Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-08-03

been paid twice. Webster put the re-
ceipts in his pocket and said nothing.
In the morning the neighbor returned
for the money. Webster took his seat
under the old elm, and ordered Wright
to bring out the decanter. Filling the
glass to the brim, he handed it to the
man and told him to drink. Webster
then began:
"Mr. Blank, do you keep books?"
The man assured him that he did
not.
"Then I would advise you to do So"
said Webster, and pulling one of the
receipts from his pocket handed it to
him.
The man was covered with confusion,
while Webster continued:
Sand while you are about it you had
better get bookkeeper who under
stands double entryl" at the same
time handing him another receipt.
"Now," said Webster, 81 am going to
pay this bill just once more, but l as
sure you upon my word of honor that
l will not payit the fourth time."
The one great pastime that Webster
enjoyed in Mashfield was fishing. For
hours he would wander up and down
the streams and across the meadows.
AS rule, however, he enjoyed "fsher-
mans luck" IT. was rarely that he
caught a fish, unless by its own care
lessness it became entangled on the
hook and couldn't escape. The fish
would nibble all the bait from the hook
without his ever pulling the line from
the water.
When little way ahead or behind he
was always muttering to himself, and
many of his grandest speeches were
composed while on these excursions.
On his return he would always throw
himself under the old elm tree in the
dooryard and enjoy short nap while
resting from his fatigue.
On my rising to leave the house Mr..
Wright placed his hands upon my
shoulders and said: would you like
a story that has never before appeared
in print?"
assured him that nothing would
please me better.
well, have told you that Mr.. Web
ster would never speak on politics
when here, but he would talk to the as
sembled neighbors and guests on mat
ters pertaining to farming. On one oc-
casion some Boston friends presented
him with an enormous plow to use on
his farm. Webster gave out word that
on certain day it would be christened.
The day arrived. and the surrounding
farmers for miles came to witness the
event. \ dozen teams with aristocrat-
ic occupants came down from Boston
1t was expected by everyone that Web
ster would make great speech on the
occasion, reviewing the history of
| farming from the time when Cincin-
natus abdicated the most mighty
throne in the world to cultivate cab
| bages in his Roman garden.
"The plow was brought out. and ten
yoke of splendid oxen were hitched in
| front. More than 2OO people stood
around on the tiptoe of expectation.
Webster soon made his appearance.
He had been calling spirits from the
Vastly deep, and his gait was somewhat
uncertain. Seizing the plow handles
and spreading his feet he yelled to me
in his deep bass voice.
"'Are you ready, Mr.. Wright?'
"'All ready. Mr.. Webster was the
reply. meaning of course for the speech.
webster Strengthened himself up by
mighty effort and shouted:
"'Then let her rip!'
"The whole crowd dropped to the
ground and roared with laughter. while
Webster. with his big plow. proceeded
to rip up the soil. This same plow can
now be seen on top of the Faneuil hall
market in Boston, and is conspicuous
object for miles around.
"Would you like to have a little souv-
enr of your visit to Webster's home?"
asked Mr.. Wright, as the writer was
| about to leave. Here, come with me,
and l will give you something. Look in
this old trunk and see this pile of let
ters that he used to write me from
Washington. / treasure them very
| highly, but you shall have one. Take
your pick"
Here was find indeed. I rummaged
the letters over, and finally selected one
that l considered most characteristic
of the man. 1t was about farming and
cattle. 1t also puts new light on his
character as debtor. 1t is well known
that he was poor fnancier. and the
great public believes that he didn't
want to pay his debts; that he had no
desire to do so. This letter. written
from the senate chamber. shows con-
clusively that he was willing to sell
anything to pay debts. For this rea-
son it is letter of great historical
value. 1t corrects public misconcep-
tion of his character.
Here it is:
washington, Feb. 2, '5s.-Porter
Wright: Mr.. Weston will hand you
$lOO, and l will hand you some more
soon.
81 have no objection to parting with
the Ames steers, or the Hazeltine, or
both, for money to pay debts, at fair
price, but do not care about exchan~-
ingwith Mr.. Delano. The offer you have