Litchfield enquirer., 1834-04-10

lore roaring, CneSFlut nFe, which remIns
 ded me of the venerable gay hero beside
 me. who was cracking his sly joke, and
 helping to light uP the bitter weather by
 the arch interest of his anecdotes, that ! listened to the following details, for the
 truth of which he declared that he was a
 personal witness. The eyes of the aged
 warrior. which had reflected their ninstieil
 annual sunlight, were still enlivened by the 1 tires uf that same valor which had dislin-
 guisIled him in the Revolution yand though
 yisibly pn the eve of being gathered. ripe
 with years and virtues, among the illustri-
 ous and brave that had gone before him, he
 strikingly evidenced that his was truly an
 indoHiiiables and never dying spirit, which even the tyrant of the grave could not ex- tinguistf and subaae. 9 ssti
 0 ,It was, said he, at the tefmination of one of our Northern campaigns, tilat I hap peped to be qnartersd with a number of the officers of our detachment. with our below ed General w ashington, for whom al-
 ways entertained as hearty respect as I ever did for my venerables father.a The.
 house in which we wore located was crow
 ded almost to overAowing, and in the next
 room to that in which we were to sup, was a gentleman suffering under . dnngerous
 illness, who must have been exceedingly
 annoyed by the hustle and hilarity which
 prevailed. but. of this circumstance few of us were made acquainted. as we were too much occupied with onr public and private
 concerns tn take the least interest in any other circumstances. The hour of supper
 was at hand. which was the usual signal of unlocking the reserve of ihe company, and
 drowning past cares and misfortunes in the
 profusion of the good things which smiled around. Never shall I forget the digni6ed
 beneyOIence with which Washington en- tered the apartment, with tho ademean0r of one who islconcerned in all 4ihatsis passing about him, and u 'solicitudet to hush down all unnecessary noise by tho air of reserve which he manifested. The meal was par { taken of with a lively story and contagious langhs although we could not but gather From the counfenance ofour Chieftaip, that they were uncoHgenial to the sentiments that were passing in his mind. He rose from the table just as theiwine and dessert were about to be enjoyed, and with low and gentle voice simply remarked Gem lleMen, beg that you will remember in your nlifih, that there is sick stranger lodged in the next room. The orders were eleeisical---shey produced for the moment their quieiing eiiect. and the de- parture of tho General found the officers as silent as though they all participated in tlle suffering of the sick man. The poten- cy of the wine, by degrees made us forget the injunction we had just received-con- yersaiion began to rise from lower to q | higher tone-ahe. tongues and spirits of us ! all began to be inspired wfsh new ne ana not even tlle situation ot the | diseased sufferer seemed to have the least efTcct upon dampening our gaiety story rolled over story-yoice piled upon voice, till ihe din of conversation and the shouts of merrimeni seemed to fill the whole house with one confused sea of noise. ssa.
 , Weary of the Ailarity, my eye rested in- stinctiveiy on the door, which appeared 10 be gently opening, but SO deeply absorbed in enioyment were thesress of the guests, that not one, believe, besides myself was conscious of what was passing. While gazing 10 discover who was abou: entering m so 1neerempnious manner, who should meet my attention but fIae excellent old General himself. who came slowly into the room, softly treading on tiptOe, with the looks of q person fearful of disturbing sick sleeper by his walk, and Fsoceeding in that singular manner more than half way round the table before he was discovered by any
 one else of our party. He kept on his way
 wish ihe same anxious and composed tread, apparently unconscious that there was single person in tho room, or that the least noise and confusion prevailed around him Land when he reached the door, he retrea- ted in the same silence as that in which he
 entered -and tie latch was So gently clos
 ca that ono could hardly realize the depar-
 tnre of the Chieftain. Suffice 1t 10 say.
 that there was not an eye, tongue and
 heart that felt not the magic spell of the
 glaosG-like visitation. The storm of noisy
 talk and laughter was instanlly hashed te a eala,.-n0t an officer remained moment Ion lis chair, but fled away ina similar |death-like silence, soaeso their chambers. loeI1ers so tI,s open aif--but none of us then lpTesent can ever forgct the niemprable but delicate lesson taught by the good Gener- lel. of never suffering our selfish enjoy e become so unbEialeds as to give naAe- esssasy pain to the fsalings 0f any but lmsFe parlicllasly. tiesewho are in d'sstess.
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 ls GEe.@R HsS 1nGE&~..a sfEDhr,s n.ssand4s m G&0