Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-03

the streams of Marshfeld. On his return
from fishing trip he would throw himself
under the old elm tree In the door-yard and
enjoy short nap while resting from his
fatigue
On one occasion some Boston friends and
admirers sent Webster as a present an enor-
nous pillow. Webster gave out word that
on a certain day it would be christened.
The day arrived and the surrounding far
mers for miles came In to witness the event.
A dozen teams with aristocratic occupants
from Boston drove down to the christening.
Every one expected great speech The
plow was brought out and yoke of oxen
were hitched In front More than 200 peo-
pie stood around on the tiptoe of expectation.
Webster made his appearance He had
been calling spirits from the vastly deep
and his gait was somewhat uncertain.
Selling the plow handles and spreading
MS feet, he called out to the driver in his
deep bass voice:
Are you already. Mr.. Wright?"
''All ready, Mr.. Webster, was the re-
ply.
Webster Strengthened himself up bv a
mighty effort and shouted:
Then let her rip!'
The crowd roared with laughter, while
Webster, with his big pillow, proceeded to
rip up the soil in huge burrows.
In the next house to Webster's. on the
north, lives Mrs Baker, better known as
Aunt Sally" Webster's family nurse and
housekeeper for years. When speaking of
Webster she said he was one of the kind
est of men. To those who served him well
his gratitude knew no bounds. For him
home was a sacred place and while there
not one harsh word passed his lips. Web
ster had great amount of aristocratic
company, and it was impossible for him
to maintain the simplicity of living that
so well accorded with his tastes Often,
when visitors would leave, he would 90 to
Mrs. Baker and say: Nov, Sally, those
confounded politicians are gone, let us
have a good old-fashioned dish of stewed
beans. 1t is the common belief that the
dying words of Webster were, Il still
live, = but Mrs. Baker, who closed his eyes
after death, says that such is not true In
the sense given. He knew for several
hours that death was near at hand and was
extremely anxious to know the exact mo-
ment that divides time from eternity. As
the time approached he looked up and
said:
Il still live; tell me the point, y meaning
the point of death.
One of the physicians began quoting
Scripture to him, when he replied in a
strong, impatient voice:
No, no; tell me the point; tell me the
point"
These were the last words that he ut
tered.
In the quaint, grass-grown old burial
ground just back of his house and upon
his own farm is the last resting place of
this great man. His tomb occupies the
center of large lot surrounded by a high
iron fence. The vault is entirely covered
with soil and is only opened on the death
of one family. 1t was last opened in 1862
to receive the remains of Fletcher Webster,
who was shot in the last battle of Bull
Run. In the same vault lie the bodies of
children and grandchildren. Not drop
of Webster blood now remains in exis-
tence. The last living member of the
family is the wife of Fletcher Webster
On her death the tomb will once more be
opened to receive her remains and will
then be closed and sealed forever.
ARTHUR WRIT.