Henceforth this was the home to which the thoughts of the great statesman turned when, weary and exhausted6 with his labors7 in the courts, the Cabinet or the Senate, he felt the need of rest. He delighted to array himself in a farmer’s rough garb8, to stride over his own fields, and look after his cattle. He had not forgotten his early tastes, and reveled in the free and unconventional life of this seaside farm. He drank in health from the invigorating sea breezes, and always bore more easily the burden of public cares after a few days at Marshfield.
“I had rather be here than in the Senate,” he said on one occasion to his son, while amusing himself with feeding his cattle with ears of corn from an unhusked pile lying upon the barn floor.
Mr. Webster was a keen disciple9 of Isaac Walton, and spent many an hour with rod and line, when perhaps his thoughts were busy with some intricate political problem, or his mind was occupied with the composition of some speech now famous.
To Mr. Harvey’s “Reminiscences” I am indebted for the following anecdote10 of Mr. Webster, and indeed for most that I have said about his country life:
“Soon after Mr. Webster went to Marshfield he was one day out on the marshes11 shooting birds. It was in the month of August, when the farmers were securing their salt hay. He came, in the course of his rambles12, to the Green Harbor River, which he wished to cross. He beckoned13 to one of the men on the opposite bank to take him over in his boat, which lay moored14 in sight. The man at once left his work, came over and paddled Mr. Webster across the stream. He declined the payment offered him, but lingered a moment, with Yankee curiosity, to question the stranger. He surmised15 who Mr. Webster was, and with some hesitation16 remarked:
“‘This is Daniel Webster, I believe?’
“‘That is my name,’ replied the sportsman.
“‘Well, now,’ said the farmer, ‘I am told that you can make from three to five dollars a day pleadin’ cases up in Boston.’
“Mr. Webster replied that he was sometimes so fortunate as to receive that amount for his services.
“‘Well, now,’ returned the rustic17; ‘it seems to me, I declare, if I could get as much in the city pleadin’ law cases, I would not be a wadin’ over these marshes this hot weather shootin’ little birds.’”
Had the simple countryman been told that his companion, who was dressed but little better than himself, was making from thirty to forty thousand dollars annually18 by these same “law cases,” we can hardly imagine the extent of his amazement19, or perhaps incredulity.
There is a tradition, and Mr. Webster has confirmed it, that he was one day out on the marsh1 when his attention was drawn20 to two young men, evidently from the city, who were standing21 on one side of a creek22 which it seemed necessary to cross. They were nicely dressed, and evidently dismayed by the apparent necessity of spoiling their fine clothes in the passage. Seeing a large rough-looking man, with his pants tucked in his boots, approaching them, their faces brightened as they saw a way out of their dilemma23.
“My good man,” said one, in an eager but patronizing way, “we are in trouble. Can you help us?”
Mr. Webster looked at the young men and appreciated the situation.
He answered gravely, “What is your difficulty?”
“We want to get across this creek, but you see we might spoil our clothes if we undertook to wade24.”
Mr. Webster nodded.
“You look like a good, strong fellow, and it won’t hurt your clothes. Will you carry us across on your back?”
Mr. Webster’s eyes twinkled, but he did not suffer the young men to see it. They were lightly made, and no great burden to one of his herculean frame.
“Yes,” he answered; “I will oblige you.”
So he took the two over in turn, and deposited them, greatly to their satisfaction, safe and sound on the opposite shore.
“I’m ever so much obliged,” said the first. “Here, my man, take this,” and he drew half a dollar from his pocket.
The second made the same tender.
“You are quite welcome, young gentlemen,” said Mr. Webster, “but I can’t think of accepting any recompense.”
“Really, though, it’s worth it; isn’t it, Jones?” said the first young man, addressing his companion.
“Of course it is. Better take the money, sir.”
“I must decline,” said Mr. Webster, smiling.
“Ever so much obliged. Really it’s very kind of you. By the way, doesn’t Daniel Webster live round here somewhere?”
“Yes; you are on his land now,” said the rough-looking countryman.
“You don’t say so. Is there any chance of seeing him, do you think?”
“A very good chance. You have only to take a good look at me.”
“Are—you—Mr.—Webster?” faltered25 the young men simultaneously26.
“Men call me so,” answered the statesman, enjoying the confusion of the young men.
They attempted to apologize for the liberty they had taken, and the great mistake they had made, but without much success, and notwithstanding the good-natured manner in which their excuses were received by Mr. Webster, were glad when they were out of his presence.
I cannot resist the temptation to record another amusing incident in the summer life of Mr. Webster. One day he had gone to Chelsea Beach to shoot wild fowl27. While lying among the tall grass he watched from his concealment28 the flocks of birds as they flew over the beach and adjacent waters. A flock appeared flying quite low, and he lowered the muzzle29 of his gun below the horizontal range to bring the birds before his eye. He fired, and instantly there was a loud cry proceeding30 from the beach below. In alarm Mr. Webster rushed down the bank, and descried31 a stranger rubbing his face and shoulder ruefully. The sportsman himself was not looking his best. His raiment was disordered and his face was begrimed with powder.
“My dear sir,” he inquired anxiously, “did I hit you?”
The man answered resentfully, “Yes, you did hit me; and, from your looks, I should think that I am not the first man you have shot, either.”
点击收听单词发音
1 marsh | |
n.沼泽,湿地 | |
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2 sparsely | |
adv.稀疏地;稀少地;不足地;贫乏地 | |
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3 lavish | |
adj.无节制的;浪费的;vt.慷慨地给予,挥霍 | |
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4 expenditure | |
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗 | |
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5 homely | |
adj.家常的,简朴的;不漂亮的 | |
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6 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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7 labors | |
v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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8 garb | |
n.服装,装束 | |
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9 disciple | |
n.信徒,门徒,追随者 | |
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10 anecdote | |
n.轶事,趣闻,短故事 | |
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11 marshes | |
n.沼泽,湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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12 rambles | |
(无目的地)漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 ); (喻)漫谈; 扯淡; 长篇大论 | |
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13 beckoned | |
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14 moored | |
adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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15 surmised | |
v.臆测,推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 );揣测;猜想 | |
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16 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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17 rustic | |
adj.乡村的,有乡村特色的;n.乡下人,乡巴佬 | |
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18 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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19 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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20 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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21 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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22 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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23 dilemma | |
n.困境,进退两难的局面 | |
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24 wade | |
v.跋涉,涉水;n.跋涉 | |
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25 faltered | |
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
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26 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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27 fowl | |
n.家禽,鸡,禽肉 | |
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28 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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29 muzzle | |
n.鼻口部;口套;枪(炮)口;vt.使缄默 | |
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30 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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31 descried | |
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的 | |
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