Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-03-31
A STORY OF WEBSTER
ONE OCCASION WHEN DANIEL WAS
DEEPLY INUNDATED.

/
Daniel Webster was related 10 tho
writer by the late Joshua Seward:
Mr.. Seward came 10 Woburn from
Boston In the early seventies and
bought a farm. where he lived until
his death IN 1855. lie was n native OF
the New Hampshire Peace CITY," from
which place he came 20 Boston In early
manhood and later engaged In the Nv
cry business or School street. He was
a genial. social. active young man. and
In a short time many OF the business
and professional men OF the city were
his friends and patrons. Daniel Web
ster. then In the fullness OF hts mas
terry manhood. was his particular
friend and most favored patron. One
year Webster early engaged 20 deliver
the Fourth OF July grafton in the city.
A public procession was then an i'm
portant feature OF the celebration, and
the orator OF the day was the chief
person OF distinction In the parade. In
those days there were no four wheeled
vehicles for convenience or for pleas
ure. A chaise was the proper carriage
for gentlemen 10 use. Webster was
popular and proud rs popular. He saw
no chaiss In the city as good rs he de-
sired 60 appear In on that important
occasion. and therefore he ordered one
70 be built by the principal carriage
maker OF the city Sargent. think IL
was, TO be ready for use on that day.
In the morning OF the Fourth he ap-
peared at Stewards stable Office and
requested Seward TO go 20 the carriage
shop and get the chaise he had ordered.
Seward harnessed horse and went 20
the carriage shop as directed and told
the proprietor he had come for Mr..
webster's chaIse. The proprietor In
firm and measured tones that could
not be misunderstood asked, did Mr..
Webster send the money 20 pay for the
CHASER
In relating this 20 me Seward said:
~ was never 50 astonished In my life!
| should have been less surprised II he
had raised his fist and knocked me
down. had no thought that there was
man living who had ever heard OF
the great Webster. the godlike Daniel.
who would or who could have denied
him any request Il was possible 20
grant. could only say. He sent no
money by me- Then said the pro-
prletor. tell him he can have the cbaise
when he sends the money 10 pay for IL
and not till then " Seward said he
was never in such a dilemma in all his
life. lie could not go back and tell that
great man. whom he adored, that he
could not have the chalse till he paid
for IL. And yet he must go back and
tell him something But what could he
tell him? Finally. after much thought
and study II occurred 10 him that he
had n new chaise which he would oner
10 Webster and tell him that the var
nlsh on the one he had ordered was not
yet hard and that II would be liable to
lnjure II taken out in the heat and dust
OF that public day. Webster met Sew
ard at the door when he returned. and
before Webster could ask question
Seward was telling him the story he
had invented on the way home. Web
ster made no reply, but accepted Sew
ards statement as true and rode in his
chaise that day.
About week later Webster came
again and said TO Seward, Il think the
varnlsh on that chalse Is hard now.
and you may go down aud get IT,"
Seward said: with heavy heart !
harnessed a horse and went again 20
the shop. knew should not get the
chalse. and / was not disappointed. In
the same manner was asked the same
question Us before. / could not invent
another story that would be credible
and was therefore compelled 20 60
back and tell him the truth" Webster
was lmpatlently awaiting Stewards re-
turn. and when in halllng distance he
called 10 Seward: Where Is the
chalse? What Is the troublef Seward
approached him more closely and In
tones so low that no one could over
hear him replied. "He told me 90 tell
you that you could have the chaise
when you sent the money to pay for II
and not before" Webster stood silent
an instant and then with voice trem-
bling with emotion exclaimed. MY
God, Joshua. did he say that" and
sank into a nearby chair and cried as
would a deeply aggrieyed child OF six
summers.
10 Is well known that Webster would
incur debt. apparently with no thought
that there were two parties TO con
tract. "a creditor and a debtor. and
that their moral obligations were CO
equal Consequently his creditors so
multiplied aud his Indebtedness so In
creased as 90 interfere with his po-
ltical plans. u not, Indeed, threaten his
political future. 40 this time his
friends came 90 his aid aud. 90 Us said,
raised the sum OF $4,000 90 cancel his
Indebtedness aud relieve him from the
further annoyance and pressure of bis
creditors. when we realize that SlO-
600 was a larger sum 90 raise then for
any purpose than would Dee 100000
today we have some measure Of the
admiration and the loyalty OF his
friends.-H. c. Hail ln Boston Tran
script
Just So.