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Sparks, William Henry, 1800-1882

"The Memories of Fifty Years Containing Brief Biographical Notices of Distinguished Americans, and Anecdotes of Remarkable Men; Interspersed with Scenes and Incidents Occurring during a Long Life of Observation Chiefly Spent i"


"He was all head, and no heart."
This was severely said, and to some extent it was true, for Judge
Martin appeared without sympathy for the world, or any of the world.
He had no social habits; he lived in seclusion with his servant Ben, a
venerable negro, who served him for all purposes. These two had been
so long and so intimately associated, that in habits and want of
feeling they seemed identical. Ben served him because he was his
master and could compel it. He tolerated Ben because he could not well
do without him. He kept an interest account with Ben. He had paid for
him six hundred dollars, when first purchased. Ten per cent, upon this
amount was sixty dollars. His insurance upon a life policy, which risk
he took himself, was one hundred dollars. His services were regularly
valued by what such a man would hire for. Ben accompanied him on the
circuit, and died at Alexandria. When this was told him, he
immediately referred to this account, and declared he had saved money
by buying Ben, but should be loser if he paid his funeral expenses,
which he declined to do.


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