The Worthington advance., 1878-10-10
GRACE FLETCHER WEBsTEt,
Born January 16, 17S1,
Died January 81, 1925,
Blessed are the pure in heart for they
shall see God

Mr.. Fletcher Webster was 40 years old
when he was killed at the battle of Bull
Run, and upon the stone which was eject
ed by the officers of his regiment, the
Twelfth Massachusetts, are the following
touching words taken from a speech
his father:
''And il am too old myself, 1 hope
here are those connected with he who
are young and willing to defend their
country to the last drop of their own
blocd Webster.
The words upon his own gravcstone
set at rest the charge Of skepticism which
had been made against him, and though
somewhat lengthy, and the wind upon
the high, nlarshy ground blowing gale,
copied them, Miss Ward reading them
aloud for my benefit while Miss Phillips
kindly itAprovised writing dssk. The
following is the inscriptions:
'Ph,!osophical argument, especially
that drawn from the vast economy OF the
universe, III common with the apparent
injustice of this globe, has sometime
shaken my reason for the faith which is
in me; but my heart has ALWAYS assured
AAIet S.' AO lIlAl LIZ ooll VI OVSuS
Christ must be a divine reality The
Sermon On the Mount cannot be merely
human production. This belief enter
into the depaths ofmy consciousness, ans
the whole history Of man proves it.
Daniel Webster
The present occupants of the home of
Daniel Wooster and resident members of
his family consist of Mrs. Fletcher Web
ster, the widow of bis son, and her son
and daughter = Ashburton and Mrs. Car
ric Webster Day. Many offers of a
tried'y asylum were made when the
great misfortune of the loss of their
home occurred, but Mrs. Webster wisely
went to work to reconstruct as much as
possible their scattered household goods
and provide temporary shelter which
they could call their own. She took the
old Ninslow House, formerly owned and
occupied by Gov. Winslow and by his
son, General Winslow, though it had long
been untenanted--was said to be haunted,
and altogether so dilapidated as to be
considered unhabitable. The plaster had
all fallen from the ceilings, leaving the
rafters exposed, the floors were eaten
away, and the once famous scene of
many a gay festivity given over to the
dark, destructive hand of time
and the ravages OF the whole
vampire tribe. Out of this prom
ising material Mrs. Fletcher Web
ster, her son and daughter have, with
wonderful taste, industry and ingenuity,
created paradise, after Morris's own heart
A rustic piazza has been added to the
plain, unsis htly exterior, which is covered
with trailing vines. The lower rooms are
filled with what are most precious relics
OF their former home and past history.
There are some valuable old portraits, the
full-length picture of Danial Webster, by
Ames; a fine Wouverman's showing his
peculiar effects Of light and shadow; some
rare old china and costly articles of fur
niture, and, what is treasured most, the ia
vorite library chair of Mr.. Webster. a
great, deep, capacious armchair, covered
with morocco, and with attachment in
front for reading or writing. For the
two most valuable pictures in the posses
sion OF the family the house is too small
and they are, therefore. left in other Gus
tody. These are the celebrated portraits
Of Lord Ashburton and Danial Webster
by Healey. These pictures were painted
tor and given to each other, the artist
painting MIR. Webster's second time for
his family. They are admirable likenes.
ses, and, apart from their historic inter-
ests, are among the finest productions of
the artist. The family are now, however,
not able to keep them, and Mrs. Fletcher
Webster would gladly sell them, so that
they could form part Of gallery, and be
properly kept and cared for, while the
money would be applied in paying off
the remnant of mortgage which the
small insurance on the house did lot
cover, and which prevents the trustees
from rebuilding.
Mrs. Fletcher Webster shows the re-
mains Of great personal beauty, and has
bright, accomplished and charming
daughter, who has already shared the
misfortune of her mother, for she is a
widow, though still very young. The son,
Ashburton, is also handsome, and very in.
telligent and gentlemanly, but he is un-
fortunately deprived of a career in this
country, not only by his illustrious name,
but by the necessity which chains him to
the side of his mother and sister.