The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-01-20

Webster and His Brother.
A hundred years ago. on the 18th Of
January last, Daniel Webster first saw
the light of heaven on his fathers farm
among the hills of Salisbury, N, h. The
centennial of his birth has been cele-
brated ON the very day of his advent to
the world, in the East and in the West
| in the North and in the South; and now.
| Just thirty years since he was buried BY
the sea on beautiful October day, the
public commemoration Of his birth has
taken place at his home at Marshfield,
that he loved so well; end in Boston,
another home, where the people 20 long
delighted to do him honor.
| There was one event In the life Of
Webster most interesting and yet very
sad, that we have not seen described.
It was the great statesman at the funeral
and the grave of his well-beloved brother,
Ezekiel w ebster.
| The brothers were the children Of
Judge Ebenezer Webster-their mother
being his second wife. whose maiden
name was Abigail Eastman, woman of
uncommon intellect and force Of charac-
ter.
| It will be remembered that Daniel was
the younger brother, and that being .
boy of delicate constitution. he was des-
tined to Dartmouth College; while Eze-
kiel. the stronger son, was to aid his
father upon the farm.
| But in order that the younger should
be educated, the farm must be mort
gagged, which so affected the boy as his
father carried him to Dartmouth that in
his o wn words, The laid his head upon his
shoulder and wept"
| Stimulated by Daniels example and
tainments, Ezekiel desired public
sducation; and Daniel loved him we'll
enough 10 teach school at the rate of six
dollars month, that he might aid him
to attain it. W
Ezekiel finally graduated at Dart
mouth. studied law, as did his brother,
and opened . law Office in the town Of
Boscawen, N. H., where Daniel had
practiced law before him.
In early life the boys were inseparable.
They labored together on their fathers
farm BY day. and slept together at night
To show his love for his brother, among
other modes, he dedicated the first VOL
ume Of his works thus:
ITO my nieces Mrs. Alice Bridge
Whipple and Mrs. Mary Ann Sanborn;
many Of the speeches contained in this
volume were delivered and printed in
he lifetime of your father, whose fra
Nrnal affection led him to speak Of them
With appreciation. His death. which hap
oened when he had only just passed the
middle Of life, left you without father
and me without brother. dedicate
his volume to you, not only for the love
[ have for yourselves. but also as q trib.
1te Of affection to his memory, and from
Ezekiel Webster may be associated with
mine 30 long Is anything written or
spoken BY me shall be regarded or
| read"
1t wasin the spring Of 1899, that Daniel
Webster was shocked to hear that this
beloved brother had died instantly while
making . pleai in the Court House in Con-
The writer, then boy, born and living
| in Concord, heard of the same sad event.
which caused much hmentation in the
town, throughout the State and country,
for Ezekiel Webster was great lawyer
and . distinguished citizen.
| The funeral occurred soon after In the
Congregational Churchsin Boscawen. .
neighboring town and the place Of his
residence Daniei wepscer, tnen = oena-
during the following year, delivered his
great speech IN reply 70 mr. Hayne. OF
south Caronna, came al the way from
washington 70 pay ms iast tr1oute OF love
20 ms protner.
BOY - was, ! went seven miies from
the farm OF my iatner 70 attend those
solemn funeral rltes. Inc large cnnrcn'
WITH 10 ga,lenes, was niIed 70 Overflow
ing. Au boscawen was tnere many
came i5om me Dor1eIlng sowss Of Con-
coro. CancerDury, warner ana SALISBURY
ana nom oistant towns;
joined tne ooys IN tno Wescefn gu