It had been very hard for him to make a living for his large family on the stony farm among the hills. But now his office as judge would bring him three hundred or four hundred dollars a year. He had never had so much money in his life. "Judge Webster," said one of his neighbors, "what are you going to do with the money that you get from your office? Going to build a new house?" "Well, no," said the judge. "The old house is small, but we have lived in it a long time, and it still does very well." "Then I suppose you are planning to buy more land?" said the neighbor. "No, indeed, I have as much land now as I can cultivate. But I will tell you what I am going to do with my money. I am going to try to educate my boys. I would rather do this than have lands and houses." * * * * * II.--THE YOUNGEST SON. Ebenezer Webster had several sons. But at the time that he was appointed judge there were only two at home. The older ones were grown up and were doing for themselves. It was of the two at home that he was thinking when he said, "I am going to try to educate my boys." Of the ten children in the family, the favorite was a black-haired, dark-skinned little fellow called Daniel. He was the youngest of all the boys; but there was one girl who was younger than he. Daniel Webster was born on the 18th of January, 1782. He was a puny child, very slender and weak; and the neighbors were fond of telling his mother that he could not live long. Perhaps this was one of the things that caused him to be favored and petted by his parents. But there were other reasons why every one was attracted by him. There were other reasons why his brothers and sisters were always ready to do him a service. He was an affectionate, loving child; and he was wonderfully bright and quick. He was not strong enough to work on the farm like other boys. He spent much of his time playing in the woods or roaming among the hills. And when he was not at play he was quite sure to be found in some quiet corner with a book in his hand. He afterwards said of himself: "In those boyish days there were two things that I dearly loved--reading and playing." He could never tell how or when he had learned to read. Perhaps his mother had taught him when he was but a mere babe. He was very young when he was first sent to school. The school-house was two or three miles away, but he did not mind the long walk through the woods and over the hills. It was not a great while until he had learned all that his teacher was able to teach him; for he had a quick understanding, and he remembered everything that he read. The people of the neighborhood never tired of talking about "Webster's boy," as they called him. All agreed that he was a wonderful child. Some said that so wonderful a child was sure to die young. Others said that if he lived he would certainly become a very great man.