Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1877-02-01
WAsHINGToN.s VISION.
~ AHsLEY BRADSHAW.

thony Sherman was on the 4th Of
July, 1859 on Independence
squsre. He was then ninety-one
and becoming very feeble; but
slough 20 old, his dimming eyes
sekindled az be looked in Indtpen
dsnee Hall, wsics; he said, be had
some to gaze upon once more be-
fore he was gathered home.
"What time is III" said he Fs.s
5ng has trembling eyes 20 the clock
In the steeple, and epdeavorins TO
shade the former with his shaking
hand, "sbat time is iti | can I zee
% well at l used TO-"
"Half-past three"
"Ceme, then," he continued ''let
rs 20 into the Hall; / want to tell
an incident Of Washington a life
eoe which 10 one alive knows Of
bat my self, and If You live. you
win before long, see it verified.
Marx me, / am not superstitious
tut, you will see il verified"
Reaching the visitors room, in
which the sacred relics Of our early
dsys are preserved, we sat down
on one of the old fashioned wooden
benches and my venerable friend
related to me the follow singular
psrrstive, which, from the pecu-
lisrity Of our national affairs at
the present, / have been induced
70 give to the world. Igive, II as
nearly ne possible in bis own words.
"When the bold action of our
Congress in asserting the lndepen-
dence Of the colonies became know
70 the world, we were laughted
and scoffed ut as silly presumptu-
GUS rebels, whom British grena-
diers would soon tame into. sub
mission; but undsuntedly we pre-
pared TO make good what we bad
said. The keen encounter came,
and the world knows the result
1t is easy and pleasant for those
of the present generation TO talk
end write Of the days Of rs. but
they little know--nsisber can they
Imagine the trials and sufferings
Of these fearful days, And there
10 one things that / much fear, and
that is, that the American people
do not sppreciste the boon Of free.
dom. Party spirit 10 yearly be-
coming stronger and stronger, and
unless il 10 checked, will, at no
distant day, undermine snd tum-
bic into ruin the noble structure Of
tbe Republic. But let me hasten
10 my narrative.
"From the opening Of the Re-
volutiOn we experienced oil phases
Of fortune--now good and now in
at one time victorious and at an
ether conquered. The darkest we
had however, was, ! think, when
Washington after several rsverses
Tetreated to Valley Forge, where
he resolved to pass the winter of
II. All! ] have often seen the
tears coarsiDg down our dear old
commanders care. worn cheeks az
be would be conyersing with some
confidential officer about the con-
dition OF his poor soldiers. You
doubtless heard the story Of Wash
ington going to the tbicket to pray.
Well it was nOt only true, but he
use to pray in secret for aid aud
comfort from that God, the inter.
position of whose providence al.
ore brought us safely through
those dark days of tribulation.
zone day, ! remember it we'll
the chilly wind whistled and howl
edthrough the leofless trees though
the sky was cloudness and the sun
shining brightly-he remained in
his quarters nearly the whole fore.
noon, alone. When he came out,
! noticed that his face was q shade
paler than usual, and that there
assmed to be something en- his
mind Of more than ordinary i'm
portanee. Returning just after
dusk, he dispatched an orderly to
the officer | mentioned. who was
presently in attendance. After q
preliminary cenyersation, which
lasted some half an aOur, Wash
ingtOn, casing upon his companion
with, that strange look Of dignity
which he alone could command
said TO the latter:
~ do not know whether il was
owing TO the anxiety Of mind,
or what, but this afternoon, as /
was sistiVk ut this very table, en-
gagged 10 preparing 9 dispatch some
(sin2 &ietarbsd me. LOOkingup, ]