147 ANECDOTE OF CHIEF-JUSTICE MARSHALL. Oh! thou shalt find, howe'er thy footsteps roam, MONTGOMERY. 57. ANECDOTE OF CHIEF-JUSTICE MARSHALL. [T is not long since a gentleman was traveling in one of the counties of Virginia, and, about the close of the day, stopped at a public house, to obtain refreshment and spend the night. He had been there but a short time, before an old man alighted from his gig, with the apparent' intention of becoming his fellow-guest at the same house. Our 2. As the old man drove up, he observed that both of the shafts of his gig were broken, and that they were held together by withes formed from the bark of a hickory sapling. traveler observed further, that he was plainly clad, that his kneebuckles were 10osened, and that something like negligence pervaded1 his dress. Conceiving him to be one of the honest yeōmanry' of our land, the courtesies' of strangers passed between them, and they entered the tavern. 3. It was about the same time, that an addition of three or four young gentlemen was made to their number-most, if not all of them, of the legal profession. As soon as they became comfortably accommodated, the conversation was turned by one of the latter upon a display of eloquence which he had that day heard at the bar. It was replied by the other, that he had witnessed, the same day, a degree of eloquence no doubt equal, but that it was from the pulpit. 4. Something like a sarcastic' rejoinder was made to the eloquence of the pulpit; and a warm and able altercation ensued, in which the merits of the Christian religion became the oands of twigs of Per våd' ed, passed 'Ap pår' ent, seeming. Withes, willow twigs; any green tree. 'Såp' ling, a young tree. through; appeared in all parts. Yeo' man ry, the common people.-'Courtesies (ker' te sez), acts of civility or politeness. Sår cås' tic, severely taunting: tending to ridicule or disgrace." Re join' der, a re ply to an answer.--o Al ter cå' tion, an angry dispute subject of discussion.' From six o'clock until eleven, the young champions wielded the sword of argument, adducing with ingenuity and ability every thing that could be said, pro and con.3 5. During this protracted period, the old gentleman listened with all the meekness and modesty of a child, as if he was adding new information to the stores of his own mind; or perhaps he was observing, with philosophic eye, the faculties of the youthful mind, and how energies are evolved by repeated action; or, perhaps, with patriotic emotion, he was reflecting upon the future destinies of his country, and on the rising generation on whom these future destinies must devolve; or, most probably, with a sentiment of moral and religious feeling, he was collecting an argument, which (characteristic of himself) no art would be" able to elude, and no force to resist." Our traveler remained a spectator, and took no part in what was said. 6 6. At last, one of the young men, remarking that it was impossible to combat with long and established prejudices, wheeled around, and with some familiarity exclaimed, "Well, my old gentleman, what think you of these things?" If, said the traveler, a streak of vivid lightning had at that moment crossed the room, their amazement could not have been greater than it was with what followed. 7. The most eloquent and unanswerable appeal was made by the old gentleman, for nearly an hour, that he ever heard or read. So perfect was his recollection, that every argument urged against the Christian religion was met in the order in which it was advanced. 8. Hume's sophistry on the subject of miracles was, if possible, more perfectly answered than it had already been by Campbell. And in the whole lecture there was so much simplicity and force, pathos ana energy, that not another word was 5 6 'Dis cus' sion, reasoning; conversation in favor of and against an opinion; consideration of the merits.- Chåm' pi ons, those who fight, contend, or dispute.—3 Pro and con, for and against.—-* Pro tråct' ed. extended lengthy.- E vôlved, brought out.- Prẻj' u dic es, opinions formed before knowledge; judgments without reason.—” Soph' istry, false reasoning.-- Miracles (mir' a klz), events or acts beyond, or contrary to, the laws of rature WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. 149 uttered. An attempt to describe it, said the traveler, would be an attempt to paint the sunbeams. 9. It was now matter of curiosity and inqui'ry, who the old gentleman was. The traveler concluded that it was the preacher from whom the pulpit eloquence was heard; but no-it was the CHIEF-JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES. 58. WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. HE following beautiful lyric' owes its origin2 to a circumstance which belonged to the homestead of a gentleman whose subsequent3 successes retrieved' the misfortunes of early life, was threatened with the ax. As it was about to be cut down for fire-wood, the youngest son of the former owner paid its value, and a bond was executed, by which the present owner of the property pledged that it should stand forever. The author of this piece was present at the bargain, and the gentleman, turning to him, said, “In youth it sheltered me, and I'll protect it now." The song was set to music by Henry Russel, and sung by him in many cities in Europe. As, on one occasion, he was singing it at Boulogne, an old gentleman among the auditors rose, and asked with much feeling whether the tree was spared. Mr. Russel assured him that it was, and the old gentle man resumed his seat, with great satisfaction, amid the enthusi astic plaudits' of the whole assembly. 'Lyr' ic, a song; any thing sung with a lyre, or other musical instrument.—2 Or' i ġin, source; the beginning of a thing.—3 Sûb'se quent, following; after.—* Re trièved', recovered from the effects of; made atonement or amends for.- Boulogne (bỏ lòn'), a fortified seaport towr of France, on the English Channel. A great number of its residents are English.- En thu si ås' tic, warm; filled with admiration.-- Plaud' its, applause; marks of strong admiration, or approval. "Twas my forefather's hand That old familiar tree, Whose glory and renown 3. When but an idle boy, I sought its grateful shade But let that old oak stand! 4. My heart-strings round thee cling And still thy branches bend. Old tree, the storm still brave! Thy ax shall harm it not. GEORGE P. MORRIS N 59. DR. FRANKLIN'S CONVERSATIONAL POWERS. EVER have I known such a fireside companion as Dr. Franklin. Great as he was, both as a statesman and philosopher, he never shone in a light more winning than whet he was seen in a domestic circle. DR. FRANKLIN'S CONVERSATIONAL POWERS. 151 2. It was once my good fortune to pass two or three weeks with him, at the house of a private gentleman, in the back part of Pennsylvania; and we were confined to the house during the whole of that time, by the unintermitting constancy and depth of the snow. But confinement could never be felt where Franklin was an inmate. His cheerfulness and his colloquial3 powers spread around him a perpetual spring. There was no ambition of eloquence, no effort to shine in any thing that came from him. There was nothing which made any demand either upon your allegiance or your admiration. 3. His manner was as unaffected as infancy. It was nature's self. He talked like an old patriarch; and his plainness and simplicity put you, at once, at your ease, and gave you the full and free possession and use of all your faculties. 4. His thoughts were of a character to shine by their own light, without any adventitious' aid. They required only a mo dium of vision like his pure and simple style, to exhibit to the highest advantage their native radiance" and beauty. 5. His cheerfulness was unremitting." It seemed to be as much the effect of the systematic" and salutary13 exercise of the mind, as of its superior organization.14 His wit was of the first order. It did not show itself merely in occasional coruscations;1 but, without any effort or force on his part, it shed a constant stream of the purest light over the whole of his discourse. 6. Whether in the company of commons or nobles, he was always the same plain man; always most perfectly at his ease, his faculties in full play, and the full orbit of his genius forever clear and unclouded. And then the stores of his mind were 1 Un in ter mit' ting, ceaseless; without stopping.—2 Con' stan cy, permanent state; unalterable continuance.-3 Col lo' qui al, conversational; relating to conversation. Nothing (nůth' ing).—3 Al le' ġi ance, acknowledgment of authority; fidelity to rulers.- På' tri arch, the father and ruler of a family.- Adventitious (ad ven tish' us), coming from abroad; added.- Me' di um, means; that which stands in the middle between things.- Vision (viz'un), sight.-"Ra' di ance, brilliancy; great brightness11 Un re mit' ting, ceaseless; constant.-12 Sys tem åt'. ic, orderly; regular; according to a fixed plan.—13 Sål' u ta ry, useful; healthful. -14 Or gan i zà' tion, structure; the parts of which a thing is formed.-15 Cor us cå' tions, shinings; quick flashings of light. -1° Orb' it, circle in which something moves. |
