The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-02-25
DANIEL WEBSTER.
Ills Life at Marshf1eld-A Good A.
ternoon's Work in the Hay Field
His Tribute to a. Farm
er's Life.

One fine morning during the middle
Uf August, 49,, we took the Marshtie!i
stage for COllasset. en- rOr!r for Boston,
as it passed our door in Scituatc. The
only passenger within was a stout gell-
tlenan, in whose face intelligence, good
hulnOr and bencvOlcnce were strongly
inslexci. The driver introduced him as
John Taylor, who resided on the Web
ster farm ut Franklin, y. II. He in-
formed me that he WAS returning from
Il flying visit Of day or two at the
Marsilficld farm. and that llr. Webster
had been sarrying 1T his house Tor some
time, and was about leaving on an ex-
cursion to the White Mountains, with
the hope that the disease called the
'harvest cOld,' which has annually At
tackled him, might prove powerlcss in
all atmosphere Of that altitude. With
out trans! crossing the true rLle Of con-
duct in questioning Il stranger about his
guest and friend, awaited myselfOf the
opportunity to gather some Information
Of the ''great Secretary There had
lken runiors in the newspapers that lis
health ant! physical powers were on the
decline. To i question on that point
Mr.. Taylor replied:
His health and bodily strength are
good for u man Of his age. | will give
you sample: Last Friday week we
had fourteen tons Of English hay we'll
made and ready to put in:thc harm in the
afternoon. 1t was a busy day on the
farm, and all who could handle rake
or pitchfDrk were pressed into the ser
vice. When we came in to lunch in the
forenoon. Mr.. Webster entered the
kitchen, and, in 4 playful manner AMI
tone Of voice, said:
"'John Taylor, what wages will you
give me- to work for you this a!tcrnNnn:"
81 will give you half Il dollar, SIR
"'Why, John Taylor. l cannot afford
tO work for tnat price, and you under
rate my abilities. | can pitch as much
hay as any other man.
alt is OH the superstition, sir, that
you are a good hand that ! offer you
those wages we get our best men for
one dollar "A day. replied.
"Iftjsat l.; the case, John Taylor. lam
your man. will finish my c"rrcar"n-
tlcncc with the department, cat al ear
~ dinner. and hc ready to take the field
with YOU" As incoming on that day
was short, and hv tho time the teams
were ready Mr.. Webster made his APP
l.arancv, We ,lrovsint" tie field: the hay
l.,i! in w;mmws. Mr.. w. and myself
pitched on to the same cart. II" took Il
winrOw on on" side and the other. \
ton Was "ut Oh the cart, when !!c took
the whip and drove X ur to The barn,
leaving me in the meantime at work in
Tie field. When uElOidctl, he returned
with the emp: V cart. upon Which We
pitched = ION. making: in all three tons
;ctw.tn H. that :: .tcrn,"'n. AMI one ton
and nnc-half AS his Fart Of the work. Ii
Wa. il hot afternoon. and ! deserved
what ! las! Ee.nrr seen when Ne used
cxvrt;ull, he sweat more pro-
ii,>ely than most mon il literally pour
cd oil IT aim like rain.
"Whtn ! met him the next morning.
said lie: john Taylor. ! haze sept
sn,lr,cr ami feel ia ;'cttcr health than
usual: nos / wis: could only :iv" a.
yu: do: u :;,v:n"i.. lie is tli"'s,'<t r,ti"n-
III ;M.it -: .Ni>:,ucc; good IG:'!. h"n;-
vu,i-.t VITA i,'.i;l:ll work tor the day
and >'!ni sleep ioI the night. II gives
), nn. 4 clear head. y E:--.' heart ami
-irn:;r ii:"!.'
la ;-;,i: t. nay r:"irv about t!ir we'll .
known .;,l.'.'n+ "cf h.ln.i;.. the :sr:tl'r.
Mr.. Tay,nr lr:".,tcsi ii /" nc l.: ~"
words ri Air. Webster. a. the latter i:;'l
frequently tNiN nm tHe Story ~ tilcE $;'l
IU.,, her under Inc shade, III ia: tree a., !
:h;"', tn: Srv!Iic was HING. lnc tree.
',y the WY. is an oak. which may yet !
stand f.: Centuries ~ a'is'rn Il lan:i>":.,"
Inc SCENES -. which We're :;, .;>ar 10 the ,
heart q: the cr,at statesman. VIII" Was
to ,!:'"w OFT the rar,- OF stat.
ur 4 season t. recruit his over Wurk.r!
lnu exhausted! vncr.it.S: and wien he
rt.,h.cL over the scenes ot his rhilui,E".
md viewed the ,ii>tan! blue 81; his native
whose inviS"rating bvcrz.s
waved over the ellan,cicd meadows ami
ru>t!ed through the forest, the RETROSPECT
i've poetry Of his :avorite Gray must
,ave struck Il sympathetic chord in his
yD"rMtH.