The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-08-21
INCIDENT ov ~ wAsmIxGrox

A. the celebration Of the 4sh of Ju.
y In Monsou, Rev. DR.. Ely made 4
brief speech In reply TO = sen,imen,
com",emoratine wsshiagson, and rria.
ted The following inc;de~,. which 10 g,v.
en- ~ nearly ~ possible in the language
of the venerable gentleman:
When a boy, l resided ia West
Springfield and worked on . farm. ln
In the year 1889. I "a. engaged with
my employer. in gathering q losd Of
cotn stalks in field mol far distant from
the Connecticut river. Ny employer
had driven his loaded team from the
los, and lef me rs usual. to pu, up the
bara Whilst thus occupied I noticed
the appro,ch Of four fine horses and a
large vehicle. There was no driver up.
on the carriage, bu, nstridc the nigh
horse Of each span. Was q young mu-
Iat,c postiliiou. There were also two
outriders and = fooiman. The vehicle
(in which wss seated = gentleman whose
striking personal presence impressed
mel was called chariot. I, WAS en-.
tire'y unique, and totally unlike any.
thing in present use, except its running
part. saw the outriders gallop On, in
advance Of the chariot, and hold some
Parley with ny employer. who occupied
the entire road with bis loaded cart
the roads st that two teams could not
paSs each Unleas one yicIie! the wav 10
the other. Iperceived that my employ.
er yielded none of his righ, to the road,
and that the chariot va. detained by
the cart until they reached urn out,
when the cortege passed by. soon
overlook my employer and enquired
~ho the distinguished parsonage was
who had just passed u, and was inform
ed that it was George Washington
! obtained permission TO run on and see
il could not catch another glimpse Of
the great chiefiain whose deeds during
the war had 80 filed my wondering fan
cy
As there was no bridge across the
Connecticut At ,ha, time, hoped the
ferry boat might be on the opposite side,
and that might reach the beach before
II arrived. In this ! was not di.ap-
pointed. I found Gen. Washington
standing upon the shore Of the river
dressed in snuG.colored surtout, with
hong lspellsd vest Of the same color
and material, and in 'sn,all chothes
and boots, and the ncs' majestic and
dignilied looking man he was that I ev-
er saw. Whilst was gazing upon him,
one Of his posiillions drove up and dis.
mounting, and uncovering his head,
said in the most deferential manner, and
with an expression Of injured dignity
Your exccllency, rs we we're driving
along, . little way back, we overlook a
man with 4 loaded cart, who occupied
tho entire road. asked him TO stop
his team that we might pass by. lie
. declined. l then told him that Prss,.
dent Washington vas in the chariot
lie again refused and said that he had
"a good righ. TO the road rs George
Washington had The simple reply OF
Washington 10 this was, And so he
had The pos.illion after noment''
wonder and establishment at the conde'
scension Of the President Of the Uni
! ted States, quietly put on his hat ant
again mounted his horse. l wa,chct
the cort-g. until it was out of sight
but my impression and memory o
Washington are as vivid and distinc
this moment, as il ! had seen the grea
man only yesterday - Springfield Re
publican.