The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19
nlisfclIonp.
Visit to Gen. Scott.

L Suali Always IcChOA tHlS IlHoiIS ING H"r-
piest days Of my life. l have had an exper'
renee which l can never forget. Our party
feel repaid tor all the trouble of tho journey
by the good fortune which has so kindly walt
ed On Us. There is to-day in America but
one genuine hero; but one who is the idol Of
the whole Norlh who isl think am NO,
wong in saying this--the mental pivot Oh
which the destnies of many generations are
turning. If there is one man Who more than
aay ether is deserving OF the good wishes and
prayers of every true American, that man ls
Gen Scott. He stands to-day, old as he
IS, in the breach which the enemy have made
in our national wall. Though he had speath-
ed the sword long ago and gwen himself up
to tha. otaum cum diymttote which bcnts
true gentleman who has seIvcd his country
well tor years enough to coun5 out TWO gener-
a,ions, yet when tie alarm bell stIl kes,. ,.he
seems really aud literally to have stepped
back from the shadow otlhe valley dtkdealh
which had begun to TAX op him, and'to come
into the din and coniusio.fei wnr again that
he might add to tiiGAanres-all eady won. an
honor which is reserved for tho favored te"
Who are strong enough to hit whole nation
out of death into life.
[ had never seen him, nor indeed had any
of our party, and we were quite excited at
the prospect OF the little inter view Which had
been promised us. Long before the hour
struck, we were in the room In which he was
to receive U.S. We waited as patiently as I'M
patient people could for whole hour, and
| Il L II
door. We had all printed his portrait on
the rctina of the minds eye, aid for one
save him the stern and even iorbidding ap.
pcarancc which should by nature mark the
victor in many battles. Bus when he came
nv fancies all fled on the instant. Hc has a
frame that is perfectly immense, and when nc
stands before you, towering above you as you
DO above child Git is said that he is SIX ieei
six inches high) he imprcsses you with the
idea that he is an example Of the very sub
lime of humanity. Bnt he is feeble, very
feeble, and moves with great caution. The
eve NAV have the same flash it always had
the mind may be even surer III Its action thar
ever, but the body will not last long; tht
golden cord which binds that great soul to tht
Cdrlu Is tUO oiCuNCA'
AS | took his proHered hand and looked in
to his calm but rugged faco, feeling OF sad
ness came over me which have 10 words tt
express. Ho seemed to see through my
thought, for he quietly said, and 4 though
there was mourntul cadence in his voice, a.
he felt that the hour might strike at any mo
ment, when his hand should write no more
and his mind direct tho nation through he
sore trial: You see, sir how old am;
cannot last much longer | could not hell
saying in reply You must live, Gen. scott
until the end of our countrys voc has come
we need you now more than ever lie slmp
" shook his head, and said S. l cannot tel
: | cannot tell
He then turned to my wife, and taking hel
hand in his, and lifting his hat as gallant.
as an old medieval knight, he said: Ant
this lar lady does me great honor. He thel
said. again dwelling upon the lact ofhis owl
age, You are both young as thoug h he wer
Glad to 90 back to the days of his own youth
d and recall the time when he was just on tn
horizon ofthat fame which he aiterward won
He spoke to my brother also, and SO gent
: and even tender were his voice and manner
it was the gentleness and tenderness whicl
are peculiar to, and which cousecrate the lat
ter days of the truly great, that we all gath
J. cred round him, and said God bless you, Gen
! lScott, almost with tears IN our eyes. IL Wa
!; an experience, like which we may not hav
many in long lifetime.