The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-04-10

prayer starties the still woods, that grey
coat falls open and discIoses the blue gold
uniiornl-the epaulette and the sword
hi!t.
Then the agony Of that man, praying
there in the silent woodS-praying for his
country, now bleeding in her chains
speaks out, in the flashing of the eve, in
the beaded sweat dripping from his brow.
All, kings Of the world, planning so
cool!y vour schemes Of murder, come here
and look &c George Washington, rs lie
offers his life a sacrifice for his country !.
All, George Of England. British Pope,
and good nafared idiot that you are, now
counting III your royal halls how many
more rlen il will take to murder a few
Thousand peaceful farmers, an1 make Il
nation drink your tea, come here 10 this
rock OF the WiSsahikon, and see, king and
pope as you are, George Washington in
council with his God
Ny friends, | can never think of that
man in the wilIs Of Wjssal,ikon-praying
there, aione-praying for his country,
with the deep agony in his brow-with-
cut also thinking of that dark night in
Gethsenane, when the blood drops start
ed from the brow OF Jesus. the blessed
Redeemer, as he plead for the salvation of
the world
Now look, As VI ashineton kneels
there on that moss covered rock, from
those green boughs step forth another
form-ta!l as his own-clad in a coarse
gray coat, with the boots and sca5bard
seen below It's skirts, aad ctdpeau on his
brow.
That stranger cmcrges from the boughs,
stands there unperceived, gazing in silence
upon the kueeling warrior.
y moment passes
Look Washington has risen to his
feet he contronts the stranger
Now, az that stranger, with slight
bow. uncovered his forehead. tell me, did
you ever see u stronger or stranger resem-
hl3uce between two men than betwec.l
these two, who now confront each other
in silence under the shade Of those dark
pines?
The same height, breadth of chest,
sinewy limbs, nay, almost the same faces,
save that the face OF the stranger, shar-
per in outline, lacks that calm conscious
ness Of great soul which stamps the
countenance OF Washington.
That resemblance is most strange
their muscular forms arc clad in the same
coarse grey coat-their costume is alike
yet hold
The stranger throws open his overcoat
you behold that hangmans dress, the
British uniform, flashing in gold aud stars.
Washington starts back, and lays his hand
upon his sword.
And as these two men, so strangely alike.
meet there by accident under that canopy
of boughs-one wandering from Valley
Forge, one-from Philadcl phia-let me tell
you at once, that the stranger IS none 9TH
er than the master butcher OF the idiot
king-Sir William Howe.
Yes, there they met-the one the i'm
personicaton of Freedom, the other the
tinselled lacquey OF Tyrant's will
We Will listen to their conversation it
is brief, bat important
For a moment the British general stood
spell-bound before the man whom he had
crossed the ocean to cntrap and bring
home the rebel, who had lifted his hlnd
against the right divine Of the British
pope To that British general there was
something awful about the soldier who
could talk with bis Cod as Washington
had talked a moment ago.
Il cannot be mistaken ~ at last said
Sir William Howe 81 behold before me
the chieftain Of the rebel army, Mr. Wash
ington."
Washington coldly bowed his head.
"Thcu this is happy hour, for we to-
gcther can give peace and freedom to this
land"
At this word, Washington started with
surprise, advanced a step, and then ex-
claimed
''And who, sir, are you, that thus bold
" promises peace and freedom to my
country 7"
"The commander of His Majesty's for
ces in America - said Howe, advancing
along that wood hidden rock toward Wash
in gton. '.-And oh, sir. let NE tell you
that the king, my master, has heard OF
YOUR virtues, which alone dignity the re
volt with the name of war, and 1t is to
YOU he looks for the termination OF this
most disastrous contest.
Then Washington, whose pulse had
never ouickened before all the panoply Of
British arms, felt his heart futter III his
bosom as that great boon was before his
eyes-peace and freedom to his native
land
"Yes," continued Howe, advancing an
other step, "my king looks to you for the
termination of this unnatural war Let
rebellion once be crushed; let the royal