Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-03-27
ASTORY OF WEBSTER
ONE OCCASION WHEN DANIEL WAS
DEEPLY INUNDATED.

The following incident In the life OF
Daniel webstes was related 20 the
writer by the ide Joshua Seward:
Mr. sewarso ,ame 10 woburn from
Boston In q early seventies and
bought a fai \. where be lived until
bis death In us. lie was n native OF
the New Ham pshlre Peace City," from
which place came 20 Boston In early
manhood ans sier engaged In the lIy-
cry business ,ghool street. He was
a genial. sociat ac,-<a young man. and
In short tink many Of the business
and professional men Of the city were
his friends ami patrons. Daniel Web
ster. then IA the fullness OF his 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. lie saw
no chaise in the city as good as be de-
sired TO appear " on that important
occasion. and therefore he ordered one
20 be built by the principal carriage
maker Of the city Sargent. I think II
was). 10 be ready for use on that day.
In the morning OF the Fourth he APP
peared at Stewards stable Office and
requested Seward 20 20 20 the carriage
shop and get the chaise be had ordered.
Seward harnessed a horse and went 90
the carriage shop as directed and told
the proprietor he had come for Mr..
webster's chaise. The proprietor In
Arm and measured tones that could
not be misunderstood asked. "Did Mr..
Webster send the money TO pay for the
chaisef"
In relating this 20 me Seward said:
II vas never 50 astonished In my HE.
should have been less surprised IL he
had raised his fist and knocked me
down. had no thought that there was
n 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 TO
grant. | could only say. He sent no
money by me- Then said the pro
prietor. tell him be can have the chaise
when be sends the money 20 pay for IL
and not I'LL then Seward said he
was never IN such n dilemma in all his
life. He could not 90 back and tell that
great man. whom he adored. that he
could not have the chaise till he paid
for Il. And yet he must 90 back and
tell him sopething But what could be
tell himg Finally. after much Thought
and study II occurred TO him that he
had a new chaise which he would offer
TO 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 IL 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
chalse that day.
About a week later Webster came
agair and said 90 Seward. Il think the
varnlsh on that chalse Is hard now.
and you may 60 down and get H."
Seward said. "Wlth a heavy heart !
haruessed a horse and went again 20
the shop. I knew / should not get the
chaise. and I was not disappointed. IN
the same manner I was asked the same
question as before. I could not Invent
another story that would De credible
and was therefore compelled 20 20
back and tell him the truth" Webster
was lmpatiently awaiting Stewards re-
turn, and when IN hailing distance be
called 10 Seward: Where Is the
chaisel What Is the troubleT Seward
him more closely and IN
tones so low that no one could over
hear him replied. Gle told me TO tell
you that you could have the chaise
when You sent the money 20 pay for Il
and not before" Webster stood silent
an instant and then with voice trem-
bling with emotion exclaimed. My !
God. Joshua, dld he say that" and
sank into a nearby chair and cried as
would a deeply aggrieved child OF six
summers.
10 Is we'll known that Webster would |
Incur debt. apparently with no thought |
that there We're two parties 20 a con-
tract, a creditor and a debtor. and /
that their moral obligations were CO
equal. Consequently his creditors 80
multiplied and his Indebtedness so In
creased as 10 interfere with his pO-
lltlcal plans, II not, indeed. threaten his
political future. AZ this time his
friends came % his aid and. Il Is said
raised the sum OF $4,000 20 cancel his
and relieve him from the
further annoyance and pressure OF his
creditors. When we realize that Sio.-
sOO was larger sum 90 raise then Tor
any purpose than would be $4,000
today we have some measure Of the
admiration and the loyalty Of his
c. Hall In Boston Tran
script.