The capital jokes by his son Fletcher and guests sometimes caused the dignified and impressive butler to rapidly dart behind the large screen to laugh, then soon back to duty, imperturbable as before.
The large library occupied one ell of the house, with its high ceiling running in points to a finish.

There hung the strong portraits of Lord Ashburton and Mr.Webster.At the top of his own picture at the right hung his large grey slouch hat, so well known.

In the next room the silhouette of his mother, and underneath it his words, "My excellent mother." Also a portrait of Grace Fletcher, his first wife, and of his son Edward in uniform.

Edward was killed in the Mexican War.
There is a general impression that Mr.Webster was a heavy drinker and often under the influence of liquor when he rose to speak; as usual there are two sides to this question.

George Ticknor of Boston told my father that he had been with Webster on many public occasions, and never saw him overcome but once.