Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-01-29
Washington's Vision.
BY WESTLEY BRADSHAW.

II nihe, anu becoming very IceDle; DuJ lnOugl
so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as b,
: gazed up Independence Hall, which he hat
come to gaze upon once more before he wa
f gathered home.
3 "What time is ?" said he, raising hi.
trembling eyes to the clock in the steeple
and endeavOring to shade the former witt
shaking hand, what time is it ?'' 1 cam
see so well as l used to-"
"HalEpast three"
"Come, then" he continued, 'let us q
into the Hall want to tell you an Incl
dent Of Washington's life, one which no one
alive knows of except myself and, if you
: live, you will before long see it verified
Aark tie prediction, you agW see IL rey-
ifedP'
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 my venera-
BILE companion related to me the following
singular narrative, which, from the pecu-
liarity Of our national afairs at the present
time, L have been induced to give to the
world. l give it as near as possible in his
own words.
"When the bold action Of our Congress-.
in asserting the independence of the colo
MES, became known in the old world, we
were laughed and scofed at as silly, pre-
sumptuos rebels, whom British grenadiers
would very soon tame into submission; 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 pres
ent generation to talk and write of the days
of '76, but they little know, neither can
they imagine, the trials and sufFarings of
those fearful days. And there is one
thing that much fear, and that is the
American people do not properly appreciate
the boon of freedom. Party spirit is year
Ily becoming stronger and stronger, and
without it is checked, will at no distant
day, undermine and tumble into ruins the
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 victorious, and
another conquered. The darkest period
we bad, however, was, [ think, when
Washington, after several reverses, retreat
ed to Valley Forge, where he resolved to
pass the winter of'77. AhlI have o.
ten seen the tears cOursing down our dear
old commanders care worn checks, as he
would be conversiDg with a confidential
officer about the condition of his poor sol
diers. You have doubtless heard the sto-
ry Of. Washington going 10 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 whose divine provi-
dence alone brought US safely through
those dark days of tribulation.
"One day. l remember it well-the chill
ly winds whistled through the leafess trees,
though the sky was cloudless and the sun
shining brightly-he remained in his quar-
ters nearly all the afternoon alone. When
he came out noticed that his face was a
shade paler than usual, aud that there
seemed to be something upon his mind of
moro thrn ordinary Importance. Return
ing Just after dusk, he despatched an order
IL to the quarters of the officer I mentioned,
who was presently in attendance. After
preliminary conversation, which lasted
some half an hour, Washington gazing up
on his companion with that strange look of
dignity, which he alone could command,
said to the latter:
al do not know whether it IS owing to
the anxiety of my mind, or what, but, this
afternoon, as was setting at this very
table engaged in preparing dispatch some
thing in the apartment seemed to disturb
me. Looking up, beheld, standing Oppo- .
site to me, singularly beautiful feamale .
So ast0nished was l. for had given strict
orders not to be disturbed, that it was
some moments before found language to
inquire the cause of her presence. 4 sec .
ond, third, and even fourth tims did
repeat the question, but received no answer
from my mysterious visitor, except a slight
raising Of the eyes. By this time ] f-iJ f!,J
strange sensations spreading thro,ala NC
would have risen, but tie rivit,-, o,zo of
the being befoge NE rendered violation i'm
possible. / essavcai once more to address
her blt M t2ngue had become powcrless. /
Ever ,nought itself suddenly became para
Iyz9d A new influence, mysterious, potent,
Irresistible, took possession cf nc. All
could do was gaze, gaze steadily, vacantly
at my unknown visitaht, Gradually the .
surrounding atmosphere seemed as though
becoming filed with sensations, aud grew
luminous. Every thing about me seemed (
to rarely, the mysterious visitor herself be- .
coming more airy and even more distinct
to my sight than before. 1 now began to
feel as one dying, or rather to experience
the sensations which have sometimes i'm
agined accompany dissolution. (
l did not think, | did not reason, l
did not move; all were alike impossible !
L was only conscious of gazing fxcdly,
vacantly at my companion.
Presently l heard q voice saying
"Son of the Republic, look and learn"
while at the same time my visitor extended
her arms eastWardly. now beheld a
heavy white vapOr at some distance, rails
ing fold upon fold; this gradually. dissipa-
ted, and looked upon a strange scene
Before me lay spread out in ono vast plain
all the countries of the world, Europe, Asia,
Africa, and America l saw rolling and
tossing between Europe and America, the
pillows of the Atlantic, and between Asia
and America lay the Pacific.
"Son of the Republic" said the same
mysterious voice as before, ''look and
learn"
cat that moment I beheld 4 dark shad-
owing being like an angel, standing or
rather floating in mid-air between Europe
and America Dipping water out of the
ocean in the hollow of each hand he sprink-
led some upon America with his right
hand while he cast upon Europe some
with his left Immediately dark cloud