In a letter to one of his friends he said: "I shall make one more trial
of the law in the ensuing autumn.

"If I prosecute the profession, I pray God to fortify me against its
temptations. To be honest, to be capable, to be faithful to my client
and my conscience."

Early the next September, he was again in Mr. Thompson's little law
office. All the money that he had saved, while at Fryeburg, was spent to
help Ezekiel through college.

* * * * *

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