Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-06-05

Now look AS Washington knecls
there on that moss-covered rock, from
those green boughs steps forth another
form, tall as his own, clad in coarse
gray coat, with the boots and scabbard
seen below its skirts, with the chapeau
upon his brow.
That stranger emerges from the boughs
stands there unpcrceivod, gazing silent
ly upon the kneeling warrior.
A moment passes.
Look Washington has risen to his
feet, he confronts the stranger
Now, as that stranger, with slight
bow, uncovers his forehead, tell me, did
you ever see a stronger, stranger resem-
blance between two men, than between
these two, who now confronted each 9TH
er in silence, under the shade Of those
dark pines?
The same height, breadth of chest, sin
ewy limbs, nay, almost the same faces
save that the face Of the stranger, sharp
or in outline, lacks that calm conscious
ness of a great soul, which stamps the
countcnance Of Washington.
That resemblance is most strange
they are clad in the same coarse gray
coat their costumes are alike yet hold
The stranger throws open his overcoat
and you behold that hangman's dress,
that British uniform, flashing with gold
and stars. Washington starts back, and
lays his hand upon his sword.
And as these two men, SO strangely
alike, met there by accident, under that
canopy Of boughs--one wandering from
Valley Forge. one from Philadelphia
let me tell you at once that the stranger
is none other than the Master Butcher of
the dol-king--Sir William Howe.
Yes, there they met, the one the i'm
personation of freedom, the other the tin
scIed lackcy of a tyrant'S will.
We listen to their conversation it is
brief, but important.
For moment the British General
stood spcll-bound before the man whom
he had crossed the ocean to entrap, and
bring home the Rebel who had lifted
his hand against the right divine of the
British Pope TO that British General
there was something awful about the sol.
dicr who could talk with his God as
Washington had talked n moment ago
81 cannot be mistaken" at length said
Sir William Howe: 81 behold before
me the chicftain Of the rebel army, Mister
Washington"
Washington coldly bowed his head
"Thcn this is a happy hour, for we to-
gether can give peace and freedom to this
unhappy land"
At this word, Washington started with
surprise, advanced step, and then cX-
claimed
"And who, sir, are you that thus bold.
ly promises peace and freedom to my
country?"
The commander of his Majesty's forces
in America, said Howe, advancing along
that wood-hilden rock towards Wash
ington. And OH sir. let me tell you
that the king, my master, has heard OF
your virtues, which alone dignity the re-
volt with the name Of a war; and it is to
you that he looks for the termination OF
this most disastrous contest
Then Washington, whose pulse had
never quickend before all the panoply o
! British arms, felt his heart nuttef i'll hi
bosom, as that great boon was before hi
cyes-pcacc and freedom to his natv
land
Yes continued Howe, advancing an
other step. my king looks to you for th
termination Of this unnatural war. lie
rebellion once be crushei--.let the roya
name be finally established by your in
nuenccs, and then, sir, behold the graft
tude of King George to Mister Washing
tom
AS he spoke, he placed in the hands o
Washington massive parchment, seale'
with the broad seal of England. and sign
ed with tho manual of King George.
Washington took the parchment, open
cd it, read it, but his face did not chang
n muscle. And yet that parchment name
Mister Geo. ashington, GEORGE DUK
WAsHiNGToN, OF MOUNT VERNON our zoe
beiOred servant, NIcERoy OF AMERICA !
Here was a boon for the Virginia plar
tcr--herc was a title and power for Il
young man who was one day struSglin
for his life away there amid floating ic'
= on the dark Allegheny.
: For moment the face of Washingto
was buried in that parchment, and thel
in a low. deep voice, he spoke
81 have been thinking he said, "oftl
p ten thousand brave men who have bee
t maSsacrcd in this quarrel. have bee
Il thinking Of the Bunker Hill - Lcxinj
ton-Qucbcc - Trenton - yes, the dea
of Saratoga - Brandywine - German
; town, and"----
t "And your king" continued Wasl
r ington, with look and tone that woul
have cut into hart of marble, "wouI
Il have me barter the bones of the dead f
o ribbon and tittle!"
o And then--while Howe shrunk. Gov
Q ering back-that Virginia plante
Washington, crushed that parchment il
u to the sod. with the heel of his warri,
+ boot-yes, tramplcd that title, that 70,
70 al name into one mass of rags and dus
That's my answer to your king!'
8 And then he stood, with scorn on h
I brow, and in his eyes. his outstretche
+; arm pointing at that minion of Kir
n George,
=. Wasn't that picture for the pencil
0 an angel? And now that British Ge
g eral, recovering from his first surpri
, grew as red as his uniform with rage.
II .'Eonr hendp he prasped clinchi,