Governor Pierce was a man of admirable qualities--brave,
active, public-spirited, endowed with natural authority, courteous yet
simple in his manners; and in his son we may perceive these same
attributes, modified and softened by a finer texture of character,
illuminated by higher intellectual culture, and polished by a larger
intercourse with the world, but as substantial and sterling as in the
good old patriot.
Franklin Pierce had removed from Hillsborough in 1838, and taken up his
residence at Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. On this occasion,
the citizens of his native town invited him to a public dinner, in token
of their affection and respect. In accordance with his usual taste, he
gratefully accepted the kindly sentiment, but declined the public
demonstration of it.
CHAPTER III.
HIS SUCCESS AT THE BAR.
Franklin Pierce's earliest effort at the bar, as we have already
observed, was an unsuccessful one; but instead of discouraging him, the
failure had only served to awaken the consciousness of latent power, and
the resolution to bring it out. Since those days, he had indeed gained
reputation as a lawyer. So much, however, was the tenor of his legal
life broken up by the months of public service subtracted from each year,
and such was the inevitable tendency of his thoughts towards political
subjects, that he could but very partially avail himself of the
opportunities of professional advancement.
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