Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-12-02
REVOLUTIONARY.
= aa AN EPISODE
In the Life Of General Washington.

Onthe 22d of February, 1850, tens
of thousands Of American citizens, from
every par, of the Union. might be seen
crowliug into Richmond, the capitol oI
Virginia, one of the Oldest and most
English in habit and feeling among the
American States, The spectacle which
they assembled to witness was the Ger.
emony of laying the foundation stone
of a monument about TO be erected to
the memory of Washington. The Pres.
lident, Gen. Taylor, (himself "a patiyesSl
Virginia,) was present at the ceremony
and the day will long be remembered
| in the annals of that State. l .a
So familiar to the whole world is the
history of the illustrious man in whose
honor this festival was held, it would be
superhuous to dilate upon it I; but an
episode of his early life, which was the
turning point of his whole career, may
not, perhaps, be SO generally known to
our readers. We must, therefore, beg
of them to travel back with us in thought
to the winter of l7+7. ,
1t was bright, clear morning, when
two young men might have been seen
stroling together in the neighborhood
of Bridge Creek, in Virginia.
The youngest of the two was scarce
ly more than fifteen years of age, but
his tall and manly frame, his expressive
coun,enance, lofty brow, aud almost pu'
ri,an simplicity of aspect, indicated a
character fat in advance of his years.
His companion, who appeared to have
numbered six or seven years more than
himself, wore with a certain easy grace,
the uniform of au English major. 1t
was easy to recognize in him one of
these young noblemen Of the eighteenth
century, fitted alike to shine in a saloon,
or to win laurels upon the battlefield
The latter was, in fact, the represent
alive Of one Of the noble families OF
Great Britain. The former was the
son Of a small landed proprietor in the
State Of Virginia, which was then, in
common with the other States of the
Uniuu, under the dominion Of the Eng.
lish crown.
"Why should you hcsitate2" asked
the elder of the two, addressing him
self in an animated tone to his young
companion; "your family is of English
origin, as are all those which fill u SUI
perior station in our colonies" i"
"Yes, but for more than two ccntu-
ries my ancestors have lived and died in
this country, and we have become thor
oueh Americans" ;"
"While subjcc, to Great Britain, you
must still be English. Yousurely can
not dream of throwing yourself into the
hands of that foolish faction which
dreams of an Independence that must
ever be impossible" ..'A ,
a"Impossibe! The future is long, and
America is great"
81 But she can yet hardly be deemed
civilized range Yourself on the side oi
civilization. You know well that the
mother country opens wide her arms to
welcome those among her colonis,s whc
offer her their services. The sea is the
element for yod, Lord Rodney is my
friend, and he will gladly do all he car
10 serve you; and beinrc many years
are over, yon will revisit your native
shores as an admiral. Come, now, yor
must go home and tell your mother thu
you have made your decision aud To-
morrow YOU will embark with me TO
England"
Farewell" replied the young colo
! mist; "to.morrow ! shall meetyou u