you, and hear
about you in all ways; sometimes some
members of the family come and tell us
about you; and the newspapers tell us
great deal about you, too. Your name
seems to be constantly in the newspapers.
They say that you are n great man. that
you are famous man; and you can't tell
how delighted | am swhen l hear such
things. But, Daniel, the time is short.
you won't stay here long,-I want to ask
you one important question. You NAV be
great man; are you a good man? Are Won
Christian man? Do you love the Lord
Jesus Christ? That is the only question
that is worth asking or answering. Are.
you Christian? You know, Daniel. what
l have been have been one of the
wiekedest of men. Your poor sister. who
is now in heaven, knows that. But the
spirit Of Christ and of Almighty God has
come down and plucked me as brand
from the everlasting burning. I an, bora