Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-04-18
BY Requst.
Washington's Vision.
BY WESLEY BRADSHAW.


The last time l ever saw Anthony Sher.
man was on the h Of July, 1859, in Iude-
.pedence Square. lie was then ninety one,
aud becoming very feeble ; but tho so old,
bis dimming eyes Iekindied as be looked at
Independence Hall, which, he said, he bad
come 10 gaze upon once more before lie
was gathered home.
What time is it said be, raising his
trcblng eyes 10 the clock on the steep c,
and endeavoriug to shade the former with
shaking hand-what time is il ? | cane
see SO well now as used ~.
1lalf-past three.
Come, then, be con ntnued, let rs go into
the Hall, | want to tell you an incident of
Washing on's life--ope which no one alive
knows Of except myself, and if you live, you
will, before long, see it verified,
Reaching the visitors room, in which
The sacred relics Of our early days are pre-
served, we sat down upon one Of The cd
fashioned wooden benches, and my vener.
able friend related to me the {, lowing sin.
gular narrative, W hich from the pcculiarity
OF our national atfnrirs at the present
time, have been induced to give il to the
world. l give it, as nearly as possible, in
his own words .......--
When the bold action Of our Congress,
in asserting the independence of our colo
nies, became known in the world, we were
laughed aud scotfed at as silly, presumptu,
GUS rebels, whom British grenaders would
soon tame into submission but, undaunt.
edy, 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, present gen
Grafton 10 talk and write OF the memor.
able days of Seventy six, but they
little know-neither can they imagine-ihe
trials and snfIerings Of those fearful days
And there is one thing | must fear, and
that is, the American people do not prop
er!y appreciate the boon of freedom. Par
ty spirit is yearly becoming stronger and
stronger, and, unless il 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 TO the Revolution, we
experienced all phases OF iortune--now
good and now i'll, at one time victorious,
and at another coaque ed. The darkest
period we had, however, was, | think,
when w ashiugton, after several reyerses,
retreat 10 Valley Forage, where he reSolv,
ed to pass the winter Of IT All ! | have
often seen the tears coursiug down our
dear old commanders care worn checks as
be would be conversing with confidential
officer about the condition Of his poor SOL
ders Yol have doubtless heard the
story Of Washington going 10 the thicket
to pray. Well, it is not ouly true, but he
used often TO pray in secret for aid aud
comfort from that God the interposition of
whose divine providence alone brought us
safely through these dark days of tribula
iion.
One day, l remember it well-the chilly
wind Yhistled and howled through the leaf.
less trees, though the sky was cloudless
and the sun shining brightly-he remain
ed in his quartes nearly the whole of the
afternoon alone. When he came out, not.
iced .hat bis face was shade paler than
usual, and tha; there seemed to be some
thing on his mind Of unusual Importance -
Returning just after dusk. he dispatched
an orderly TO the quarters Of the officers
l mentioned, who was presently in attend
ance. After q Preliminary conversation,
which lasted some half an hour, Washing
ton, gazing upon his companion with that
strange look of dignity which he alone
could command, said TO the latter
do not know whether it was owing to
the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this
afternoon, lss was sitting at this very ta.
ble, engaged in preparing dispatch, some
thing in the apartment seemed to disturb
me- Looking up, beheld standing ex
aclly opposite me, a singularly beautiful
female. So astnnished was I-for had
given strict orders not to be disturbed
that it was moments before found Ian
gusge to inq,ire the cause Of her presence.
A second, third, and even q fourth time did
/ repeat the question, but received. no an