Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-03-31
WAsHINGTON'S S VISION.


in Independence Square" lie was
then ninety-one and becoming very tee
Bile but though 80 old, his dimmng eyes
rckindlcd as be looked at Independence
Hall, which, he said, he had come to gaze
upon once more before he was gathered
home.
What timc is It," said he, raising his
trembling eyes t. the clock in the steeple,
and pndcavorng to shade the former with
II shaking hand-what time is it l can't
see SO we'll now rs | used to-"
q" Halcpa,t three"
"Cemc thcn," he continued, slot us
go into the Hal; want to tell you an
incident OF Wa-hiugton's liie-ouo which
no one alive knows Of except myself, and
tyou live, you will, before long, see il
veri iel. Mark me. am not supersti-
tiuus, but you will see it verified"
Reaching tho visitors rooms, in which
the sacred relies Of our early days are
preserved we sat down upon one of the
oid.la>h;oned wooden benches, and my
venerable friend related to me the fol
lowing singular narrative, which from
the pecularily of our national affairs ~
the present time, have boon Induced to
give to the world. | give it, as nearly as
possible, in his own words.
When the bold action of our Con
grcss, in asserting the Independence Of
the colonies, became known in the world,
we were laughed and scoild ut as silly,
pre>umptuous rebels whom the British
grenadiers would soon tame into submis-
sion but, uuduuntcdly, we prepared To
encounter came, and the world knows
the result. 1t is easy and pleasant lor
those OF the present generation 10 talk
and write Of the days OF '7G, but they lit
tie llnow-ncither can they imagipc--the
trials aud sutfcrings Of those fearful days.
And there Is one thing that | much fear,
and that Is, that the American people dn
not property appreciate the boon of free
dom. Party spirit is yearIy becoming
stronger and stronger, and unless it l.,
checked, will, at no distant day, under
mine n"d tumble into ruin the noble
structure of the public. But lot me hast
en- t. my narrative.
" From the opening Of the Revolution
we experienced all phases OF toltuue--
nov good and now ill., at one time vic.o-
rlou>, at another conquered. The darN
est period we had however, was | think.
when Washington, after several reversc-,
retreated To Valley Forge whore he re-.
solved to pa, The winter OF II. An
have seen the tears cour,ing down oul
dear old commanders care worn check
as he would be cunversing with conf
Dental officer about the condition ol hi
puoI soldiers. Iou hpve dnubtess hruld
the story of Washington going to Tia,
thicket TO pray. Wen it i>nut only true
bu, he used often 10 ptay in secret Ion
ad and comfort from God, the intcrpn
sition Of whose divine providence ulon,
brought u~ sa.ely through those dark day,
of tnbulHlion.
one day | remember it well-thc
chilly wind whi-t,cd und howIed through
the leaiie.s trees, though the sky wa
cloudle,, and the san shining brightly
he remained in his quarters nenrly th,
whole of the afternoon alone. Wncn be
came out, | noticed thut his fnce was II
shade pnler than usual, and that ther.
seemed To be something on his mind OF
more than oIdiumy importance. Re-
turning just after du-l, he dcSpatched an
orderly to the quarters OF tho officer !
mentioned, who was presently in attend
ance. After preliminary conversation,
which lasted some half an hour, Wash
lngton, gazing upon his comptuiDu with
that strange look Of dignity which he
alone could command, said 10 the hitter
- do not know whether it wa, owing
to the anxiety Of my mind or what, but
this utternoon,as | was sitting ut thi. yeiy
table, engaged in preparing II dispatch,
something in the mp rttnant seemed to
disturb me. Looking up, | bohed stand
ing exactly opposite me, suguIarly
beautiful female. So astunishcd was -
for | had given strict orders not to be- dis
turhed-thnt it was some moments before
| found language to inquire the cause OF
her presence. A second, third and even
fourth time did | repeat the question,
but received no answer from my myste-
rious visitor, | began to feel as one dy,
ing, or rather 10 experience the sensation
which | have sometimes imagined ac-
compunicd dissolution. did not think,
reason or move; all were alike impossi
bic. | was only conscious Of gazing fix.
edy, vacantly at my companion.
- Presently, heard voice saying :
" Son Of The Rrpublic, look aud learn -
while ut the same time my visitor extend
cd her arm and iore!inger enstrrly. /
now heheid IA heavy white vapor at som
distance rising lold upon !old. This grad
ually d,sipnted, and | looked upon n
strange scene. Before me lay stretched
out on one vast plain al. the countries OF
the world Europe, Aaia, Az ica and
America. | saw rolling aud tossing be.
tween Europe and America, the bllows
Of the Atlantic, and between Asia and
America lay the Poetic. "Son Of the
Republic said the same mysterious
voice rs before, look aud learn a
century comeLh look and learn"
:" Al that moment beheid dark
shadowy being, like an angel, Standing
or rather floating in md ar between Eu-
rope aud America. Dipping water out
Of the ocean in the hollow of each hand