The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-04-10
LAIE B. EBENSBURG, Pa THURSDAY, APRIL 10. 1862

!
ences, and then, sir, behold the gratitude
of King George to Mr.. Washington !"
AS he spoke he placed in the hands of
Washington a massive parchment sealed
with the broad seal OF England, and signed
with the name OF King George.
Washington took tiie parchment-open
ed it-read--iiis face did not change
muscle.
And yet that parchment named Nr.
George Washington GEORGE DUKE
WASHINGTON or MOUNT VERNON, oar
,-okbrloocd seytont, NIcERoT OF AMER
IcAw
Here was a boon for the Virginia plan
ter here was Il title and here power for
the young man. who was one day strug
Cling for his lie away there amid floating
ice on the dark Allegheny river.
For moment the face OF Washington
was buried in the parchment, and then, i'll
Il low, deep voice be spike:
Il have been thinking" he said, "of
the ten thousand brave men who have
been massacred in this quarrel. have
been thinking of the dead OF Bunker iiill,
Lexington, Quebec, Trenton, yes, the dead
Of Saratoga, Brandywine, Germantown"
"And," cried Howe, starting forward :,
"you Will put an end TO this unhappy
quarrel r
"And your king" continued Washigton,
with a look and tone that would have cut
into heart Of marble, would have me
barter the bones OF the dead for a ribbon
and title -
And then, while Howe shrunS cover
ing back, that Virginia planter. Washing
ton, crushing that parchment into the sod
with his warrior boot-yes, trampied that
rGy2l name into one mass of rags and
dust.
"That is my answer to your king
Aud then he stood with scDrn on his
brow and in his eye, his outstretched arm
pointing at that niinion Of King George.
Wasn't that picture for the pencil of
an ANGEL ? And now that British general,
recovering from his first emotion, grew
red az his uniforna with rage.
"Iour head" he gasped, cienchirg hia
hand, your head will yet redden the
traitors block ~
Then Washington's hand sought his
sword then his fierce spirit awoke within
him; it was his first impulse to strike the
bragga,t into the dust. But in moment
he grew ca,ia.
Yours is good and great king" he
said in his usual stern tone. 'At first he
determined to sweep a whole continent
with but Eve thousand men, but he soon
finds that his five thousand men must swell
to twenty five thousand before he can even
begin his work Of murder. Then he sac
rtices his own subjects By Thousands
aud butchers peaceful farmers by tens Of
thousands-anl yet his march Of victory
is not even begun. Then, if he coaquers
the capitol city OF the continent, victory
is sure. Behold the city is in his grasp,
yet still the hosts OF freedom defy him,
even from the huts OK Valley Forge. And
now, as a last resource your kin" comes to
man whose head Yesterday was sought,
with high reward to grace the aa:es Of
London. Aud yet that rebel crashes into
atoms the name of such king -
All, never spaniel skuikcd from the
kick Of his master as that General Howe
crinsed away from the presence OF Wash
incton-mountcd his horse was gone
One word with regard to the ancient
tory, who beheld this scene from yondcr
bushes with alternate wonder, admiration
and fear. That tory went home.
Il have seen General Washington 1T
PRAYER" ne said to his wife The man
who can trample upon the name of a king
as he did-pray to God as he prayed
that man cannot be 4 rebel Or bad man
Tomorrow l viii join my sous at Valley
FORGE