The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-11-07
wnHsrEa avn BEsroS.

lAffefs ~ AtA 8ssfi AtAiH@N tsstH ~ afe1fN
Webster. gives the following Interesting
sketch
One day Gi,er diaucr, as Mr.. WebsteI
Was seated IN bis library, the servant 30
uonnosd Mr. Wllsou oi 81 Louis, ans
Jobn Wilson came into the library. Mr.
Webster 81 ouce rose and greeted him,
Narraung The visit TO the, be said
Mr. Wilson was gentleman whom
bad known more or less Tor quarter Of !
century lawyer Of somewhat exiea'
slye practice, With good deal Of tslcnt
. man Of very violea, prejadices and
lewper, SbO had spent most Of his pubit
lif4. sitter be had rehebed manhood, IL
violent opposi,ioa 70 Col Benton. Il
was not 50 much hostility TO Col Ben
tons denocrsey a Il was personal ieud
as bitter and malignant 81 any That ever
existed between two men. IL wss nolo-
rious IN ST. Louis that when Col. Benton
went ou the stump. john Wilson would
always 10 there % meet him aud abuse
/ bin III the most yirulent terms, aud then
Mr.. Benton would return the Ore. bad
not seen Mr. Wilson for good many
years, and only met bin occasionally ID
court. lie came to me now broken
man, premAturely old, with wrecked
fortune, aud after some conversation, he
asid
| lsm going TO emigrate to California In
my old age, Mr.. Webster; | am poor
have family; aud although il mstiers
but triile 10 me, Tor the brief time that
remains 10 me, II sm poor, yel there are
those who are dear TO me, whose condi'
tion ! might improve by going to new
country to mend my fortune. My object
in calling on you is TO trouble you for a
letter 10 some one in California, merely
TO say that you know me to be a respect
able person, worthy OF confidence.
Alter expressing my regret that he
should feel obliged 10 emigrate TO such a
distance for then il looked like for
midabe undertaking TO go to California
~ asked him II he was fully determined.
Yes, said he, have made up my mind
Then set about thinking what could
do for him. saw no way 10 give him
aid | had no particular influence with
the Government at that time, and finally
! said:
am sorry TO say, Mr.. Wilson, that so
far AS | am aware, there is not a human
being IN California that | know II |
were TO undertake to give you a letter to
any one in California, | should not know
to whom to address it.
That makes no difference, said be ;
every body knows you, aud certifi late
that you know me will be the most valu-
able aid ! could have.
| will write one with great pleasure ;
although you probably oyerrate the in
fluence OF my name in Caiornia, ! want
TO give you something that will be of
benefit to you. Let me see, MIR. Wilson i.
Col. Benton almost owns California, and
be could give you letter to Fremont, and
others, that would be Of first rate service
to you.
lie gszed at me half surprised aud bali
inquiringly, as much as to say; Can it be
possible that you are ignorant of the rela-
tions between Col Benton and myself?
! understand what you mean; | am
perfectly well aware of the past difficult
ties between you and Mr.. Benton, and
the bitter personal hostility that has ex.
listed. But | want TO say to you that q
great change has come over Col. Benton
since you knew him. His feelings and
views urc softened we are much older
our fiery blood is cold aud changed. II
/ is hardly worth while for men, while
! they are nearing the maximum Of human
| life, to indulge in these feelings Of enmi.
| ty and III will. i is thing that We
ought to rid ourselves Of Col Benton
and have been engaged in a war OF
words, as You aud he have, and up to
/ two years since, we went out OF the same
+ door for years without as much as saving
good morning 20 each other. Now, | DC
I not know msn iu the Seuste 20 whom
would 90 with more surety o. having a
! favor granted than to Col Benton. Tie
! feels that age is coming upon him, and be
/ is reconeiled TO many Of his warmest OPP
ponents..
+ Il Thy servant .. dog, replied Wilson,
+ that he should do this thing? | would mol
have letter from him | would uot be
beholden TO him for iavor--not to save
/ the life Of every member of my family
No, sirl The idea Of II makes me shud.
der; | feel indignant at the mention OF IT,
take letter from Mr.. Bentonl II
Stop, stopl said / /; that is the old man
speaking in you; that is not the spirit 10
which TO indnlgc. know how yoa feel
+ And while he was rsving and declaring
by all the saints In the calendar, bis pur'
pose to accept no favor from Col. Benton
| | turned round TO my desk aud addressed
a note 10 Benton, some thing like this:
Dear Sir, am aware Of the disputes
personal aud political, which have taken
place between yourself aud the bearer oI
tbis note. Mr.. John Wilson. But the
gentleman il nov old, aud Is going tC
/ California. and needs 8 recommendation
know nobody in California TO whom
could sddress 4 letter that would be o.
any service to him You know every
body, and letter from you would DC
him a great deal Of service. ! hsye SIS
.ured Nr. Wilson tbst Il will give you
more pleasure 10 forgive aud forget whai
+ has passed between you an bin, aud "a
give him letter that will do him good
ihAn Ii sill him 10 receive IL. | sm 20
ing TO persuade him 10 eafry ibis note
aud ! know yen viii be sIad % see bin