Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-12-30

--shapely head, arohed neck, deep chest
launches and LIMBS. have seen Col. War
ncr ridlGg him on parade, when noted hin,
as rare animal, and thought that the horse
and rider taken together-for Warner was a
model of figure, and several inches taller
than +, am--maae military appearace sec.
ond to none in the Continental army. But
my business is with your mother, my Young
friend, and | will now, ityou will take charge
OF my horse few minutes, so in at once 70
see her."
Hearing this announcement, mother and |
hastily rctreaicd to our former seats, and
with the curiosity and excitement Of whs,
we had Witnessed naturally raised in us, 81
lenlly awaited the entry Of the expected Wis
ltor. We had been thus seated but two OF
three minutes, before he came in, and, bow.
ing graciously to my mother, said
=" L take this TO be Mrs. Warner. the widox
of my much esteemed friend, the late Col.
Warner of the Continental army ?"
1t is, SIR she replied TREMENDOUSLY.
Viii you permit me to Introduce myself
to you, madam" he resumed, with that win,
uins sort Of dignity had noticed in him
from the first; " | am Gen. Washington. -
And after tarriycd in this section OF country,
few days ago, madc-and hope you will
pardon me the liberty took with your pri
vate aiialrs--i made sonIe inquiries about
yod and the situation Of yQur family when
learning, to my deep regret, that your late
husband, in consequence Of his long conlin
ued absence from his home and business
while in the service of his country, and bis
subsequent shattered health, resulting from
the hardships Of war, left you laboring under
pecunlsry cmhanasSmcnts, was prompted
TO como and see you"
had ittle dreamed Of such an honor
and such u kindness, General" she respond
ed, nearly ovrrpOwcred by her emotions and
the imposing presence Of her august visitor
" There is a mortgage" he reioined, with
out responding in any way to her last re.
mark, "a rather heavy mortgage on you,
homestead"
:" ara sorry she replied sadly, Every
sorry that ! am compelled 10 say there is
Gen. ashngtou--a much heavier ore than
can ever pay
So had aScertaincd," thu General pro
cccdld and have, also, before coming here
been at the pains of asrrrtuiung the amount
now due, and required to cancel this, to you
doubtless, ruinOus incumhrance, and | pro
pose now to !oaye with you the sum Of money
you VIII need for cIlecting tAat desirable
object"
" Does the money come from government
slr = she asked, doubtingIy, and with look
that seemed to say, If il does, then al
right"
Washington looked at her. and hcsi,atcd q
little at first, but soon, while taking up the
valne lac had brought in with him, slowly
responded:
" In one sense il does, | may say, madam
il you have dclicacy on the subject. ] am
in receipt OF liberal yearly salary from gov.
ernm'n mt, from which it is discretionary with
me 10 impart aid sometimes to deserving OBJ
jocts; aud certainly know of none more 50
than one which will relieve the family Of ga
meritorious an officer as your late self sacri
licng husband"
Without waiting for any rejoinler to these
remarks, he opened his valse, and took from
II bag of silver money, and deliberately
proceeded to draw out and count from it, Til
he had reached the sum of nine hundred
aud some odd dollars, which aftcrward prov
cd to be precisely the SUM demanded, in
principal, interest and fees, for the discharge
OF the mortgage on our place. He then
alter returning the money TO the bag and set.
ting IT aside for the purpose he had dcsisna
ted, and taking the hand Of my mother, who
seemed inclined to rem0nsuata, but could no,
force the words for il from her quiyering lips,
tendcrly, but with mir Tint seemed TO for
bid any attempt at REFUSAL said to her.
" Accept it--Gon't hesitate TO accent it
take it and get the mortgage DISCHARGED a,
once; aud then al your Immediately press.
ing anXietes win 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 time is quite limited, it only remains
for me TO say, as DO most sincerely and
kindly, heaven bless YOU dear madam, hcay
en- bless you. Farewell"
WAS present during the whole of ihis in
tcrvicw between General Washington and
my mother heard every word they both said
and saw all the money counted down on the
table, and iccl very confident that | have
neither taken from nor added to any thin.
that there took place
On leaving the house, General Washing.
ton Immediately mounted his horse and rode
away leaving us quite unable Tor while TO
realize this unexpected visit, and the stIl
more unexpected beneiaction Of the iIlustri
Gus visitor.
As Mf. Warren was asccrtaincd to have
been man Of integrity, and Of an unbroken
memory, there nees be but little doubt re
spectng the truth and authenticity 0f the
above related incident, which. while it in.
Vol9es Testimony highly honorable TO the he.
roic leader OF the Green Mountain BOYS. fur
nishes new and beautiful Illustration of the
elevated and bcncYolcGI character Of Wash.
ington.