The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-03

PilSoneIS--1 lOrgeG now many-ln Cnar-
lesion. l have taken dinner with him
hundred times in his late life, and when
ever asked to take rice, his eyes would
fill with tears and he would promptly
decline it, saying got rice enough
in Charleston"
Whilst there, two remarkable incidents
occurred the one relating to his wonder
full
Farsightedness,
in which he surpassed any human being
| ever knew or heard of-many proofs of
1T, when he was very old man, l have
witnessed. For instance, 1 have known
MIN to distinguish gentlemen riding at
the distance of mile; | have known him
to tell a dog chasing hare, half mile
OH and see the hare and know the dog,
when no one else could see the hare at
all But the particular case to which 1
allude occurred on this wise: Sitting
one day at Charleston, in full view of
the ocean, he saw small fleet heading
for the city, in the face of stiff breeze.
A British officer passing him, he tipped
his cap, and told him number of ships
looked eagerly in the direction to which
he pointed, but could see nothing, and
cursing him, passed on. Major Morton
knew nothing of the expected arrival of
re-inforcements and supplies, but the Of
ficer. did; hence his eagerness In half
hour or so, this officer returned, and as
he was passing by, Major Morton said to
him: Now Captain, you can see the
ships. There are six of them. They
have just tackled and the sun is shining
on the top-gallants. Now, noaO, you can
see them" The officer now gazed with
intense interest, but seeing his captive
was sure of what he told him, went
rapidly to the quarters and brought a
Kaleidoscope, accompanied by other
officers. After looking for few mo-
ments, he exclaimed, "that fellow is
right-they are coming they are com
ing and soon great crowd of officers
and men were looking on with delight.
He had with his naked eye seen and
counted the number of ships more than
half hour before any one else could see
them with telescope
The other incident is the way he made
his escape and regained his liberty. 1t
was by plunging into the bay at night
and swimming to Fort Moultrie, dis
tance of eight miles He seemed to
make the very sharks afraid of him. At
all events, he was not attacked by one,
but arrived safely, though greatly ex-
hausted, and soon rejoined the army.
Old wellington.
Often have | sat, when a little boy,
and listened for hours together in breath
less silence, while he and his comrades
in arms would talk over and fight over
the battles in which they had been en-
gagged. Old Wilmington, the family seat
of Major Morton, was the scene of many
all Interesting story, and Tarleton Wood
son, and Willis Crute, and Jack Trent,
and Carter Page, and other revolutionary
officers and soldiers were welcome guests
at his hospitable mansion There they
would meet and talk of Trenton, Prince
ton, Brandywine, Germantown, the Cow
pens, Camden, Guildford Court House
Eutaw Springs, and especially York
town, and these places became as familiar
to me as if had been present at every
battle.
Old Times in Old Virginia.
said Wilmington was place of hos
pitality, and it is true. Indeed it was
the most hospitable mansion 1 ever
anew II may SACepI MOnJrOSe, IN row
hatan county, the seat of my maternal
ancestors may remark here, that I
do not remember ever seeing either house
without company when the families were
at home, and before they were broken up
and dispersed by death or marriage.
Like many of the families of Old Vir-
GINA during those times, they were in
danger of being eaten out of house and
home by the crowds of visitors enter
tanned. They carried on what thew
called "Junkett5mg" at great rate, and
staid three or four days, or week, feast
ing day by day on the biggest sort of
dinners. After the lapse of few weeks,
the visiting would be reversed, the
visited families visiting, and if it could
be done, the indulgence in feasting and
so forth would be greater still. No
families could exceed those Of Wellington
and Montrose, and will add at Olney,
five miles below Richmond, the seat of
William Sterling Smith, ESQ, in enter
tainments of this kind. All, how we bows
loved to see the carriages rolling up, for
we were sure of good time coming.
By the way, it may not be amiss to
state, that in old times, it was the almost
universal custom in Virginia, for people
of respectable means to give names of
II