Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-08-17
Washington's Vision:

The last time L ever saw Anth ony
Sherman was on the 4th of July, 1859,
in independence Square. He was then
ninety-o and becoming very feeble
but though so old, his dimming eyes
rekindled as he looked at Indepen.
dence Hall, which, he said he had come
to gaze upon once more before he was
gathered home.
"What time is it?" said he, looking
ap to the clock in the steeple, and en-
deavorin: - shade his eyes with a
shakino band--.:rrhat time is it?
can't see SO we'll now as ! used TO-"
| "Half past three"
sCnme then" he continued, .'slet ;,,s
90 into the Hall; I want to tell you an
! Incident of Washington's ife--one
| which no one alive knows Of except
myself, and if you live, you will, before
long, sec it verified. Mark me, / am
not 5oDorstitious, but you Will see it
verified"
Reaching the visitors room, IN which
sacred relics Of our early days are pre-
served, we sat down upon one OF the
old fashioned wooden benches, add my
venerable friend related to me the fol-
lowing singular narrative, which, from
| the peculiaritv of our national affairs
at the present time / have been induc-
ed to give to the world. / give it, as
nearly as possible in his own words.
"When the bold action Of our Con-
gress, in asserting the independence Of
tth ho nnl,,,,no l,,nu-r Tho
world, we were laughed and scoffed at
as silly, p,csumptuous rebels, whom
| British grenadiers would soon tame In
to submission; but, undauntcdly, we
prepared to make good what we had
said. The keen encounter came, and
! the world knows the result It is easy
and pleasant for those Of the present
generation to talk and write of the
days of Sevcnty-six, but they little
know, neither can they imagine, the
trials and suferings Of those fearful
days And there is one thing that [
much fear, and that is, that the Amer
| lean people do not properly appreciate
! the boon Of freedom. Party spirit IS
ycart5 becoming stronger, and: unless
checked, will, At no distant day, under
mine and tun1h'c into ruins the noble
structure Of the Republic. c.--t}at let me
hasten to my narrative.
! 'From the opening Of the Revolution,
we experienced Ill phases Of tortunc-
now good. and row i'll, at one time VIC
The darkest period we had however,
was when asllington, after several
revcrscs, retreated to Valley Forge,
where he resolved to pass the winter Of
II. An. | have often seen tears
coursing down our dear Old comman-
| des's care worn cheek as he would be
conversing with confidential officer
about the condition Of his soldiers. -
! You have doubtles heard the story of
! Washington going to the thicket to
pray. Well, it is not only true, but be
used often to pray in secret for aid and
comfort from that God the interposition
of whose divine providence alone
brought us through those dark days of
tribulation.
"Onc day, | remember it well-the
chilly wind whistlcd and blowed
through the leatless trees, though the
sky was cloudlesq, and the sun shining
brlghtly-he remained in his quarters
nearly the whole Of the afternoon,
alone. When he came out, | noticed
that his face was a shade paler than
usual, and that there seemed to be
something on his mind Of more than
ordinary Importance. Returning just
after dusk, he dispatched an orderly
to the quarters ofthe officer mention
cd, who was present in attcndance.-
After a preliminary conversation, which
lasted some half hour, Washington,
gazing upon his companion with that
strange look of dignity which he alone
could command said to the latter:
- ID not know whether it 81 oWingto
the anxiety of my mind or what, but
this afternoon, as ! was sitting at this
table, engaged in preparing a dispatch,
something in the apartment seemed to
disturb me. Looking up, ! beheld,
standing exactly opposite me, a singu.
larlv beautiful female. So astonished
was for l had given strict orders
not to be disturbed-that it was some
moments before 1 found language to
inquire the cause of her presence. A
second, third, and even fourth time
did l repeat the question, but received
no answer from my mysterious visitor
other than slight raising of her eyes.
By this time ] felt strange sensation
spreading through me. [ would have
risen, but the rivited gaze of the being
before me rendered voiition impossible
! l essayed once to address her, but
, my tongue became paralized. n new
influence, mysterious, potent, lrresls.
table, took possession Of nc. All |