Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-17
WASHINGTON'S VISION.
by WESLEY BRADSHAW,
From the American Monthly.l

man was on the Fourth of July, 1880 in
Independence Square. He was then nine
ty-nine, and becoming very feeble; but
though so old, his dimming eyes rekin,
died as he looked at independence Hall
which he said he had came to gaze upon
once more before he was gathered home.
What time is it p said he, raising his
trembling eyes to the clock in the steeple,
ard endeavoring to shade the former with
n shaking hand, what time is it? | can't
see so well nov as used to-.
'ialf-past three
Gene, then,' he continued, let MS 90
into the HALL want to tell you an Incl
dent of Washington 5 life, one which no
one alive knows except myself and i!
YOU live, you will before long see it veri-
fec. Mark I am not SuperstGo,S, Jn you
OW sec il certified
Reaching the visltors room, in
which the sacred relics of our early days
! are preserved we sat down upon one of
the old fashioned wooden benches, and
, my venerable companion related to me
the following singular narrative, which,
from the peculiarly of our national af-
/ fairs al the present time, have been in.
i
, near rs possible in his own words:
When the bold action of our Congress,
in asserting the Independence of the col.
ONES, became known in the Old world,
we were laughed and scolled n, as silly,
presumptuous rebels. whom British gren-
Gdiers would very soon tame into submis
sion; but undauntedly we prepared to
make good what we had said. The keen
encounter came, and the world knows
the result. 1t is easy and pleasant for
those of the present generation 10 talk
and write of the days of Seventy SIX. but
they little know, neither can they mag
inc, the trials and sullerings Of those fears
ful days. And there is one thing | much
fear, and that is, the American people do
not properly appreciate the boon OF free
dom. Party spirit is voarly becoming
stronger and stronger, and without it is
checked, will Mt no distant day, under.
mine and tumble into ruins tho noble
structure of the Republic. But let me
hasten to my narrative.
! From the opening Of the Revolution
we experienced all phases of fortune, now
good and now i'll, one time victories, and
another conquered. The darkest period
we had, however was, think, when
WmhIng,on, alter several reverses'L retreat
co 10 NalIey forge where ne resolved 10
pass the winter of ~. All hNvc often
seen the tears coursing down our old com
mander's care worn cheeks, as he would
be conversing with a confidential officer
about the condition of his poor soldiers.
You have doubtless heard the story OF
Washington going to the thiclet to pray
well, IL IS not only true, out ne useu often
10 pray IN secret 1or ald ana comfort from
'na' uoo' me lhterpoSl'ioh o' whose III
vine providence aione oFou3nT US sa'c'y
throuGh those dark DAYS OF 'ri0u'a'ioh'
one 4ay' ! remember IL wen -IIle C,lll> e,
~ WlhdS WhiStied throuSh we leaIieSS
trees, though inc SKY was clou"IeSS ana
tne sun SHINING 3rlgmt'y-ne femaIhTn III
ms ms quarters nearly al me afternoon a'ohe'
4 When ne came out ! hotced tllaI MS lace
was sAade poler thah usual ana lnat
there seemed 10 ne something upon HIS
NINA OF more 1hah Ordinary importance,
returning Just aiter onsk' ne 0espntcneCI
an oroer'y 10 'he qu'an'ers oi liie oihcel l
heh'ioheu' WHO way PreseuVy !" "''e"">
ance; Al'er P'e','liI mary e., "4t,o"'
whlch laSted some n'll an hC''r' MSh!LS7
! ton' gazing upon ms companion WIN ti'"C
strange look oi ''gnity' Wh,ch nc aiohe
could command sald to the latter
do not know whetPer IL IS owing 10
the anxiety oil my mlhd' or wnSt' Dut,
this afternoon; as was sitting at ms very
table engaged IN preparihs Il uispa,cn,
something IN the apartment seemed TO
disturb me- Lookms up Vel9!u, sS"liu' i'
ing eXacIIy opposite 10 ne, Sineular'y
oe"@tii0i iemale' 30 oStonisheN was =
ior naI gwen s'rlct'oluers ho' .o os uISI
Huroeu 'thaC 'CWas some ihotlle''.o oe'Sre
,Uumn ,nao ,"' ','so sooond % KID onJ ovon Nv
fnnr,h ,s' ,;,ro ia I ronoot tho ones,;ons
L,,t r"o,;nnJ no onsrnr Fror, NV r,ysto.
uuS ,;. ,.;.;,ou go, nU sl;rb, rois;rc nf ,ho
anos Rv ,h;s ,;mo I Coit stronco sonsa,
vS, tions sn@rsod;nc wy irn tnr throncbnut me wonid
hono ,Umo r;pon hmt tha r;Se,od raso @ of ,ho ho
;na % Ieforo tor' no oo remdored voI;i;nn innoss;.
Lis Lis 'oVU ! ossanod onoo 100 20 oddra.l Lo~
S,,t J NV tonsue ~ % had bacome an noweria,s' we '
1