﻿242 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



achievement; and though I might legitimately claim both, would not 

 mention either." I have never heard of royal descent on the part 

 of Mr. Clay, and I hope he has enough of the true republican in his 

 constitution to feel that that is a matter of indifference. 



Henry Clay was born in Virginia, on the 12th of April, 1777. His 

 father was a Baptist minister, and preached, at the time of Henry's 

 birth, in Hanover county, familiarly called " The Slashes." 



His father died when he was about five years of age. His early 

 means of education were poor. The straitened circumstances in 

 which the family was left made it necessary for him, in common 

 with his brothers, to spend much time in manual employments. He 

 was no stranger to farming utensils; by the sweat of his brow he 

 earned his daily bread. It was from his frequent visits to a grist- 

 mill on the Panumkey river, where he went seated on i bag of 

 grain thrown across his horse, without a rope, bridle or saddle, 

 that he gained the title of" Mill Boy of the Slashes." 



He worked in this way till about fifteen years of age, enjoying, as 

 I before intimated, but meagre means of education. In 1792, he was 

 placed in the office of the clerk of the High Court of Chancery, where 

 he found employment congenial to his taste, and ample means of 

 mental culture. In this and other offices he " paid his way " by 

 diligent effort, and acquired a knowledge of law, so that, in the year 

 1797, he was licensed to practise law. Boys, remember this has 

 been done ; and though you are poor and without friends, just think 

 that it or its equivalent may be done again. 



Mr. Clay once said, in reference to his commencement in business, 

 "I was without patrons, without friends, and destitute of the means 

 of paying my weekly board. I remember how comfortable I thought 

 I should be, if I could make 100 Virginia money, per annum, and 

 with what delight I received the first fifteen shilling fee. My hopes 

 were more than realized. I immediately rushed into a lucrative 

 practice." 



And with his lucrative practice came wealth, and honor, and pow- 

 er. He has been one of the great men of this nation. He has held 

 many- offices of high distinction, and acquitted himself with ability 

 and honor. 



