Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-11-17
RECoLLECTioNs OF GNVRA WASH

RECOLLECTiONS OF GTHERAL WASH
Ii was on a baciug wintef etening, before
a roaring. cheerful fire, which reminded me of
the venerable, gay hero beside me, who was
cracsing his sly joke, and helping1 light up
the bitter weather by the arch interest OF his
anecdotes, that l listened To the following de-
tails, for the truth of which he declared that
he was e personal witness. The eyes of tie
aged warrior, which had reflected their nine
ueth annual sunlight, Were still enlivened
% the Tires OF tina; same yalor which had dis
tlnguished him in the Revolution, and though
visibly on the eveo Of being gathered. ripe with
years and virtues, among the illustrious and
brave that had gone before him, he strikingiy
evidenced that his was true spirit, an indcm.
liable and nevcr-dyirg which even the tyrant
OF the grave could not extinguish and subdue.
II was, said. he, at the termination OF one
Oh our Northern campaigns, that l happened
10 D. quartered with u number of officers Of
our detachment, with our beloved General
Washington, for whom l always entertained
as hearty a respect as | ever did for nv veneer
able luther. The house i'm which we were To-
Gated was crowded almost TO OVERLOOKING.
and III the next room to that in which we
Were to sup, was a gentleman suffering under
a dangerous illness, who must have ben ex-
ceedingly annoyed BY the hustle and hi~lari,y
which prevailed; but of this circumstance few
oil us were made acquainted, as we =, ere too
much occupied with our public and private
concerns To take the least interest i'm any
other circumstance. The hour of supper was
al hand, which was the usual signal oi unlock
ing the reserve oil the company, and drown
ing past cares and misiortunes in the prolusion
OF the good things which smiled around.-
Never shall l forget the dignihcd benevolence
WIN winch Washington entered the apart
ment, with the demeanor of one who is con-
cerned IN all that Is passing about him, and a
soiicltude TO hush down all unnecessary noise
by the air OF reserve which he manifested
The meal was partakeu of with a lively story
aud contagious laugh, although we could not
but gather from the countenance of our chief
tian, that they were uncongenial to the senti-
mcnts That were passing in his mind. He
rose from the table just as the wine and desert
were about TO be enjoyed, and with q low and
gentle voice simply remarked:-''Gentlemen.
4 beg that you will remember in your mirtb.
that there is a sick stranger in the next room"
The orders were electrical-they produced for
the moment their quie;ing effect, and the de-
Parture OF the General found the officers as ST.
lent as though they all participated in the suf-
fering OF the sick man. The potency of the
wine by degrees made us forget the Injunction
we had just receivcd-conversa,ion began to
rise from a lower to a higher tone-the tongues
and spirits OF us all began TO be inspired with
new lille and vivacity-and not even the situ-
alton oil the diseased sufferer seemed TO have
the least effect upon happening our gaie,y,
story rolled over story-voicc piled upon
voice, till the din Of conversation and the
shouts oil m,rriment seemed to fill the whole
house with one sea of noise.
Weary of the hilarity, my eyes rested in.
stinctively on the door, which appeared to be
| gently nnpnipu. hut en- l.,DI- .6.o.l. =:
Joyment, was the rest of the guests, that not
one, | believe, besides myself was conscious
OF what was passing. While gazing to dis
cover who was about entering in so unceremo-
NOUS a manner, who should meet INV atten-
ton but the excellent old General himself.
who came slowly Into the room, softly tread
ing on tip.oe, with the looks OF a person fear
ful oil disturbing a SICK sleeper by his walk,
ana proceeding in that singular manner more
than half way round the table before he was
discovered b. any one else of our party. lie
kept on his way with the same anxious and
composed treal, apparently unconscious that
there was a single person in the room, or that
The least noise or confusion prevailed around
him--and when he reached the door, he re-
treated IN the same silence as that in winch he
entered--and the latch was so gently closed
that one could hardly realise the departure of
The chieitain. Suffice il to say that there was
not an eye, tongue or heart that felt not the
magic spell of the ghost-like visitation. The
storm oil noisy talk and laughter was instantly
hushed to q calm--not an officer remained a
moment ON his chair, but fed away in a sinri-
lar death-like silence, some TO their chambers.
Others to the open air--but none of us then
present can ever forget the memorable but del
icate lesson taught by the good General, of
never suffering our selfish enioylnents to be-
come so unbridled as TO give unnecessary pair
to the feelings OF any, but more particularly
those who are in distress.
THE END OF THE SABBATH BREAK-
ER.-Lucian Hall, who was lately executed
In connecticut, at the early age of twenty
eight, Tor a most atrocious and unprovoked
murder, the very recital OF which makes the
blood run cold; attributes his whole career of
vice, to a want of proper religious instruction
IN early Lille. and particularly TO the crime Of
Sabbath breaking, to which he was greatly ad-
dicted. his last words were:-
81 have given a full and true account of all
me crimes have committed, in my short
NE; desire before ! close TO say to all the
readers OF this book, that | impute all my
wickedness and crime 10 a bad bringing I'M,
"Nobody ever gave me good advice; my
iatler either made me work. or allowed me
To play on the Sabbath: and | never heard n
prayer IN my fathers house. If / bad been
taken to church. and religiously taught, 1
should not be in my present situation.
Il wish TO say to all parents, "Do not bring
up your children as ! was brought up. Give
them the advantages OF schooling, of religion.
and good advice. For want OF these 1 was
led ON to- be what | am.
81 wish to warn all young people against
the course ! have taken. Beware how you
reject good advice, or break she Sabbath. III
you have religious friends and religious priv
ilcges, value them more than anything else;
receive the advice of such friends; improve
those privileges while you have them. / wish
with my last breath to warn all the young
against the neglect of religion and tho Sab
bath, which have brought me TO ruin. Ihave
suffered a great deal, and enjoyed myself very
niue, and have found that the way Of trans
erosion is hard"