×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.

image

Four Great Americans: Washington, Franklin, Webster, Lincoln. A Book for Young Americans by James Baldwin, THE STORY OF DANIEL WEBSTER. IX.—DANIEL GOES TO BOSTON.

THE STORY OF DANIEL WEBSTER. IX.—DANIEL GOES TO BOSTON.

For a year and a half, young Daniel Webster stayed in the office of Mr. Thompson. He had now fully made up his mind as to what profession he would follow; and so he was a much better student than he had been before.

He read many law books with care. He read Hume's History of England , and spent a good deal of time with the Latin classics. "At this period of my life," he afterwards said, "I passed a great deal of time alone. "My amusements were fishing and shooting and riding, and all these were without a companion. I loved this solitude then, and have loved it ever since, and love it still." The Webster family were still very poor. Judge Webster was now too old to do much work of any kind. The farm had been mortgaged for all that it was worth. It was hard to find money enough to keep Daniel at his law studies and Ezekiel in college.

At last it became necessary for one of the young men to do something that would help matters along. Ezekiel decided that he would leave college for a time and try to earn enough money to meet the present needs of the family. Through some of his friends he obtained a small private school in Boston.

There were very few pupils in Ezekiel Webster's school. But there were so many branches to be taught that he could not find time to hear all the recitations. So, at last, he sent word to Daniel to come down and help him. If Daniel would teach an hour and a half each day, he should have enough money to pay his board.

Daniel was pleased with the offer. He had long wanted to study law in Boston, and here was his opportunity. And so, early in March, 1804, he joined his brother in that city, and was soon doing what he could to help him in his little school.

There was in Boston, at that time, a famous lawyer whose name was Christopher Gore. While Daniel Webster was wondering how he could best carry on his studies in the city, he heard that Mr. Gore had no clerk in his office.

"How I should like to read law with Mr. Gore!" he said to Ezekiel.

"Yes," said Ezekiel. "You could not want a better tutor." "I mean to see him to-day and apply for a place in his office," said Daniel. It was with many misgivings that the young man went into the presence of the great lawyer. We will let him tell the story in his own words:

"I was from the country, I said;—had studied law for two years; had come to Boston to study a year more; had heard that he had no clerk; thought it possible he would receive one. "I told him that I came to Boston to work, not to play; was most desirous, on all accounts, to be his pupil; and all I ventured to ask at present was, that he would keep a place for me in his office, till I could write to New Hampshire for proper letters showing me worthy of it." Mr. Gore listened to this speech very kindly, and then bade Daniel be seated while he should have a short talk with him.

When at last the young man rose to go, Mr. Gore said: "My young friend, you look as if you might be trusted. You say you came to study and not to waste time. I will take you at your word. You may as well hang up your hat at once." And this was the beginning of Daniel Webster's career in Boston. He must have done well in Mr. Gore's office; for, in a few months, he was admitted to the practice of law in the Court of Common Pleas in Boston. It was at some time during this same winter that Daniel was offered the position of clerk in the County Court at home. His father, as you will remember, was one of the judges in this court, and he was very much delighted at the thought that his son would be with him.

The salary would be about fifteen hundred dollars a year—and that was a great sum to Daniel as well as to his father. The mortgage on the farm could be paid off; Ezekiel could finish his course in college; and life would be made easier for them all.

At first Daniel was as highly pleased as his father. But after he had talked with Mr. Gore, he decided not to accept the offered position.

"Your prospects as a lawyer," said Mr. Gore, "are good enough to encourage you to go on. Go on, and finish your studies. You are poor enough, but there are greater evils than poverty. Live on no man's favor. Pursue your profession; make yourself useful to your friends and a little formidable to your enemies, and you have nothing to fear." A few days after that, Daniel paid a visit to his father. The judge received him very kindly, but he was greatly disappointed when the young man told him that he had made up his mind not to take the place.

With his deep-set, flashing eyes, he looked at his son for a moment as though in anger. Then he said, very slowly:

"Well, my son, your mother has always said that you would come to something or nothing—she was not sure which. I think you are now about settling that doubt for her." A few weeks after this, Daniel, as I have already told you, was admitted to the bar in Boston. But he did not think it best to begin his practice there.

He knew how anxious his father was that he should be near him. He wanted to do all that he could to cheer and comfort the declining years of the noble man who had sacrificed everything for him. And so, in the spring of 1805, he settled in the town of Boscawen, six miles from home, and put up at his office door this sign:

D. WEBSTER, ATTORNEY.


THE STORY OF DANIEL WEBSTER. IX.—DANIEL GOES TO BOSTON. LA HISTORIA DE DANIEL WEBSTER. IX.-DANIEL VA A BOSTON. L'HISTOIRE DE DANIEL WEBSTER. IX.-DANIEL VA À BOSTON. ダニエル・ウェブスターの物語。9.ダニエル、ボストンに行く。 ИСТОРИЯ ДАНИЭЛЯ ВЕБСТЕРА. IX.- ДЭНИЕЛ ОТПРАВЛЯЕТСЯ В БОСТОН. DANIEL WEBSTER'IN HİKAYESİ. IX.-DANIEL BOSTON'A GİDİYOR. 丹尼尔·韦伯斯特的故事。 IX.——丹尼尔去波士顿。

For a year and a half, young Daniel Webster stayed in the office of Mr. Thompson. Півтора року юний Деніел Вебстер пробув в офісі містера Томпсона. He had now fully made up his mind as to what profession he would follow; and so he was a much better student than he had been before. Тепер він повністю визначився з тим, яку професію обиратиме; і тому він був набагато кращим студентом, ніж був раніше. 他现在已经完全决定了自己要从事什么职业。所以他是一个比以前更好的学生。

He read many law books with care. Він ретельно прочитав багато юридичних книг. 他仔细阅读了许多法律书籍。 He read  Hume's History of England , and spent a good deal of time with the Latin classics. Він читав «Історію Англії» Юма і багато часу приділяв латинській класиці. "At this period of my life," he afterwards said, "I passed a great deal of time alone. «У цей період мого життя, — сказав він згодом, — я багато часу проводив на самоті. “在我生命的这个时期，”他后来说，“我独自度过了很多时间。 "My amusements were fishing and shooting and riding, and all these were without a companion. «Моїми розвагами були риболовля, стрільба та верхова їзда, і все це було без супроводу. “我的娱乐活动是钓鱼、射击和骑马，而所有这些都是没有同伴的。 I loved this solitude then, and have loved it ever since, and love it still." Я любив цю самотність тоді, люблю її відтоді й люблю досі». The Webster family were still very poor. Сім'я Вебстерів була ще дуже бідною. Judge Webster was now too old to do much work of any kind. Тепер суддя Вебстер був надто старий, щоб виконувати будь-яку роботу. The farm had been mortgaged for all that it was worth. Ферма була закладена на всю її вартість. It was hard to find money enough to keep Daniel at his law studies and Ezekiel in college. Важко було знайти достатньо грошей, щоб Даніель навчався на праві, а Єзекіїль — у коледжі.

At last it became necessary for one of the young men to do something that would help matters along. Нарешті виникла потреба, щоб один із молодих людей зробив щось, що могло б допомогти справі. Ezekiel decided that he would leave college for a time and try to earn enough money to meet the present needs of the family. Єзекіїль вирішив покинути коледж на деякий час і спробувати заробити достатньо грошей, щоб задовольнити поточні потреби сім’ї. 以西结决定暂时离开大学，努力挣足够的钱来满足家庭目前的需要。 Through some of his friends he obtained a small private school in Boston. 通过他的一些朋友，他在波士顿获得了一所小型私立学校。

There were very few pupils in Ezekiel Webster's school. У школі Єзекіеля Вебстера було дуже мало учнів. 以西结·韦伯斯特的学校里学生很少。 But there were so many branches to be taught that he could not find time to hear all the recitations. Але було так багато гілок, які потрібно було вивчити, що він не міг знайти часу, щоб послухати всі декламації. 但要教授的分支太多，他根本没有时间听所有的背诵。 So, at last, he sent word to Daniel to come down and help him. Тож нарешті він послав Даниїлу слово, щоб той прийшов і допоміг йому. 所以，最后他派人传话给但以理，让他下来帮助他。 If Daniel would teach an hour and a half each day, he should have enough money to pay his board. Якби Даніель викладав півтори години щодня, у нього було б достатньо грошей, щоб заплатити за дошку. 如果丹尼尔每天教一个半小时，他应该有足够的钱来支付伙食费。

Daniel was pleased with the offer. Даніель був задоволений пропозицією. He had long wanted to study law in Boston, and here was his opportunity. Він давно хотів вивчати право в Бостоні, і тут у нього випала нагода. 他一直想在波士顿学习法律，而这就是他的机会。 And so, early in March, 1804, he joined his brother in that city, and was soon doing what he could to help him in his little school. 因此，1804 年 3 月初，他来到了那个城市，与他的兄弟会合，并很快在他的小学校里尽其所能地帮助他。

There was in Boston, at that time, a famous lawyer whose name was Christopher Gore. У той час у Бостоні був відомий адвокат, якого звали Крістофер Гор. While Daniel Webster was wondering how he could best carry on his studies in the city, he heard that Mr. Gore had no clerk in his office. Поки Деніел Вебстер розмірковував, як йому найкраще продовжити навчання в місті, він почув, що в офісі містера Гора немає клерка.

"How I should like to read law with Mr. "Як би я хотіла вивчати право з паном. “我多么想和先生一起读法律啊。 Gore!" he said to Ezekiel.

"Yes," said Ezekiel. "You could not want a better tutor." “你不可能想要一个更好的导师了。” "I mean to see him to-day and apply for a place in his office," said Daniel. "Я хочу побачити його сьогодні і подати заявку на місце в його офісі", - сказав Даніель. “我今天打算见他并申请他办公室的一个职位，”丹尼尔说。 It was with many misgivings that the young man went into the presence of the great lawyer. З багатьма побоюваннями молодий чоловік увійшов до великого адвоката. 年轻人带着许多疑虑来到这位伟大律师的面前。 We will let him tell the story in his own words: Ми дозволимо йому розповісти історію своїми словами:

"I was from the country, I said;—had studied law for two years; had come to Boston to study a year more; had heard that he had no clerk; thought it possible he would receive one. «Я був із села, сказав я,— вивчав право два роки; приїхав до Бостона, щоб вчитися ще рік; чув, що в нього немає клерка; гадав, що, можливо, він його отримає. “我来自乡下，我说；——学了两年法律；来到波士顿又学习了一年；听说他没有职员；认为他可能会得到一个职员。 "I told him that I came to Boston to work, not to play; was most desirous, on all accounts, to be his pupil; and all I ventured to ask at present was, that he would keep a place for me in his office, till I could write to New Hampshire for proper letters showing me worthy of it." «Я сказав йому, що приїхав до Бостона працювати, а не грати; я дуже хотів бути його учнем; і все, що я наважився зараз попросити, це те, щоб він залишив для мене місце у своєму кабінеті. , поки я не зможу написати до Нью-Гемпшира, щоб отримати відповідні листи, які показуватимуть, що я гідний цього». “我告诉他，我来波士顿是为了工作，不是为了玩耍；无论如何，我最希望成为他的学生；而我现在大胆地要求的是，他愿意在他的办公室里为我保留一个位置，直到我可以写信给新罕布什尔州，索取适当的信件，证明我值得这样做。” Mr. Gore listened to this speech very kindly, and then bade Daniel be seated while he should have a short talk with him. Містер Гор дуже люб'язно вислухав цю промову, а потім попросив Даніеля сісти, поки він має з ним коротко поговорити. 戈尔先生非常和蔼地听了这次演讲，然后请丹尼尔坐下来与他进行简短的交谈。

When at last the young man rose to go, Mr. Gore said: "My young friend, you look as if you might be trusted. Коли нарешті молодий чоловік підвівся, щоб піти, містер Гор сказав: «Мій молодий друже, ти виглядаєш так, ніби тобі можна довіряти. You say you came to study and not to waste time. Ви кажете, що прийшли вчитися, а не гаяти час. I will take you at your word. Я вірю тобі на слово. You may as well hang up your hat at once." Ви можете відразу повісити капелюха». 你还是赶紧把帽子挂起来吧。” And this was the beginning of Daniel Webster's career in Boston. He must have done well in Mr. Gore's office; for, in a few months, he was admitted to the practice of law in the Court of Common Pleas in Boston. Мабуть, він добре впорався в кабінеті містера Гора; оскільки за кілька місяців його допустили до адвокатської практики в Суді загальних справ у Бостоні. 他在戈尔先生的办公室里一定表现得很好；几个月后，他就获得了波士顿普通法院的律师资格。 It was at some time during this same winter that Daniel was offered the position of clerk in the County Court at home. Десь тієї самої зими Даніелю запропонували посаду клерка в окружному суді вдома. 就在同年冬天的某个时候，丹尼尔在家乡的县法院担任书记员。 His father, as you will remember, was one of the judges in this court, and he was very much delighted at the thought that his son would be with him. Його батько, як ви пам’ятаєте, був одним із суддів у цьому суді, і він був дуже радий думці, що його син буде з ним.

The salary would be about fifteen hundred dollars a year—and that was a great sum to Daniel as well as to his father. 每年的工资大约是一千五百美元——这对丹尼尔和他的父亲来说都是一笔巨款。 The mortgage on the farm could be paid off; Ezekiel could finish his course in college; and life would be made easier for them all. Іпотеку на ферму можна було погасити; Єзекіїль міг закінчити свій курс у коледжі; і життя їм усім стало б легше.

At first Daniel was as highly pleased as his father. 起初丹尼尔和他的父亲一样非常高兴。 But after he had talked with Mr. Gore, he decided not to accept the offered position. Але після розмови з паном Гором він вирішив не погоджуватися на запропоновану посаду.

"Your prospects as a lawyer," said Mr. Gore, "are good enough to encourage you to go on. «Ваші перспективи як адвоката, — сказав містер Гор, — достатньо добрі, щоб спонукати вас продовжувати. “你作为一名律师的前景，”戈尔先生说，“足以鼓励你继续前进。 Go on, and finish your studies. You are poor enough, but there are greater evils than poverty. Ви достатньо бідні, але є більше зло, ніж бідність. 你已经够穷了，但还有比贫穷更大的祸害。 Live on no man's favor. Живіть без користі. 不靠任何人的恩宠而活。 Pursue your profession; make yourself useful to your friends and a little formidable to your enemies, and you have nothing to fear." Займатися своєю професією; будь корисним для своїх друзів і трохи грізним для своїх ворогів, і тобі нема чого боятися». A few days after that, Daniel paid a visit to his father. The judge received him very kindly, but he was greatly disappointed when the young man told him that he had made up his mind not to take the place. Суддя прийняв його дуже приязно, але був дуже розчарований, коли молодий чоловік сказав йому, що вирішив не займати це місце. 法官非常友善地接待了他，但是当年轻人告诉他他已经决定不担任这个职务时，他感到非常失望。

With his deep-set, flashing eyes, he looked at his son for a moment as though in anger. Своїми глибоко посадженими блискучими очима він якусь мить дивився на сина, ніби розлючений. 他目光深邃，目光闪烁，看了儿子一眼，似乎有些愤怒。 Then he said, very slowly: Тоді він дуже повільно сказав:

"Well, my son, your mother has always said that you would come to something or nothing—she was not sure which. «Ну, мій сину, твоя мати завжди казала, що ти прийдеш до чогось або нічого — вона не знала, що. “好吧，我的儿子，你的母亲总是说，你要么有所成就，要么一事无成——她不确定是哪一种。 I think you are now about settling that doubt for her." Я думаю, що ти зараз збираєшся розв’язати для неї цей сумнів». 我认为你现在要为她解决这个疑虑。” A few weeks after this, Daniel, as I have already told you, was admitted to the bar in Boston. Через кілька тижнів після цього Деніела, як я вже казав вам, прийняли до адвокатури в Бостоні. 几周后，正如我已经告诉过你的那样，丹尼尔被允许进入波士顿的酒吧。 But he did not think it best to begin his practice there. Але він не вважав за краще починати свою практику там. 但他认为从那里开始练习并不是最好的选择。

He knew how anxious his father was that he should be near him. Він знав, як його батько хотів бути поруч з ним. 他知道他的父亲多么渴望他能靠近他。 He wanted to do all that he could to cheer and comfort the declining years of the noble man who had sacrificed everything for him. Він хотів зробити все можливе, щоб підбадьорити і втішити старі роки благородної людини, яка пожертвувала всім заради нього. 他想尽一切努力，为这位为他牺牲一切的贵人的晚年加油和安慰。 And so, in the spring of 1805, he settled in the town of Boscawen, six miles from home, and put up at his office door this sign: І ось навесні 1805 року він оселився в містечку Боскавен, за шість миль від дому, і повісив на дверях свого кабінету такий знак: 于是，1805 年春天，他在距家六英里的博斯卡文镇定居，并在办公室门口挂了这样的牌子：

D. WEBSTER, ATTORNEY. Д. ВЕБСТЕР, АДВОКАТ. D. 韦伯斯特，律师。