Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/162

THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS and hope for his country, when she became the subject of conversation, and for all around him, the dearest and most indifferent, for all breath- ing things about him, the overflow of the kindest heart growing in gentleness and benevolence — • paternal, patriarchal affections, seeming to be- come more natural, warm, and communicative every hour. Softer and yet brighter grew the tints on the sky of parting day; and the last lingering rays, more even than the glories of noon, announced how divine was the source from which they proceeded; how incapable to be quenched; how certain to rise on a morning which no night should follow. Such a character was made to be loved. It was loved. Those who knew and saw it in its hour of calm — those who could repose on that soft green — loved him. His plain neighbors loved him; and one said, when he was laid in his grave, **How lonesome the world seems !'* Educated young men loved him. The ministers of the gospel, the general intelligence of the country, the masses afar off, loved him. True, they had not found in his speeches, read by millions, so much adulation of the people; so much of the music which robs the public reason of itself; so many phrases of humanity and philanthropy; and some had told them he was lofty and cold — solitary in his greatness; but every year they came nearer and nearer to him, and as they came nearer, they loved him better ; they heard how tender the son had been, the 152