Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/425

 CONCLUSION.

, by his two marriages, was the father of fifteen children. By his first wife he had six; of whom two only survived him; by his last, he had six sons and three daughters; all of whom, together with their mother, were living at his death.

He had been fortunate during the latter part of his life; and, chiefly by the means of judicious purchases of lands, had left his family, large as it was, not only independent, but rich.

In his habits of living, he was remarkably temperate and frugal. He seldom drank any thing but water; and his table, though abundantly spread, was furnished only with the most simple viands. Necessity had imposed those habits upon him in the earlier part of his life; and use, as well as reason, now made them his choice.

His children were raised with little or no restraint. He seems not to have thought very highly of early education. It is indeed probable, that his own success, which was attributable almost entirely to the natural powers of his mind, had diminished the importance of an extensive education in his view. But although they were suffered to run wild for some years, and indeed committed to the sole guidance of nature, to a much later period than usual, yet they were finally all well educated; and not only by the reflected worth of their father, but by their own merits, have always occupied a most respectable station in society.

Mr. Henry's conversation was remarkably pure and