“Oh, yes, sir,” she replied. “I paid Eva a visit and enjoyed holding and looking at the darling little newcomer—Baby Mary. I like the name; don’t you, father?”
“Yes, both the name and the one who bears it. What else have you been doing?”
“Sitting out here with a bit of needlework while Grandma Elsie gave us some interesting passages from the history of our country in Revolutionary days—of Putnam and his services, and the sad story of poor Jane McCrea. I have been thinking, father, that you could give us interesting facts concerning other actors in the thrilling scenes and experiences of those dark days for our country.”
“Perhaps so,” he answered, “though I doubt if I should equal mother as a narrator.”
“A doubt I don’t in the least share, father,” laughed Lucilla. “You always speak the truth, but are a good story teller for all that.”
“That is in the judgment of my very partial daughter,” the captain responded, with an amused look and smile. “There are other Revolutionary heroes,” he continued, “the facts concerning whom would make very interesting tales—Morgan and Schuyler, for instance.”
“And you will tell them to us, father? Oh, that will be fine.”
“And I shall be glad indeed if I can add to the information and enjoyment of my own young people and the others,” he returned. “Evelyn has quite a library here, collected by her father, in which are a number of encyclopædias and historical works—those of Lossing and others. I shall refresh my memory in regard to Morgan and Schuyler, and perhaps tell you something of one or both to-morrow evening, should mother feel indisposed for such work.”
It was settled at the tea table the next day that the captain was to be the narrator for the little company for that evening, Grandma Elsie saying she would greatly prefer being a listener. All gathered about him on the front porch directly upon leaving the table, and he began the story at once.
“Daniel Morgan was born in New Jersey about 1737. There is little or nothing known of his parents except that he had a pious mother and that he was of Welsh extraction. When about seventeen years old he went to Virginia, where he worked as a farmer for some years. Early in 1754 he removed to Charlestown, Va., and the next year he began his military career, going with Braddock’s army in the expedition against Fort du Quesne.