Daniel Webster | Page 8

The boy Webster preached love of
country, the grandeur of American nationality, fidelity to the
Constitution as the bulwark of nationality, and the necessity and the
nobility of the union of the States; and that was the message which the
man Webster delivered to his fellow-men. The enduring work which
Mr. Webster did in the world, and his meaning and influence in
American history, are all summed up in the principles enunciated in
that boyish speech at Hanover. The statement of the great principles
was improved and developed until it towered above this first expression
as Mont Blanc does above the village nestled at its foot, but the
essential substance never altered in the least.

Two other college orations have been preserved. One is a eulogy on a
classmate who died before finishing his course, the other is a discourse
on "Opinion," delivered before the society of the "United Fraternity."
There is nothing of especial moment in the thought of either, and the
improvement in style over the Hanover speech, though noticeable, is
not very marked. In the letters of that period, however, amid the jokes
and fun, we see that Mr. Webster was already following his natural
bent, and turning his attention to politics. He manifests the same spirit
as in his oration, and shows occasionally an unusual maturity of
judgment. His criticism of Hamilton's famous letter to Adams, to take
the most striking instance, is both keen and sound.
After taking his degree in due course in 1801, Mr. Webster returned to
his native village, and entered the office of a lawyer next door to his
father's house, where he began the study of the law in compliance with
his father's wish, but without any very strong inclination of his own.
Here he read some law and more English literature, and passed a good
deal of time in fishing and shooting. Before the year was out, however,
he was obliged to drop his legal studies and accept the post of
schoolmaster in the little town of Fryeburg, Maine.
This change was due to an important event in the Webster family which
had occurred some time before. The affection existing between Daniel
and his elder brother Ezekiel was peculiarly strong and deep. The
younger and more fortunate son, once started in his education, and
knowing the desire of his elder brother for the same advantages, longed
to obtain them for him. One night in vacation, after Daniel had been
two years at Dartmouth, the two brothers discussed at length the
all-important question. The next day, Daniel broached the matter to his
father. The judge was taken by surprise. He was laboring already under
heavy pecuniary burdens caused by the expenses of Daniel's education.
The farm was heavily mortgaged, and Ebenezer Webster knew that he
was old before his time and not destined to many more years of life.
With the perfect and self-sacrificing courage which he always showed,
he did not shrink from this new demand, although Ezekiel was the prop
and mainstay of the house. He did not think for a moment of himself,
yet, while he gave his consent, he made it conditional on that of the

mother and daughters whom he felt he was soon to leave. But Mrs.
Webster had the same spirit as her husband. She was ready to sell the
farm, to give up everything for the boys, provided they would promise
to care in the future for her and their sisters. More utter self-abnegation
and more cheerful and devoted self-sacrifice have rarely been exhibited,
and it was all done with a simplicity which commands our reverence. It
was more than should have been asked, and a boy less accustomed than
Daniel Webster to the devotion of others, even with the incentive of
brotherly love, might have shrunk from making the request. The
promise of future support was easily made, but the hard pinch of
immediate sacrifice had to be borne at once. The devoted family gave
themselves up to the struggle to secure an education for the two boys,
and for years they did battle with debt and the pressure of poverty.
Ezekiel began his studies and entered college the year Daniel graduated;
but the resources were running low, so low that the law had to be
abandoned and money earned without delay; and hence the
schoolmastership.
At no time in his life does Mr. Webster's character appear in a fairer or
more lovable light than during this winter at Fryeburg. He took his own
share in the sacrifices he had done so much to entail, and he carried it
cheerfully. Out of school hours he copied endless deeds, an occupation
which he loathed above all others, in order that he might give all his
salary to his brother. The burden and heat of