Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-04-08
Great Mems Fayorite Books

Massachusetts loved to talk OF the two
great men Of that Commonwealth, Dan
iel Webster and Rufus Choate, for
whom he had an unbounded admiration
and who honored him with their friend
ship In his visits to Boston he had
many opportunities of seeing them quite
intimately, and it was his greatest de-
light to be in their company and ENJOY
their conversation. Both Mr.. Web
ster and Mr.. ChOate were wonderful
takers, and when they had such lis.
tener as Judge Chapman, they talked
their best. Both were Of New England
birth and training, and had the Eng
land reverence for the Bible. Mr..
Webster was peyer weary of discOurs-
ing of the book of Job, of which he
would talk by the hour, analyZing its
construction with all the skill he woHld
give to great legal argument, and then
launching off into quotations of its
poetry, which he thought uRequaled in
all ancient literature. So much was he
eaptivated with the subject that he often
said, quite in earnest, that he wished
he had time to write commentary on
the book Of Job. And then, as a mlnia-
ture reflection of the Bible, he would
talk of the New England Primer with
the tenderness of one alluding to that
which had been very dear to him in his
childhood.
Mr.. ChOate was an OmnivorOus rea-
der, deyOuriDg books in different Ian
guages. and approaching the wealth Of
learning and of wisdom In them all.
Often, after the fatigue of a prolonged
case in the courts, he would rest and
refresh his wesried brain by reading his
favOrite Greek authors. He WAS equal
" al home in English literature, and
was as well read in the religious writers
of the seventeenth century as in the
poets and dramatists. On the former,
his fayorite was John BunyaD, and he
often said to Judge Chapman that the
most beautiful passage in the English
language was at the close Of Pilgrims
Progress-the sOlilOquy of Standfast
when he is in the river Of death. And
then he would take the book in hand,
and read with his flexible aid powerful
voice the immortal passage To save
our readers the necessity of turning to
luC VIC AuOlCu II LrlC-
"When Mr.. Standfsst had thus set
things in order, and the time being
come for him to haste away, he also
went down to the river Now there
was great calm at that time in the
river, wherefore Mr.. Standfast, when he
was about half way in. stood awhile
and talked to his companions that had
waited on him thither. Aud he said:
This river has been terror to many;
yea, the thoughts of 1t have also fright
ened me. But now methinks | stand
easy; my foot is fixed upon that on
which the feet of the priests that bore
the Ark of the Covenant stood where
Israel went over Jortan. Josh. 3: II. J
The waters indeed are to the palate bit
ter and TO the stomach cold; yet the
thought of what | am going to, and of
the conduct that waits for me on the
other side, doth lie as a glowing coal at
my heart. / see myself now at the end
OF my journey, BY --Si.sssise, Days 41Fe
ended. am going to see that head
which was crowned with thorns, and
that face which was spit upon for me.
| have formerly lived by heresay and
faith; but now go where l shall live
by sight, and shall be with him whose
company l delight myself. have
loved to hear my Lord spoken of and
wherever have seen the print Of his
shoe In the earth, there l have coveted
to set my foot, too. His name has been
to me as civet box; yea, sweeter than
al.kerfumes. His voice TO me has been
most sweet, and his cOuntenance have
more desired than they that have most
desired the light of the sun. His Word
did use to gather for my food. and for
antldotes against my Paintings, He
has held me, and hath kept me from
mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath he
in his way"
Now while be was thus in discourse,
his cOuntenance changed, his strong
man bowed under him, and after he had
said Take me, for come unto thee"
lie ceased to be seen of them.
But glorious 1t was to see how the
open region was filled with horses and
chanots, with trumpeters and pipers,
with singers and players on stringed in
10 welcome the pilgrims as
they went up, ana followed one another
in at the beautiful gate of the city.