Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-12-28
WHOLE NO: 2517


or attaehe, and pointing to the old
war steed with that interest with
which be was known ever to regard
fine horses. thought it could be no
other. Just glance at his leading
points--shapely head, arched neck,
deep chest, launches and limbs. I
have seen Col. Warner riding him on.
parade, when I noted him as a rare
animal, and thought that the horse
and rider, taken together-for War
ner was model of figure, and sew
eral inches taller than am-made a
military appearance second to none 10
the Continental army. But my busi-
ness is with your mother, my. young
friend, and | will now, if you will
take charge Of my horse few min
utes, go in at once to see her"
Hearing this announcement, moth
er and / hastily retreated to our form
er seats, and, with the curiosity and
excitement of what we had witnessed
naturally raised in US. silently await.
ed the entry OF the expected visitor.
We had been thus seated but two ~.
three minutes, before be came in, and,
bowling graciously to my mother.
said
~ take this to be Mrs. Warner, the
widow of my much esteemed friend,
the late Col. Warner, of the CONT
mental army?
at is sir" she replied tremuIously.
"Will you permit me to introduce
myself to you, madam" he resumed,
with that winning sort Of dignity l
noticed in him from the first; "I am
Gen. Washington. And after I arrived
in this section of the country, a few
days ago, made-and 1 hope you
will pardon me the liberty [ took
with your private affairs-I made
some inquiries about you and the sit
uation of your family; when learning
to my deep regret, that your late hus-
band, in consequence of his long con-
tinued absence from his home aud
business, while in the service of his
country, and his subsequent shattered
health, resulting from the hardships
of war, left you laboring under pecu-
MARY embarrassments, was prompt
ed 10 come and see you" GIr0
81 had little dreamed of such an
honor and such kindness, General"
she responded, nearly overpovered
by her emotions and the imposing
presence of her august visitor.
"There is mortgage, he rejoned,
without responding in any way to her
last remark, a rather heavy mort
gage on your homestead. ' G
al am sorry, she replied, sadly
every sorry, that I anu compelled to
say there is, General Washington-a
much heavier ons than l can ever
pay" a-a rat-a5r .ls.4E .s.ais 1i
$50 had ascertained," the Gen.
eral proceeded; sand l have also, be.
fore coming here, been at the pains
Of fascertaining the exact amount now
due, and required to cancel this, to
Jon, doubtless,r <ninous incumbrance,
and propose now TO leave with you
the snm of money you viii nesd tor
effecting that desirable object"
Does the money come from gov
ernment, sir? she asked, doubtingly,
and with look that seemed to- say,
"lf does, then all is right
Washington looked at her, and hes
itated little at frst, but soon, while
taking up the vaIise he had brought
in with him, slowly responded:
ain one sense it does, i may, say,
I madam, if you have delcacies on the
subject. l am in receipt Oh q. liberal
yearly salary from government, from
which It is discretionary with me to
impart aid sometimes to deserving
objects; and certainly know of none
more so than one which viii relieve
the family of so meritorious an officer
as your late selfsacri6ciDg husband"
Without waiting for any rsiolnder
to these remarks, he opened his yalise
and took from it bag ofsilyer money
and deliberately proceeded to draw
out and count from it, till he had
reached the sum of nine hundred and
some odd dollars, which afterward
proved TO be precisely the sum de-
manded, in principal, interest. and
fees, for tho discharge Of the mort
gage on our place. He thenp after
returning the money to the bag and
setting it aside for the purpose he
had designated, and taking the hand
of my mother, who seemed inclined
to demonstrate but could not force the
words for it from her quivering lips.
tenderly bat with an air that seemed
to forbid any attempt at refusal, said
to her:
"Accept it-don'. hesitate to &C
cept it-take It and get the mort
gage discharged at once; and sthen
all y our i'm mediately pressing ankle
ties will be relieved, and soon you
will find those brighter days the God
of the widow has kept in store for you.
And now, as my timo is quito limited
it only remains for me TO say, rs !
do most sincerely and kindly; heaven
bless you dear madam, heaven bless
you. FAREWELL s.-- i $50
L was present durin G the whole of
this interview wbetween Gen. Washing
ton and my mother, heard every
word they both said, and saw eli the
money counted down on the table
and feel very confident that l have
neither taken from nor added to any
thing that took place. -a-q5E
On leaving the house, Genera
Washington Immediately mounted
his horse and rode away leaving us
ouita unable for n while to realize this
unexpected visit. and the still rnore
unexpected benefaction of the Illus
trious visitor. -4gaF
As Mr.. Warren was ascertained to
have been a man of integrity and of
an unbreken memory, there need be
but little doubt respecting the truth
and Authenticity ofthe above related