The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

THE VERRIMAIJ Cr~' RI VER;
shed; and thus, like most men who have acquired distinction and
renown in this country, the path had a humble beginning which led
him from obscurity, through long years of effort, toil, drucldgery, and
trials, to reach it.
It seems to be a wise provision of Providence, that what is not
worth making an earnest effort to obtain is not worth having, even
though it is only daily bread; and the effort required to provide
either food or achieve a just fame properly qualifies an individual to
appreciate its benefits and realize and discharge its obligations and
duties. Thus, when a man enlists with a full determination to serve
faithfully and well, and rises from the humblest rank to the highest
command, for no other consideration than diligent and efficient services, it would seem a self-evident proposition that he is a gallant
soldier and an excellent officer.
His first case was a failure, - no doubt to him a mortifying one:
but it neither weakened his ambition nor relaxed his efforts to compel
success on the contrary, it was a spur which goaded him to more
extensive preparations and a marshalling of hitherto undeveloped
faculties. and it is more than possible that a discomfiture in the outset aroused' his latent energies and was a guaranty of ultimate triumph. At the age of twenty-five he was chosen to represent his
native town in the Legislature,- his father having been elected governor the same year, and served four years in that bodly, the two
last being elected speaker by a majority of one hundred votes.
In 1833 he was elected to Congress, being the youngest, one of
the most industrious and useful Members. It was said of him that
he never talked for Buncombe; but his sterling abilities as a watchful and efficient legislator were practically recognized by the House
in placing him on some of the most important committees. as well as
by his constituents.
Hle was a disciple of Andrew Jackson, and the warmest personal
friendship and esteem existed between them. Here he served four
years, and the satisfaction which he gave in the discharge of the
duties of a representative may be inferred by the fact that he was
then promoted to the Senate, and took his seat in 1837, at the commencement of the administration of Mr. Van Buren, and participated in the conflicts of the intellectual giants of that most brilliant
epoch of the United States Senate since the early days of the Re
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