Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-01-12
wAsHINaToN's VISION.
BY WESTLY BRADSHAW.

independence square. lie was ther
ninety-ninc. and becoming very fee
BILE, but though so old, his dimming
eye rekindled as he looked at indie
pendence Hall, which he said he hao
come to gaze upon once more before
be was gathered home,
"What time is it?" said he raising
his trembling eyes to the clock iI
the steeple and endeavoring to shade
the former with a trembling hand
"what time is it? l can't see so well
as l used to"
"IIalf past three"
"Come them" he continued, "lel
us go into the Hall want to tel
you an incident in Washington's life
one which no one alive knows except
myself, and if you live you will SEE
it verified.
"INurk ne, lam not superstitious
but you ,ciH see 1t verifed."
Reaching the visitors room, in
which the sacred relics of our early
days are preserved, we sat down upon
one of the old-tashioned wooden
benches, and my venerable com
panion related to me the following
singular narrative, which from the
peculiarity of our national affairs ri
the present time, | have been induced
to give to the world. l give i, as
nearly as possible i'll his own words
"When the bold action of oul
Congress in asserting the indepsn
dence Of the Colonies, become known
in the old world, we were laughed
and scotfed at as silly. presumptuous
rebels, whom the British grenadiers
would soon tame into submissions
but undanntedly we prepared to
make good what we had said. The
keen encounter came and the world
knows the re-. ult. Il is easy and
pleasant for those of the present
generation to write of the days OF
Seventy-Six, but they little know
neither can they imagine the trials
and suffering of those fearful days
And there is one thing that l much
fear, and that is, the 1merican pen
pie do not properly appreciate the
boon Of .treed>m' Party spirit i,
yearly becoming stronger and with
out it is checked, it will, at no distant
day, undermine and tumble into ruin
the noble structure Of the Republic
But let me hasten to my narrative.
'From the opening Of the Rev
olution we experienced all phases OF
fortune, now good and now i'll, one
time victorious and another conqured
The darkest period, however, was,
think when Washington, after scvera
rcverses, retreated to Valley Forge
where he resolved to pass the winter
of III. All! | have often seen the
tears coursing down the dear ole
commanders care worn checks, rs h.
would be conversing with some Off
Ger about the condition of his poor
soldiers. You have doubtless hearC
the story about Washington going
to the thicket to pray. Well, it i.
not only true, but he used often tt
pray in secret for aid and comfort
from God, the interp' sition o! who's,
divine providence alone brought Us
safely through those dark days o
trlbulation."
"One day-I remember 1t we'll
the chilly winds whisrled through
the leatless trees, though the sky
was cloudless and the sun shining
brightly he remained in his quart
ers nearly the whole afternoon alone
When he came out l noticed thai
his face was a shade paler than usual
and that there seemed to be some
thing on his mind of more than ordi
in: ry Importance. Returning Just aft
er dusk, he despatched an orderly to
the quarters Of an officer | mention
ed, who was pres sently in attendance
After a preliminary conversation
which lasted some half an hour
Washington, gazing upon his com
panion with that strange look Of dig
nifty, wich he alone could command
said to the latter:
81 do not know whether it was ow
ing to the anxiety of mind, or what
but this afternoon. as l was sitting al
this very table, engaged in preparing
dispatch, something in the apart
ment semed to disturb me. Looking
up, l beheld, standing opposite to me
a singularly beautiful female. St
astonishcd was I, for l had giyer
strict orders not to be disturbed
that it was some moments before
found language to inquire the cause
of her presence. A second, thirt
and even the fourth time
did repeat the question, bu
received no answer from my myster
ious visitor than the raising othcreyes
BY this time | felt a strange sensa
ton spreading over me. l would
have risen, but, but the rlveted gaze
Of the being before me rendered vo
lition impossible. essayed one.
more to address her, but my tongu,
had become powerless. Ever
thought itself presently became par
alyzed. A new influence, mysterl
Gus, potent, irresistible, took posses
sion of me. All l could do was t.
gaze, gaze steadily, vacantly at m,
unknown visltant. Gradually tn,
surrounding atmosphere seemed al
though beco ming tull of sensations
and grew luminous. Everything
about me appeared to rarity, the mys
t.. ious visitor herself becoming mor'
airy and yet more distinct tt
my sight than betore.-1 now begar
to feel AS one dying, or rather to ex
perience the sen sations which | have
sometimes imagined accompany dis
solution. | diu not think, did no.
reason l did not move, all were alike
impossible. was only conscious 0
gazing, tixedly, vacantly at my com
panlon."
"Presently heard voice saying
Son Of the Republic, Look an,
learn while at the same time ny
visitor extended her arm and fore
finger castwardly.-I now beheld ;
heavy, white vapor at some distance
rising fold upon told; this gradual,
dissipated, and l looked upon :
strange scene. Before me lay spreat
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