The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-07-04
Story Of Morgan P-ussia.

x0V
gent, remarkable for his dexterity il
telling a story, was fond of collecting
instances of the whinp and humor of tn.
Irish peasantry. One of these was the
history of Morgaa Prussia
Morgan the gay and handsome son ol
a low Irish farmer-tired of home, went
to take ne chances of the world, and
seek his fortune. By what means he
trave esed England, or made his way to
Frsnce, is not told. But he at length
crossed France also, and, probably
without much knowledge or much care
whether he were moving to the North OF
South Pole, found himself in the Prus
sian territory. This was in the day O.
the Srst Frederick, famous for his tall
regiment of guards, and for nothing else,
except his being the most dangerous
compound of fool and madman among
the crowned heads of the continent He
mad but one ambition-that OF inspect
ing twice day regiment of a thous.
and grenadiers, not one Of whom was
less than six and half feet high. Nor
gan was an Irish giant, and was instant
Iy seized by the Prussian recruiting
sergeants. who forced him to volunteer
into the tall battalion This turn of fate
was totally out Of the Irishman's calcu-
'a'ioh and the prospect of carrying
nusAe' ''ii ni~ dying day on the Pots
dam parade, alter ha,.1 mad. n, b;s
mind to live by his wits ana a.,
world, more than once tempted him to
think of leaving his musket and honor be
hind him, and fairly trying his chance for
escape. But the attempt was always
found impracticable the frontier was
too closely watched, and Morgan still
marched up and down the Potsdam pa
rade with a disconsolate heart; when
one evening a Turkish recruit was
brought in; for Frederick looked to
nothing but the thews and sinews of
man, and the Turk was full seven feet
high.
How much did his majesty give for
catching that heather ? aid Morgan to
his corporal.
-Four hundred dollars was the an
swer.
He burst out into an exclamation OF
astonishment at this waste of treasure
upon Turk.
"Why, they cannot be got for less
| replied the corporal
hear of it Y said Morgan 4 am dwarf
to any of them. and the sound of half
the money would bring them all over
Immediately
As the discovery Of a tall recruit was
the well known road to favoritism, FIVE
were worth at least a pair of colors to
the corporal; the conversation was i'm
mediatey carried to the sergeant, from
through the graduation of officers to
the colonel, who took the first opporruni-
ty of mentioning it to the king. The
colonel was instantly ordered 90 ques-
ton Morgan. But he at once lost all
memory on the subject He had no
brothers; he had made the regiment his
father and mother and relations. and
still more strongly, and at length confes
sed that he had brothers even above the
regimental standard, but that nothing
on earth could stir them from their
spades.
After some time the king inquired for
the five recruits. and was indignant when
told of the impossibility of enlisting
them.
Send the fellow himself he exclaim
ed, "and let him bring them back
( The order was given. but Morgan was
broken hearted at the idea of so long an
absence from the regiment. He applied
to the colonel to have the order revoked
or at least given to some one else. But
this was out of the question. for Freder
ick's word was always irrevocabie; and
Morgan, .~i.h- n -disennanlaie- face.-pre
pared to set out upon his mission. But
new difficulty struck him. 'How was
| he to make his brothers come unless he
showed them the recruiting money
This objection was at last obviated by
/ the advance of a sum of fifteen hundred
dollars, as first installment for the pur
chase of his family. Like loyal gren-
adler, the Irishman was now ready to at
tempt anything for his colonel or his
king. and Morgan began his journey
But as he was stepping out Of the gates
of Potsdam, another cificulty 'ccurred'
and he returned to tell the solonel that,
of all people existing, tbsIrish were :he
most apt TO doubt travellers story,
shey being in the habit of good deal
nf exercise in that style themselves; and
that when he should go back to his own
country and tell them Of the capital
treatment and sure promotion that .
soldier met with in the guards, the pro-
/ h.h;l;tv ~sa that thew would laugh in