A HEALTHY FAMILY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 113, 20 March 1879, Page 2

A HEALTHY FAMILY.

John Gordon, who died near Turiff, . Banffshire, some time ago, attained the remarakablo age of a hundred and thirtytwo years, All the travellers who chanced to call at the neighboring inn of Turiff were uniformly directed by the landlady, Mrs Wallace, to the cottage of the patriarch, where they would see, she used to say, the oldest man in Banffshire-" ay, or in tho world,". Among the visitors one day, about the closo of harvest, was a young Englishman, who, coming up to..' the door of the cottage, accosted a vener- • able looking man employed in knitting hose, " So, my old friend, can yon see to kiiit at your advanced period of life 1 One hundred and thirty-two is truly a rare age!" '"Deil's i' the man, it wilt be my grandfather ye're seeking—l'm only* 73, You'll find him round the corner ayr the house," On turning round tho coi 5T the stranger encountered a debilitated id man, whose whiteucd locks bore testimony to his long having passed tho meridan of lifo, and whom the stranger at once concluded to bo John. Gordon himself, " You seem wonderfully fresh, my good sir, for an old man. I doubt not but you have experienced many viecissitudes in the course of your long life." '•What's your wull, sir?" inquired the person addresed, • whose sense-of "hearing •• was ■ somewhat impaired. The observation was repeated. " Oh, ye'll be wanting my father, I reckon—he's i' the yard there." The stranger now entered the' garden, where lie at last found the venerable old man busily employed in digging potatoes, and .humming the ballad of the Battle of Harlaw. "I have had some difficulty in finding you, friend; as l ; suc- ••••• cessivoly encountered your grandson aiid • sou, both of whom I mistook for you ; indeed they seem as old as yourself. Your labor is rather hard'for one at' your ' advanced age." "Itis," replied Jolm, " but I'm thankfu' that I'm able for't, as the laddies, puir things, are no vera stoot noo." The united ages of the worthy trio amounted to upwards of 300 years;