Through great difficulties and by the self-sacrifice of his family, he had made his way to the threshold of the career for which he was so richly endowed.

He had passed an unblemished youth; he had led a clean, honest, hard-working life; he was simple, manly, affectionate.

Poverty had been a misfortune, not because it had warped or soured him, for he smiled at it with cheerful philosophy, nor because it had made him avaricious, for he never either then or at any time cared for money for its own sake, and nothing could chill the natural lavishness of his disposition.

But poverty accustomed him to borrowing and to debt, and this was a misfortune to a man of Mr.
Webster's temperament.

In those early days he was anxious to pay his debts; but they did not lie heavy upon him or carry a proper sense of responsibility, as they did to Ezekiel and to his father.