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be helped. I presume the old house made a fine blaze. I shall expect to hear very soon, from some of you, all the particulars. . "Your affectionate son,

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"HENRY."

Two days later, he wrote a longer letter, addressed to his dear parents," in which he said many cheery words of comfort, and gave them a pressing invitation to make their home at his house in New York; at the same time offering pecuniary assistance to enable them to retrieve the misfortune which had overtaken them. This letter, filled with expressions of tender filial devotion, is here given entire : —

"NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 1848.

"MY DEAR PARENTS: - I wrote a very short and hasty letter on Saturday, as soon as I heard of your misfortune. I hope to hear to-day or to-morrow more particulars of the matter, as we are still entirely in the dark as to the amount of loss, etc., etc. We have speculated about it till we are tired, wondering how the fire caught,, whether this thing was saved, or that one burned, etc., etc. But it's all useless, and we must wait patiently until we hear something direct and explicit. I hope you are not much dejected or discouraged about it, and indeed I am not at all afraid that it has so far depressed your spirits as to prevent your considering what's to be done. I'm most anxious to know whether it was insured, and whether you saved any considerable portion of the furniture, your papers, etc., etc. If, when you get this, you shall not already have fully written upon all these points, I hope you will do so without delay.

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"And now let's see what's to be done. I suppose of course you will not think of building again this fall. Why not, then, as soon as you put things straight, pick up the pieces, etc., etc., and come down here and stay with us? At all events, we have made up our minds that you must come, to stay a while at any rate. We have plenty of room, and will do everything we can to make it pleasant.

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"What do you intend to do about rebuilding? Why would it not be well to buy the east part of Hopkins' farm, and live in his house, not building again upon the old spot? I think it very likely this would be the cheapest way, and would be best for the farm in the long run. It wouldn't seem so much like home for a few years; but it would after a while, and then it would make a splendid farm. If you conclude to build again, I suppose it would not be worth while to do more than clear away the rubbish and get material ready before spring. You can undoubtedly build a much more convenient and in every way a better house than the old one was, and that probably at no very great expense.

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It makes me sad to think that the old homestead has gone; but it can't be helped, - so there's no use in feeling bad about it. I wish I could go out there, to see how things stand, and to help you, if I could be of any service. But it is impossible for me to leave just now. If you want anything of me,

let me know it. I can let you have some money, if you have need of it. You may rely upon me for everything you want that it is in my power to give or do. I hope to see you here before long, so that we may talk the whole thing over. Of course it will cause you a great deal of trouble and confusion, but even that will prevent you from getting dull and having nothing to engage your attention; and beyond that I hope it will cause you no serious inconvenience. Come down and stay with us, and we'll try and make you glad the old house was burned. .. Little Henry is well, though the mosquitoes

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have almost eaten him up. "Hoping to hear from you very soon, and writing myself in great haste, I am as ever "Your affectionate son,

66 HENRY."

Not content with words, Mr. Raymond, a week later, proceeded to deeds. Difficult as it was for him to leave the responsible place he occupied, even for a few days, he went to Lima, to supervise the task of gathering up the shattered household gods, and to assume the responsibilities which rightly belonged to him as the eldest son of the family. Arriving in Lima on Sunday, he occupied that day and Monday in making temporary arrangements for the comfort of his parents, and in rescuing, from the wreck of the old homestead,* all that was worth preserving; and on Monday afternoon was on his way back to New York, having first despatched from Lima the following letter to his brother Samuel:

"LIMA, Monday P. M. [October 9, 1848.]

"MY DEAR BROTHER:- I have been a good deal disappointed in not seeing you here, though, come to think it over, I suppose it would have been difficult for you to get away. I sent you word by telegraph on Friday afternoon that I should be here on Sunday morning. We were detained first by a fog on the river, and then by running off the track, so that I did not get to Canandaigua until nine o'clock Sunday morning; and it was after twelve when I got home, though the 'home' I found then was very different from the old one I used to come to. The folks had all gone to church, and were astounded enough when they found me on their return. It was with a good deal of difficulty that I got away from New York even for a few days, but I thought our folks would be glad to see me, even if it were but for a little while. I go back to-night, and shall start in an hour or two, - father going to Canan

The Raymond farm was subsequently sold, and is now in the occupation of Mr. Longyour. The present house occupies the site of the one in which Henry J. Raymond was born; and the locust-grove shown in the illustration is the same that existed fifty years ago.

daigua with me. I thought they would probably be a good deal discouraged by their misfortunes, and that I might perhaps help them some. I'm glad to find them less disheartened than I feared they would be.

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... "How desolate the old place looks! It seems scarcely possible that the blackened ruin we see now can be all that is left of our old and happy home; and indeed it is not; for the memory of the old place, and of the many happy hours we have spent there, of the kind care of parents that has made it so blessed a place for us, still lives, and fire cannot destroy it. I cannot conceive how the fire could have taken; it seems perfectly unaccountable. How fortunate it was that James came home that night! And how admirably everything seems to have been managed, after the fire was discovered! If the house was to burn, it could scarcely have burned under better auspices. Most of the most valuable things seem to have been saved; and the kindness of friends has in good part made up for the rest. I have been talking matters over with father, and told him I wanted him to decide on doing just what would suit him and mother best, and not be deterred by any consideration of expense, for I would pay all deficiencies. He has about concluded to use his insurance money to pay off all his debts the first thing, -except the State loan, and then take the rest to build a house in the spring; and whatever is lacking I will supply. This will give him a snug house, his farm, and all clear of debt; and he can snap his fingers at all the world. Mother will come to New York, by and by, and stay I hope some time. Father will probably come with her, though he may not be able to stay till she returns. On the whole, I think they have a prospect of having things comfortable again, though they cannot have a house of their own this winter. It would not be easy to build properly this fall.

--

"But it is time for me to be getting ready to be off. I have been well repaid for coming, by the feeling that my visit has made them happier. And nothing gives me more pleasure than the thought that I can now be of some service to them, in return for the inestimable services they have rendered me. I hope to hear from you soon. Good-by.

"Your affectionate brother,

"HENRY."

Such glimpses of the inner lives of men are useful and interesting. To casual observers, Mr. Raymond appeared impassive, perhaps selfish. But those who knew him best, and especially the parents and brothers who had known him longest, knew how deep and warm were his natural feelings of affection, and how generous his hand. The closing passage of the last letter quoted above is a well-deserved tribute to his parents; and the sentiment expressed throughout is noble, tender, and touching.

CHAPTER IX.

RAYMOND'S ENTRANCE INTO POLITICAL LIFE.

ELECTION TO THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE IN 1849 -A GOOD BEGINNING RETURN TO THE COURIER AND ENQUIRER RE-ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1850 REMARKS ON ASSUMING THE SPEAKERSHIP OF THE ASSEMBLY SUDDEN END OF THE SESSION AN INCIDENT IN RAYMOND'S LIFE. QUARREL BETWEEN WEBB AND RAYMOND -DEPARTURE OF RAYMOND FOR EUROPE - HIS FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE OLD WORLD -LETTER FROM LONDON.

THE political life of Henry J. Raymond began in 1849. In the autumn of that year, as the candidate of the Whig party, he was elected to the State Legislature, as the representative in the Assembly of the Ninth Ward district of the city of New York; obtaining a large majority over his Democratic competitor, Mr. Potter. As a parliamentarian, and a political leader, Mr. Raymond immediately took a commanding position. His ability as a debater, his thorough knowledge of the rules of legislative action, and his sympathy with the Free Soil movement of the day, at once elevated him to a prominent place in the ranks of the opponents of slavery extension. In the general business of the session he was also active and efficient. Having been appointed Chairman of the Committee on the petition for the improvement of Rackett River, he made an elaborate report upon the history and the undeveloped capacities of that comparatively unknown part of the State, which brought him into notice as a careful investigator in a. new field of research.

This was Mr. Raymond's first experience in the political arena. He intended it should be his last; for, on returning, at the close of the session, to his duties in the office of the Courier and Enquirer, he again became engrossed in journalism, and long resisted the efforts made by his constituents and

friends, to induce him to continue in public life. Moreover, the whole responsibility of conducting the Courier and Enquirer had fallen upon him, on the departure of General Webb for Europe; and the gradual accumulation of his means had enabled him to purchase a share in that journal. Prudent regard for his own welfare, therefore, required absolute devotion to the demands of his profession. It was only when the Whigs beset him with solicitations, that he yielded his own desires to those of his party, and again consented to become a candidate for the Assembly. For the second time he was triumphantly elected (November, 1850), and at the opening of the session in January, 1851, he was chosen Speaker. His Whig competitor for that position was Mr. J. B. Varnum of New York. The Democratic candidate was Mr. N. S. Elderkin; but in that Legislature the Democrats were in the minority.

Messrs. Varnum and Elderkin conducted Mr. Raymond to the Speaker's chair, and he opened the session with a wise little speech, in which he gave good counsel in pithy words, thus:

"GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSEMBLY: - I tender you my thanks for the honor you have been pleased to confer on me. I shall endeavor to discharge the duties, and to meet the responsibilities which that honor brings with it, by a careful attention to the progress of public business, and under a due sense of the importance of the trust which you have devolved upon me.

"You will soon adopt rules for your guidance and government in the deliberations of the present session. I shall seek to give such vigorous, practical effect to such rules as shall best attain the design they are intended to secure. I shall often need, gentlemen, and I do not doubt I shall always have, your most charitable indulgence in this endeavor.

"Nothing, permit me to remind you, can more effectually promote the easy and beneficial discharge of public duty than a pervading sense of the magnitude of the interests committed to your care. Let us bear always in mind that we are making laws for the greatest, the richest, the most powerful, of the American States; that the topics which will demand our attention are those which touch most nearly the dearest interests of those millions of people; and that in regard to our sister States, and the Federal Union, we have rights, relations, and duties, which demand our care; and that our action here may shape the character, guide the growth, and control the destinies of this great State long after we shall have ceased to take any part in its affairs. Under such a sense of the greatness and importance of our task, and with proper dependence upon the wisdom that cometh from above, let us address ourselves to the duties that lie before us."

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