Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1882-12-30
MARsHFIELD.
Tho webster Homsstead as DcserIb.
ed by tho Immortal Daniel
HImself.

The following letter from Mr.. Web
ster describes the homestead as 1t
was at the time of his first residence
there:
"MARsHFIELD, May &c. 1s42-Desr
Mrs. Curtis You are one OF the sn-
fortunate persons who have never
seen Marehfeld. IL would be cruel TO
speak of its beauties, if your fate. i"
this respect, were irreversihle, hut AS
you In.v, and l trust do, cherish the
day of bcholdIng il, must prepare
you for something like all ecstasy.
And yet asiugle sight would hardly
produce that effect. Superficial Oh.
servers see nothing at Marshfield but
rock 9 and SANDS and desolation. as one
uniritiated runs his eye over the pic
lures of AN old master aud wonders
what folks can see that is pleasant in
such grim and melancholy looking
thing. Marshfild is to be studied.
Do not come, therefore, without
weeks before you. Some may tell you
that is excellence is, like transceden-
| tsliscn, so refined aud Invisible al to
hang on the very verge of nonsense
or nonentiiy. But these are malg-
uant persons, aud not TO be believed.
And now from generalities TO facts.
| An old-fsshioned two-stOry house.
with = piazz. (stoo,?) all around it.
stands On gentle rising, facing due
south, and distant fifty rods from
the road, which runs in front. Be-
yond tho road 10 Il ridge OF hiily lana,
not veryhigh, covered with oak wood,
running in The sane direction as the
road, and leaving . little depression
or break exactly opposite the hoaae.
J through which the southern breezes
fan us of any afternoon. l feel them
now coming, not over beds OF vioiets,
out over Plymouth Bay, fresh 1t not
fragrant. A carriage way leads from
the house, not bold and impudent.
right up straight to the front door.
ike the march Of column of SOL
!. diers, but winding over the lower
parts of lhs ground, sheltering itself
,, among trees and hodges aud getting
possession 1t last, more by grace
than force, as olhsr chietemsnts are
best made. Two other houses are IN
! sight, one a farmhouse cottage, built
\ | at the end Of the avenue, 90 covered
: up III au orchard a. 10, he hardly vtsi-
U Bile; the other little further of In
the same direction-that is. to the left
OF the road, very neat anu pretty,
with beautiful field Of grass by its
side.-sil. ,,srasf p. a.
"Opposite the east window OF the
!. east trout room stands noble, spread
y ing elm, the admiration Of oil behold
= ers. b. Beyond that 10 the garden
~ sloping to the east, and running dowl
till the tide washes its lower walls
:. Back of the house are such .vuigal
= things - barns, aud on the othe,
:, side, thst is, on the north aud north
- west, 10 . fresh water pond OF SOM
~ extent with green grass, q grOwtni
- down on its margin, and good wall
~ all around it ON Que side. the wall
a passing througha thick belt Of trees
= planted by the same hands that nov
sS indites this sloqusut description. Thu
ar pond 10 separated on the east BY
=, cause way from the marshes aud II
,c salt water, and over this causeway
';r the common passage TO the norther
ia parts of the, farm. cay nothing G
y. orchards, aud copses. and clumps in
= terspersed over the lawn, becaus
"a euch things may be seen III vulga
n, places.
), "But now comes the climax. Frol
% the doors, from the windows, ant
to still better, from twenty little elev
= tions, all Of bicb arc close by. yo
/ see Lu6 OCc1u, MltO oup ACPOsho6
=, calm or tossed in storm. as the cal
l." may be. Here you now have harsl
ield and let US recspitulale. Firs
'pi the ocean as to that. when IL is me
y. TONED enough 10 said. Second. 3 d.
rk aud pure air; not . bog. nor . ditto
ed nor an Internal gutter in five milo
OF not ~ particle of exhalati0n but iro
N. the ocesn and q running New Euglai
stream. Third, a walk of q mile, 9
OF ways fit for ladies' feet, when not T.
'as wet, through the orchard and the be
TX Fourth, five miles OF excellent beo'
ry driving OH the sesshore, cOmmenci'
mile and half from the house. Fit
region of pine forests three miIt
ne. back, dark and piny in appearan'
pie aud In smell - you ever Witnessed
Ly. the remotest interior.
is Yours truly,
ur| DANIEL WEBSTER" )"