The Child's Book of American BiographyStimpson, Mary Stoyell
History
The Child's Book of American Biography
Stimpson, Mary Stoyell
United States -- Biography
When Daniel was fitting for college at Exeter, he was about the
brightest pupil there, but it did seem funny that the boy who was to one
day be a great orator could not then declaim or recite before the
school. He would learn the nicest pieces and practise them in his own
room, but when he stood up before all the scholars and teachers, his
courage left him. Sometimes, when his name was called, he could not rise
from his seat. He was very much ashamed of himself and shed a good many
tears over his shyness. But he persevered and finally did better than
any of the boys. There is nothing like trying things enough times.
When Daniel went to Dartmouth College, he rode there on horseback,
carrying his feather-bed, blankets, clothes, and books on his horse. He
was still such a dark looking person that the students thought he was an
Indian.
Daniel studied law and made very fine pleas in the courtrooms. He was a
senator in Congress, a secretary of state, and a public speaker who was
admired in England as well as in America.
Mr. Webster had a wife and children. He bought a large estate at
Marshfield in Massachusetts, where the family spent many summers. He
loved children and animals, was kind to the poor, and bought the freedom
of several slaves. He was very neat in dress. His favorite costume for
court and senate was a blue coat with brass buttons, a buff waistcoat,
and black trousers.
Daniel Webster always liked to look up old friends and was never cold or
haughty to any one. Once when he was going through the West, making
famous speeches in the different cities, a man crowded forward to speak
to him, saying: "Why, is this little black Dan that used to water my
horses?" The dignified orator did not mind a bit. "Yes," he laughed,
"I'm little black Dan grown up!"
Daniel was a good son to the father, who had tried hard to make him a
fine scholar. Only once did he disappoint him. That was when he refused
to be clerk of court. When his father begged him to take that place, he
said: "No, father, I am going to use my tongue in courts, not my pen. I
mean to be an orator!" He proved to be one of America's great ones.
AUGUSTUS ST. GAUDENS
Augustus St. Gaudens was a sculptor. He made wonderful figures of our
American heroes. No matter how often we are told of the brave deeds of
Lincoln, Sherman, Shaw, and Farragut, we shall remember these men longer
because of St. Gaudens's statues of them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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