The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-09-15
PER;L.S OF WASHINGTON IN 1853.

'"3t1"ci n'irA OUT the OVcrruiInT providence
OF God IN raising him up, protecting him,
disciplinine and educating lin for Tie great
work which he was TO DO in establishing the
independent existence Of the Cn;t,o! States
Of America
The account civcn in Irving'> life ofWash-
ington. Of his employment when tat twenty
two years old, by Gov. Dinwil,iie of Virgin
Ia. on a diplomatic service to the commander
of the French posts on the OHIO AMI south
Of Lake Eric-in which service there was
wanted ''physical strength and moral energy:
courage TO cope with >avaecS and a >rea .i.v
TO negotiate with white mcu," furnishes mo-
dents OF that sort. With a few guides and
pioneers he had threaded his way across the
wilderness with >atctv-had held cort;rcn
ccS with friendly and with doubtful ,arhcmS
on :hc way-had ioIcd all the crafty plans
OF the French officers to dctach from his in
terc>t the friendly Indians who accompanied
him to the Fort at French Creek. and late IN
December on his return had reached Beaver
Creek, whence he took an Ir,:ian ruiIc to
the banks Of the .\cyhany. SAYS Irving:
"l!c entered upon his ,luies with aIarrity
took Washincton's pack upon his back, and
!c' the way by what he said was the most ii
rect course. After travelling lri>klv for
ci9ht or ten miles. Washington became fl,
tl.ucd and his feet were chatcd he tlou1ht
too, they Were taking a direction TOO much -
The northeast; he came to a halt, therefore.
and determined to LIGHT a fire, make shelter
OF bark and branches of trees. and cncamp
tor the night. The Indian dcmurrcl he Of
fered. as a>hington was ttticucd, to carry
MS @Un' but the latter was too wary to part
with his weapon. The Indian now Grew
churll>h there We're Ottawa Indians in tll,.
woods he said, who might be attracted !y
Their fire. and surprise and >calf them hc
urged, therefore. that they should continue
on; he would take them to his cabin, where
they would be safe
Mr. G>t's suspicious increased. but he
SAID nothing. WaShinrton', also were av,k-
ened. They proceeded some distance fur
thcr: the gUi',e paused AMI listened iir had
heard. he sad. the report of gun toward
the north it must be from his cabin: he ac
cor'n@ly turned his steps IN that direction.
Washington began to aIlrchcnl an anJ.u,-
ca1e of >avaGes. H. knew ;he ho>,,irv Of
many Of them to Me Emali~h, and wl.r de-
>irablc trophy was fhc >calnof white man
The Indian still kept ON toward the north
ne pretended TO hear TWO whoop>- they were
from his cabin i, couI! no, be far Of.
They went on two mills tu.hrr. when
Washington siGniirl his determination -
cncamp at The first water they should find -
ihe 1uide SAID nothing, but kept doq.cllv
on. Ntcra Ii'tle while they arrived =. an
opening IN the woods. and onlcr,inctgom The
deep shadows in which they had dlr,n rave
lng. ioHnd thcm>clvc, in A Gear n.a,!,w
rendered still more ight hv the .,ar'r of Tire
snow upon the ground Scarcely had th..v
emerged when the Indian. who WIS ?i,out e..
teen PAGES ahead. suddenly turned! lryeIIcl
his Gun. and fired Washington was startled
for an instant, but, feeling that he was NOT
wounded. demanded quickly OF Mr. tii>t il.
he was shot The latter answered in ,hr n.c
a'Ive The Indian IN the meantime ran far
ward and screened himself behind 4 Iaroe
white oak, where he was rr-la,,l,nr lis o,r
They overlook and seized him. G;>t wonlJ
have put Linn TO death on the spot. hut Wash
inSton humaneiv prevented him. They per
hited hm TO finish loading his gun. but after
he had put IN the ball. took the weapon from
h'n. and let him see that he was under or,rI
Arriving at a small stream they ordered th,
Indian to make a fire and took turns to
watch over the guns While he wa, TINS ne.
cupicd. 'I,t, a veteran wo0dSman. and ,c,,,,
toned 10 hold the life of an Indian rather
cheap. was somewhat inccmn.olcd lv ,j,,
acruples Of lis voutlliu, co;umanJ.r which
Ih'9ht enable the >avayc to carry out SOM.
scheme OF trcacherv. He observed to N-,L-
Ington that, since he could not suffer ,Ln II.
dian to be Killed, they must manage to oct
him out OF the way. and then ,:cro,on v;,,
all speed, and travel all night to leave tb;,
pct'l'iiouS ncl@haorhooi behind them. hp,
iir>t 1t was Necessary to blind the Guide as 70
their intentions. He ACCORDINGLY addressed
INN IN friendly tone. and advertino TO The
ia'e circumstance pretended to SuDpo,e th,.
lie had lost his way. and fred his oun n,nrol,.
as signal. The Indian. whether deceived
or not. readily climcd in with the cxrl,na-
ton. He sad he now knew tho way 70 H..
c'hin' which was at TO great distance. We'll
then, replied Gi>t, "vou can 90 home. and
As we are tired. We will remain hero for
the right. and follow vour track at I,vI;oht
In the mean time here is a cake Of bread for
YOU, and vou must give Us some meat IN tb.
morning"
" hatevcr might have been the ORIGINAL
iesisn of the savage, he was evidently Glad
10 get OIL ''l>t followed him cautiously sor =
!>tancc. and until the sound Of his toots.o,s
iIed away; returning then to WASHINGTON
hcv proceeded about half a mile and made
mother fire, set their compass and fixed their
curse ty the light of it, then leaving #
'"rh'h. pushed forward, and travelled a>
"sf as possible all night. so as to gain short
'''t Siiouid any one pursue them at laylirbt