There is a tradition, and Mr. Webster has confirmed it, that he was one day out on the marsh when his attention was drawn to two young men, evidently from the city, who were standing on one side of a creek which it seemed necessary to cross. They were nicely dressed, and evidently dismayed by the apparent necessity of spoiling their fine clothes in the passage. Seeing a large rough-looking man, with his pants tucked in his boots, approaching them, their faces brightened as they saw a way out of their dilemma.
“My good man,” said one, in an eager but patronizing way, “we are in trouble. Can you help us?”
Mr. Webster looked at the young men and appreciated the situation.
He answered gravely, “What is your difficulty?”
“We want to get across this creek, but you see we might spoil our clothes if we undertook to wade.”
Mr. Webster nodded.
“You look like a good, strong fellow, and it won’t hurt your clothes. Will you carry us across on your back?”
Mr. Webster’s eyes twinkled, but he did not suffer the young men to see it. They were lightly made, and no great burden to one of his herculean frame.
“Yes,” he answered; “I will oblige you.”