From Prof. Sanborn's Address at the Merrimac Normal Institute.

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To perform any intellectual labor well, the student must be "totus in illis," wholly absorbed in his favorite pursuits. The history of every distinguished man in our country, may be cited in proof of this assertion. I happen to have some wellauthenticated facts respecting the early life of the most illustrious of our American statesmen. They present him before us as a student and a teacher. I trust they will not be deemed

inappropriate to the present occasion. Mr. Webster remarked, in one of his recent speeches,-" My life has been one of severe labor in my profession. I know not how the bread of idleness tastes." This is literally true. From the day when he entered Exeter Academy, at the age of fourteen, to this hour, his life has been one uninterrupted scene of mental toil. Aged men, who were familiar with his early life, mention, among their earliest recollections of his childhood, a fondness for books above his years. His father kept open doors for all travellers. The teamsters, who came from the north, were accustomed to say, when they arrived at Judge Webster's house,-"Come, let us give our horses some oats and go in and hear little Dan read a Psalm." They always called for him; and, leaning upon their long whip-stocks, listened, with delighted attention, to the elocution of the young orator. This fondness for books first prompted his father to give him a better education than the district school afforded. At Exeter, he had no peer in successful and accurate study. His residence there was brief. The limited means of his father would not warrant the expense of a continued residence at that Academy. A cheaper method of preparing him for college was devised. He was placed under the care of Rev. Samuel Wood of Boscawen, who received pupils into his family on very moderate terms. On entering this family, his father revealed to him his intention of sending him to college. The announcement was received with unbounded exultation. No Roman consul ever received with greater joy, a senatorial decree for a triumph. Under Dr. Wood's tuition, with but an imperfect knowledge of the rudiments of the Latin tongue, he read one hundred verses of Virgil at a lesson. He not only read, but interpreted the poet. He understood and relished his polished diction. The English dress, which the young student put upon the old Roman, became him. His recreations then were the same which have occupied his leisure hours in later life. In his rambles among the neighboring woods, his rifle was his constant companion.

"linoque solebat et hamo

Decipere, et calamo salientes ducere pisces."

His kind mentor once ventured to suggest his fears lest young Daniel's example in devoting so much time to his favorite amusements, might prove injurious to the other boys. He did not complain that his task was neglected, or that any lesson was imperfectly prepared. This suggestion was sufficient. The sensitive boy could not bear the suspicion of any dereliction of duty. The next night was devoted to study. No sleep visited his eyes. His teacher appeared in the morning to hear his recitation. He read his hundred lines without mistake. He was no where found tripping in syntax or prosody. As his

teacher was preparing to leave, young Daniel requested him to hear a few more lines. Another hundred was read. Breakfast was repeatedly announced. The good Doctor was impatient to go, and asked his pupil how much further he could read. "To the end of the twelfth book of the Eneid," was the prompt reply. The Doctor never had occasion to reprove him again. His study hours, ever after, were sacred. In less than a year, he read with his teacher, Virgil and Cicero, and, in private, two large works of Grotius and Pufendorf, written in Latin. During the month of July, his father called him home to assist him on the farm. At this time of life, young Daniel had but a slender frame, and was not able to endure much fatigue. The trial of a single half day brought the boy home with blistered hands and wearied limbs. The next morning, his father gave him his little bundle of books and clothes, and bade him seek his old teacher again. Dr. Wood met him with a cordial greeting on his return, and assured him, that, with hard study, he might enter college at the next Commencement. He then had two months to devote to Greek, and he had not yet learned the alphabet. With characteristic energy he grappled with the task, and achieved a victory of which few can boast. What one of those college idlers, who talk so flippantly about the idleness of Daniel Webster when a student, has prepared himself for a like station in two short months? The students of that day were deprived of many of the comforts and luxuries of life which are now so liberally enjoyed. They usually travelled on horseback. Their dress was entirely of domestic manufacture. When Daniel Webster went to college, he took the least valuable of his father's horses, which would not be missed from the farm, aud depositing his scanty wardrobe and library in a pair of saddle-bags, set out for Hanover. Scarcely had he lost sight of his father's house, when a furious north-east storm began to beat upon the solitary traveller. The rain poured down, incessantly, for two days and nights. A necessity was laid upon him to be present at the commencement of the term. He, therefore, made such speed as he could, with his slow-paced Rozinante, over bad roads, through the pelting storm, and reached the place at the close of the second day, if not a "sorrowful knight," at least in a sorrowful condition. He joined his class the next day, and at once took the position in it which he has since held in the intellectual world. By the unanimous consent, both of teachers and classmates, he stood at the head of his associates in study, and was as far above them, then, in all that constitutes human greatness, as he is now. After a residence of two years at college, he spent a vacation at home. He had tasted the sweets of literature, and enjoyed the victories of intellectual effort. He loved the scholar's life. He felt keenly

for the condition of his brother Ezekiel, who was destined to remain on the farm and labor to lift the mortgage from the old homestead and furnish the means of his brother's support. Ezekiel was a farmer in spirit and in practice. He led his laborers in the field as he afterwards led his class in Greek. Daniel knew and appreciated his superior intellectual endowments. He resolved that his brother should enjoy the same privileges with himself. That night the two brothers retired to bed, but not to sleep. They discoursed of their prospects. Daniel utterly refused to enjoy the fruit of his brother's labor any longer. They were united in sympathy and affection, and they must be united in their pursuits. But how could they leave their beloved parents, in age and solitude, with no protector? They talked and wept and wept and talked till dawn of day. They dared not broach the matter to their father. Finally, Daniel resolved to be the orator upon the occasion. Judge Webster was then somewhat burdened with debt. He was advanced in age, and had set his heart upon having Ezekiel as his helper. The very thought of separation from both his sons was painful to him. When the proposition was made, he felt as did the patriarch of old, when he exclaimed," Joseph is not and will ye also take Benjamin away?" A family council was called. The mother's opinion was asked. She was a strong-minded, energetic woman. She was not blind to the superior endowments of her sons. With all a mother's partiality, however, she did not over-estimate their powers. She decided the matter at once. Her reply was: "I have lived long in the world, and have been happy in my children. If Daniel and Ezekiel will promise to take care of me, in my old age, I will consent to the sale of all our property, at once, and they may enjoy the benefit of that which remains after our debts are paid.' This was a moment of intense interest to all the parties. Parents and children all mingled their tears together, and sobbed aloud at the thought of separation. The father yielded to the entreaties of the sons and the advice of his wife.

Daniel returned to college, and Ezekiel took his little bundle in his hand, and sought, on foot, the scene of his preparatory studies. In one year, he joined his younger brother in college. His intellect was of the highest order. In clear and comprehensive views of the subjects studied, he had no equal. He was deficient in no branch of study pursued in college. He was distinguished for classical literature. He also availed himself of private instruction in some departments of study. Prof. Shurtleff then had a class of students reciting to him, privately, in theology. Ezekiel Webster joined that class, and wrote dissertations upon subjects proposed by the Professor, who still

speaks with unabated admiration of his character, as an earnest, truthful and successful student. I once asked the same venerable teacher of the deportment of the younger brother in college. He replied: "Oh, sir, Daniel was as regular as the sun. He never made a misstep. He never stooped to do a mean act. He never countenanced, by his presence or by his conversation, any college irregularities.

After graduating at the early age of nineteen, Daniel Webster took charge of the academy in Fryeburg, Me. He left his father's house again, on horseback, with his whole worldly effects in a pair of saddle-bags. His salary was three hundred and fifty dollars a year. From such an income, how much, think you, would one of our modern dandies save, after supporting himself as a gentleman should live? Besides the severe labors of the school, Mr. Webster devoted his evenings to a still more irksome piece of drudgery. He recorded deeds in the county records for a moderate compensation. He transcribed, on an average, three deeds, each evening; and two large folios now exist, in his handwriting, as indubitable proofs of his industry. He received high commendation for his fidelity as a teacher. The records of the trustees bear testimony to their unqualified approbation of his labors and their sincere regret at his departure. At the close of the year, he visited his brother in college, and after paying his own debts, gave to Ezekiel the results of his year's labor, which amounted to one hundred dollars. The attachment of these brothers to each other was truly remarkable. They kept no separate purse, they were established in business. They labored cheerfully for each other. Daniel submitted to the drudgery of copying deeds, and encroached upon the hours due to sleep, to secure the means of his brother's education. Ezekiel taught an evening school for sailors, in Boston, in addition to the fatigues of a large private school by day, to save money to defray, in part, his brother's expenses in completing his professional education. Behold how these brothers loved each other!. Writing to his New Hampshire neighbors, Mr. Webster says: "Those of you who are the most advanced in age, have known my father and my family, and especially that member of it whose premature death inflicted a wound in my breast which is yet fresh and bleeding."

till

The cordial approbation of this brother was more to Daniel Webster than the applause of listening senates. But I cannot devote more time to these interesting reminiscences; I must return from my digression.