Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-01-08
WASHING GTON'S VISION

WASHINGTON'S VISION.
The last time | ever saw Anthony Sher
man was on the Fourth of July, 1889. IN
Independence Square He was then nine
ty-one, and becoming very feeble - but
though 30 old, his dimming eyes rekindIed
as he looked at independence Hall, which
he SAID ne had come to gaze upon once
more before he was gathered home.
:" " hat time Is it said he, raising his
trembling eyes to the clock IN the stee pie
ard endeayoring to shade the former with
a shaking hand, what time is it? | can't
see so wei as | used to.
" Half-past three
" Come then he continued. " let us 90
into the HALL | want to tell YOU an incl
dent of Washington's life-one that no
man alive knows except myself, and if
you live you viii see it verified Mark
me, | am not at all superstitious, but you
will see it verified"
Reaching the visitors room. in which
the sacred relics of our early davs are
preserved, we sat down on one of the old
fashioned wooden benches. and my ven
erable friend related 10 me the following
singular narrative, which from the pecu-
harltles OF our national affairs at The
present time, | have been induced to give
to the world. | give it as nearly as pos
slble IN his own words -
. W hen the bold action Of our Congress.
IN asserting the independence of the co o.
MES, became known 10 the world we
were laughed and scofied at as silly. per
sumptuous rebels, whom British {1rena-
diers would soon tame into submission;
but undauntediy we prepared to make
good what we had said. The keen en-
counter came, and the world knows the
result Of that struggle 1t is easy and
pleasant for those of the present genera
ton to talk and write of the da>-s of Sev-
entyslX, but they little know-neither can
t'.ey imagine-the trials and sulFcrngs Of
those fearful days And there is one
thing that much fear, and that is. that
the American people do not properly APP
preclate the boon of freedom PARTY
spirit is yearly becoming stronger and
stronger, and, unless it is checked, Will at
no distant day, undermine and tumble in
to ruins the noble structure of the Re
public. But let me hasten to my narra-
tive
q" From the opening of the Revolution,
we experienced all phases of fortune -
now good, now Ill at one time victorious
and AT another conquered The darkest
l X.
when Washington. after several reverses.
retreated to Valley Forge. Here he re-
solved to pass the win er of - All |
have often seen the tears coursing down
our dear old commanders care-worn
cheeks, as he would be talking with a
confidential officer about the condition of
his poor soldiers. You have doubtless
heard the story of Washington going to
the thicket to pray We'll it is not ONLY
true, but he used often t. 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
One day remember it welI-the chill
lv winds whistled and howlcd through the
leafess trees. though the sky WAS cloud
less ana the sun was shining brightly
he remained IN his quarters nearly the
whole afternoon, alone. When he cam
out, | noticed tha his face was a shade
paler than usual and that there seemed
to be something ON his mind of more than
ordinary Importance. Returning Just af
ter dark, he dispatched an orderl, to the
quarters Of the officer | mentioned. who
was presently in attendance. After
preliminary conversation which lasted
some half an hour. Washington. gazing
upon his companion with that strange took
Of dignity which he alone could command
said to the latter
II did not know whether it was owing
to the anxiety Of mind. or what, but this
afternoon as / was sitting at this very ia
Bile, engaged in preparing a dispatch,
something in the apartment seemed to dis
turb me. Looking up, behed Standing
exactly opposite me, u slngulariy beauti-
ful female. SO astonished was / for |
had given strict orders not to be disturbed
that it was sor,e moments before found
language to in, uire the cause of her pres
ence. \ second, third. and even fourth
time did repeat the question, but received
no answer from my mysterious visitor 9TH
er than a slight raising Of the eyes,
= Bv this time | felt a strange sensation
running through me would have risen,
but the riveted gaze Of the being before
me rendered voltion impossible. | es-
saved once more to address her, but my
tongue had been paralyzed. \ new intiu
ence, mysterious, potent. Irresistible, took
possession OF me. All / could do was to
gaze steadily, yacantiy. at my unknown
visitant Gradually. the surrounding at
mosphere seemed as though becoming
filled with sensations, and grew luminous
Every t-llD- ABOUT ne StEilftl 70 Isii liE lile
mysterious visitor herself becoming more
airy, and yet evenmore distant to my sight
than before / now began to feel as one
dying, OF rather TO experience the scnsa-
tions which | have sometimes imagined
accompanying dissolution did not
think. / had not reason, / did not move :;
all were alike impossible was only con
scious Of gazing, fxedly, vacantly, at my
companion.
Presently l heard a voice saying, son
Of the Republic look and learn while,
at the same time, my visitor extended her
arm and forefinger eastwardlv ! now
beheld a heavy white vapor at some dis
tance. raising fold upon fold This grad
ualIv dissipated, and | looked upon a
strange scene. Before me lay stretched
in one vast plain, all the countries Of the
world-EUrope, Asia, Africa and Ameri-
ca. / saw rolling and tossing between
Europe and America, the biiiows Of the