The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-08-17
-s. From the Printer.
WASHINGToNss VISION.

dependence Square. He was then ninety
one, and becoming very feeble; but though
so old. bis aimming eyes rekindled as he
looked at Independence Hall. which, he
said. he had come to gaze upon. once more
before he WAS gathered be me.
What lime is it % said he. raising his
trembling eyes 20 the clock in the steeple
and endeavoring to shade the former with a
shaking haud-''what time is it / cant
see SO well now as | used to- a l.a
Half pact thee" .-4s ra8,".i -
Come. then" he continued, ''let US go
into the Hall: want to tell you an incident
of Washington's life-one which no one
alive knows7of except myself, and if you
live. you will, before long. see it verified.
Max ma. am not, superslitious. ,butsyou
will see it verified" q -. zsaG 11a .te
Reaching the visitors room, In which
the sacred relics of our early days are pre-
served. we sat down upon one of the old
fashioned wooden benches. and nv venera-
BILE friend related to me the following sin
gulsr narrative. which, from the peculiarly
Of our national affairs at the present time.
! have been induced to give to the world
I give it. as nearly as possible. in his own
words:
when the bold. action ef our Congress,
in asserting the Independence of the colo
MES. became known IN the world. we were
laughed and scoffed at as silly. presumptu
Gus rebels. whom British grenadiers would
soon tame into submission, but. undoubt
edlv, we prepared To make good what we
had said. The keen eneoun'er came, and
the world knows the result. It is easy aud
pleasant for those of the present generation
toIl \ IL e
Six but tley little know-npither can they
imagine--the trials and sufferings of those
fearful days. And there is one thing that
much fear, ard that is. that the American
people do not properly appreciate the boon
Of freedom. Party spirit is yearly becom-
ing stronger and stronger. and. unless it is
checked. will. at no distant dav. undermine
and tumble into ruins the noble structure
of the Republic. But let me hasten to my
narrative.
From The opening of TIE Revolution.
we experienced all phases of fortune-now
good and now i'll. at one time victorious,
and at another conquered. The darkest
period we bad. however. was. think. when
Washington, after several reverses. retreat
ed To Valley Forge. whore he resolved to
pass the winter of TT. All Z! have often
seen the tears coursing down our dear old
commanders care worn cheeks as he would
he conversing with confidential officer
about the condition of his poor soldiers.
You have doubtless heard the story of
Washington going to the thicket to pray.
Well. it is not only true. but he used often
to pray in secret for aid and comfort from
that God the interposition of whose divine
providence alone brought us safely through
those dark DAYS of tribulation.
zone day. I remember it well-the chill,
" wind whistlNd and howlpd through the
leafiess trees. though the skv was clnudless
and the sun shining briohtlv-ha remained
in his quarters nearly the whole of the af-
tArnoon alone When he came ont. no
ticed that his face was a shade paler than
usual. and that there seemed to be soma
thing on hia mind Of more than ordinary
Importance. Returning Just after duck he
despatched an orderly to.the Quarters of the
officer I mentioned. who was presently in
attendance. After preliminary converse
ton. which lasted some half an honr, Wash
ington. gazing upon his companion with
that strange look Of dignity which he alone
could command. said to the latter:
81 do not know whether it was owing
to the anxiety of nv mind, or what hut
this afternoon. "a was sitting at this very
tshle.i engaged in preparing a dispatch,
something in the apartment seemed to dis
turh me- Looking up. behaid. standing
exsctlv opposite me. sinoularlv beautiful
female. So astonisbed was for had
given strict orders not to be dsturbpd-
that it was some moments before I found
language tn inquire the cause of her pres
ence. A Second. third. and even a fourth
time did 1 repeat the question. but received
no answer from nv MYSTERIOUS visitor 9th
er than slight raising of her ewes. Bv
this time felt strange sensation spread
ing through me. / would have risen, but
the riVeted gage of the being before me
rendered volitinn impossible. I essayed
once more to address her. but nv tongue
had hecnme paralyzed. A new influence,
mysterious, potent. irresistible. took pos
session of me. All could do was to gaze
steadily, vacantly, At my unknown yisitant.
Gradually, the surrounding atmosphere
seemed as though becoming filed with SEN
| salons. and grew luminous. Everything
about me appeared to rarity, the mysterious
visitor herself becoming more airy, and
yet even more distinct to my sight than be-
fore. now began to feel as one dying. or
rather to experience the sensations which
have sometimes imagined accompany dis
solution. I did not think, dill not rea-
son. did not move; all were alike impossi-
bic. was only conscious of gazing. TX
eddy, vacantly, at my companion.
Presently heard voice. saying, .tSon
of the Republic, look and learn - while,
at the same time. my visitor extended her
arm and forefnger eastwardly. I now be-
held heavy white vapor at some distance
rising fold upon fold. This gradually dis
sipated. and looked upon strange scene
Before me lay stretched out in ore vast
plain all the countries of the world-Eu-
ripe. Asia. Africa. and America. I saw
rolling aud tossing between Europe and
America the pillows of the Atlantic, and
between Asia and America lay the Pa
cific. Son of the Republic" said the
same mysterious VOICE as before, look and
learn ~
'''At that moment beheld a dark, shad-
owv being like an angel. standing. or rath
| er asating. IN mid air between Europe aud
America Dipping water out of the OCEAN
IN the hollow of each band, he sprinkl-,i
some upon America with his right hand.
| "a bila h. cast unan E,r.,>a - i'll ~