he was looked up to as the leading man in the neighborhood.

In some way, I do not know how, he had gotten a little knowledge of the
law. And at last, because of this as well as because of his sound
common sense, he was appointed judge of the court in his county.

This was several years after the war was over. He was now no longer
called Captain Webster, but Judge Webster.

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