h years of stalwart independence had developed, but
these were lovable peculiarities and only severed from remarkable
actions by the compelling power of time and his increasing infirmities.
The loud, though pleasant, voice, and strong, often fiery, declamatory
manner, were remnants of the days when his fellow-citizens were wholly
swayed by the magnificence of his orations. Charmingly simple in manner,
he still represented with it that old courtesy which made every stranger
his guest. When moved by righteous indignation, there cropped out the
daring and domineering insistence of one who had always followed what he
considered to be the right, and who knew its power.

Even then, old as he was, if there were any topic worthy of discussion,
and his fellow-citizens were in danger of going wrong, he became an
haranguing prophet, as it were, a local Isaiah or Jeremiah. Every gate
heard him, for he stopped on his rounds in front of each, and calling
out the inhabitant poured forth such a volume of fact and argument as
tended to remove all doubt of what he, at least, considered right. All
of this he invariably accompanied by a magnificence of gesture worthy of
a great orator.

At such times his mind, apparently, was almost wholly engrossed with
these matters, and I have it from one of his daughters, who, besides
being his daughter, was a sincere admirer of his, that often he might
have been seen coming down his private lawn, and even the public streets
when there was no one near to hear him, shaking his head, gesticulating,
sometimes sweeping upward with his arms, as if addressing his
fellow-citizens in assemblage.

"He used to push his big hat well back upon his forehead," she said on
one occasion, "and often in winter, forgetful of the bitter cold, would
take off his overcoat and carry it on his arm. Occasionally he would
stop quite still, as if he were addressing a companion, and with
sweeping gestures illustrate some idea or other, although, of course,
there was no one present. Then, planting his big cane forcibly with each
step, as though still emphasizing his recently stated ideas, he would
come forward and enter the house."

The same suggestion of mental concentration might have been seen in
everything that he did, and I personally have seen him leading a pet
Jersey cow home for milking with the same dignity of bearing and
forcefulness of manner that characterized him when he stood before his
fellow-citizens at a publi