The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-01-07
Noah Webster.

Moan WeDSG6r.
There was nothing very wonder
full in the circumstances of Noah
Webster when a boy, nor in his early
life. He was the son of farmer,
was we'll educated, being ready to
enter Yale at the age of sixteen. In
his junior year he was interrupted
by the excitement of the Revolution,
and joined his father, who was al
ready serving in the war. A few
years later, however, he finished his
course.
When he had been graduated,
and had reached home after Com
mencement, his father presented
him with a small sum of money,
about equal in value to four dollars,
and told him that for the future he
must take care of himself.
In those days the most common
means of gaining a living by young
men of fair education were school
teaching and the practice of law.
Webster chose the first of these,
while he should prepare himself for
the second. In the moments of
time he could snatch, after his
school duties were done, he studied
alone, until few years later he was
admitted to the bar. Had he been
idle, careless of time, or fond of
self-indulgence, this end would
never have been reached.
While teaching, he also prepared
I 1. II
Grammar, and also a Spelling book,
which became very famous.
This Spelling-book was bounti-
fully illustrated by rude wood-cuts.
These must have greatly charmed
the boys and girls who read of "The
Country Maid and her Milk-pail,"
and "The Boy who Stole Apples :"
and many lad felt that the story
grew too personal when he saw the
account of the boy who went to the
wood to look for birds'-nests when
he should have been at school.
This Spelling-book reached such
an immense sale that it alone sup
ported his family during the many
years in which he was engaged on
his dictionary.
We cannot follow him during his
long life, but in his seventy-ninth
year he wrote letter which gives
us glimpses of his life and habits.
OF these he says II have never
been hard student, unless a few
years may be excepted but I have
been a steady, persevering student"
1t is not the sudden strokes of labor,
which come in fits and starts; it is
not this which accomplishes great
things, but the slow, steady work
day after day.
He tells us he was in the habit of
rising half an hour before the sun,
and making use of all the daylight,
so that he rarely used lamp-light
at all. Apart from saving his eyes,
this must have been a great means
of preserving his health. With
daylight his work ended, and his
body and mind were alike ready
for rest.
Again, he says 81 was never, or
rarely, in a hurry" Girls and BOYS,
ludIh lllio Ntll .-- you WHO are UuDI-
ing up hats and books, and hurry
ing to school at the last minute.
leaving everything behind YOU i'm
confusion Is anything gained by
| it? Does it bring any ease or COM
fort to yourselves2 Surely not.
| And the worst of it is that the habit
of leaving everything to the last,
and then rushing through i'm a
hurry, will gain such firm hold ON
you, as the years 60 by, that it will
vex and worry half the sweetness
out of your lives Let us read and
remember the words Of Noah Web
ster 81 was never, or rarely, i'm a
hurry"
Again, me tells us how, i'm Am
herst, he cultivated little land,
made hay, and worked i'm his gar
den And until late i'm life, he was
i'm the habit of rising i'm the morn
ing and making his fires through
the house. Such exercise as he