Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-20

cloths and towels from the flax grown on
the farm. l have also bought supply Of
feather beds and pillows, and purchased
mirror and dinner service of Liverpool
ware, the latter for use on great days and
holidays when you favor the place with
your presencs.
The servants have put up B, 800 pounds
of pork and large supplies of lard. There
is every prospect that we shall have plenty
of fruit and vegetables, 60 that you will
want none of the creature comforts when
on your visit in August. The ice-house
has not been commenced, and | fear will
not be finished this season. Walton's de-
lays are vexatious-I suspect be has an
object in them-he fears to make this place
too comfortable lest you may prefer 1t TO
Stauntop, in which case his services might,
and would be dispensed with. If 1 should
be forced by his repeated neglect OF my
orders to decline his services for the future
he will have Jared as he hath wrought.
hope to get a letter from you at the
Warm Springs-do OF expect another from
me before my return. Ben unites with me
in love to you, William and Susan.
remain your affectionate husband,
| JOHN Fl. PEYToN
S.-Tell William the river could not
be forded, or should have sent for bis
minerals and other curiosities at McClintic's.
Ben will take him his Indian arrows and
stone cannon ball, though there is no &C
count of The Indians crer hoUing used big
ouns NeUy sends Susan soms Maple
sugar
Mrs. Peytop msde visit to her mother
at the Sweet Springs after the desth of her
father, Major John Lewis which occurred
at the Springs in 1928. Major Lewis ought
to live in the memory of posterity, as he
was in more ways than one remarkable
man, renowned among his comrades for
courage, integrity, his high sense of honor
and indomitable perseverance,. Let rs pre-
mise word as to this heroic old man. He
had long served in the Indian wars on the
border and was present at the battle Of
Point Pleasant in 1774, and officer under
command of his distinguished uncle, Gen.
Andrew Lewis, COMMUNICATIVE chief. Dur
| ing the arduous march from Fort Union
through the wilderness and at the battle he
| infused his own spirit and energy into all
about him, was already renowned for his
precocious military talent at the opening of
the revolutionary war. About2 years later
he Joined the Continental army as Lieu
tenant, was engaged in nearly all the battles
in the Northern Colonies, Monmouth, Sara
toga, Trenton. etc., aud spent the winter of
1777, at Valley Forge. Though very
young man he attracted the attention and
made the lasting friendship of Washington.
He rose to the rank of Major, in which rank
he served at the battle of Monmouth. At the
close of the war, to which he had devoted
his energies, and just as he was in sight of
the glorious summit swhere fame's proud
temple shines affair."" and Ills services would
doubtless have been re warded by high COM
mand, the strife ended b the recognition
of the Americao Confederacy. In 1888,
Major Lewis returned to his Virginia home,
without having won that extended fame
which was so literally meted out to those
in high commands. From 1888 to Wayne's
victorious campaign against the Western
Indians, in 1894, Major Lewis was much
on the frontier, had many encounters with
savages and border ruffians, had many hair
breadth escapes-won great applause for
his strength and boldness. In his trays with
these fierce borderers he displayed extra
ordinary physical strength as we'll as in
domtable pluck. He was only five feet, ten
inches high, but was strongly and compact
ly built, and his muscular power was enor-
nous. 1t was commonly said that he was
the strongest man in Virginia. His should
ers were broad and his chest deep. His
countenance was frank, open, manly and
cheerful, but at periods of danger stern and
severe. In nature he was kind and gentle
was humane and benevolent man, neither
showing ferocity nor indulging in cruelty.
He died an Elder in the Presbyterian
church, universally respected and mourned
by all who knew him. During his career
he made the acquaintance of Gen. Jackson,
IL, H,b nf Init cd
States, who entertained and expressed the
highest opinion of his military genius and
of his pure and upright character. In 1880,
when s. G.. threatened notification, Gen'l
jackson declared to VirgiDian friend then
in Washington, THAT if he had man
like John Lewis second him, he could 60 to
S c., hang Calhoun and end notification
within a month and forever" In 1880, the
United States government made large
grant of lands to bis heirs as recompense
for his military services. It was during
Mrs, Peyton's visit to her home in the
Sweet Springs Valley, after her fathers
death, that the following letter was writ |
ten:-
JOHN H. PEYTON TO MRS. PEYToN.
STAUNToN, June 24tb, 1928.
duly received the letter of my dear
in ntelligence that she and Snsan had imprOv-
ed in health and were we'll. Let me say
word here on the subject of your and her
health. Do not let her habits of life be-
come too delicate. If you will both con-
tiDue the practice of taking cold bath ev-
cry morning, you will soon regain your
former healthy tone and Susan become
stronger and teethe easily. Whenever you
suffer with the heat and need refreshment
resort to the warm bath, not Oftener, how
ever than once day. DO not allow the
nurse to carry Susan in her arms ss much
as heretofore; let her place the child on the
floor to there exercise by getting on in her
own way-'we must crawl before we can
walk Nothing can supply the want of
exercise, it gives the child confidence and
the conversation of the nurse and the point
ing out of objects pleases it's fancy and
arouses its faculties. Children that are too
much nursed and coddled are apt to be
weak and delicate and are sometimes even
deformed by the carelessness of nurses in
keeping them too long in improper posi-
tions. We cannot be too particular with
this lovely child in whom we SO much de-
light. The Masonic process. on occurs to-
day, it is in honor Of John the Baptist. DR..
Stephens delivers the address [Rev. DR..
Stephens, Rector of Trinity Church, Staun-
ton, and the dinner is given at Mrs Cham
ber's tavern. can only participate in the
dinner, as there is a trial of negro fer a
rape committed on white married woman,
which will occupy my attention throughout
the day. Now that he is within the tolls
of justice, shall see that he does not strug-
gle out and make his escape. Such unholy
deeds must meet their just punish ment.
Your friend Mrs Baldwin is much en-
gagged entertaining her brother and his
family, who is on visit from Winchester.
Such spare time as l have is spent with
johnson and his family, where 1 am almost
domcled. chapman johnson, the great
lawyer.1 Johnson's health is much i'm
.s..rad q nd his snirits are hetter 10 M