San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-25
WASHINGTON'S VISION.
BY WESLEY BRADSHAW.
American Dollar Monthly.

man was on July 4th, 1859, in Indepen-
dence Square. He was then ninety
nine, and becoming very feeble; but,
though so old, the dimning eyes rekin-
died as he looked at Independence Hall,
which he said he had come to gaze upon
once more before he was gathered home.
aWhat time is it?" said he, raising
his trembling eyes to the clock in the
steeple, and endeavoring to shade them
with his trembling hand. "What time
is it? can't see so well now as I used
to-" ,... 70
"Half past three"
aCome, then," he continued, "let us
10 into the hall; want to tell you an
incident of Washington's life; one which
no one alive knows of except myself,
and, if you live, you will, before long,
see it verified. Mark me, I am not SUI
perstitious, but You will see it verified. :"
Reaching the visitors room, in which
the sacred relics of our early days are
preserved, we sat down upon one of the
old fashioned wooden benches, and my
venerable companion related to me the
following singular narrative, which,
from the popularity of our national af-
fairs at the present time, I have been
induced to give to the world. I give it
as nearly as possible in his own words !:
When the bold action of eur congress
in asserting the independence Of the
colonies became known in the old world,
we were laughed and scoffed at as silly,
presumptuous rebels, whom British
grenadiers would very soon tame into
submission.
But, undauntedly, we prepared to
make good what we had said. The
keen encounter came, and the world
knows the result
It is easy and pleasant for those of
the present generation to talk and write
Of those days of seventy-six, but they
little know, neither can they imagine.
the trials and sufferings of those fearful
days; and there is one thing that I much
fear, and that is that the American peo-
pie do not properly appreciate the boon
Of freedom. Party spirit is yearly be-
coming strongerand stronger, and, with
out it is checked, will, at no distant day,
undermine and tumble into ruins the
noble structure of our Republic.
But let me hasten to my narrative.
From the opening of the revolution we
experienced all the phases of fortune
now good, and now i'll. One time vic
torious, and another conquered.
The darkest period we had, however,
was, l think, when Washington, after
several reverses, retreated to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to pass the
winter of 1777. L have often seen the
tears coursing down our dear old COM
handlers careworn cheeks as he would
be conversing with confidential officer
about the condition of his poor soldiers.
You have, doubtless, heard the story
Of Washington going to the thicket to
pray. Well, it is not only true, but he
used often to pray in secret for aid and
comfort from that God, the interposition
Oh whose divine providence alone bro't
US safely through the days of tribula-
ton.
one day, I remember it well, the chill
" wind whistled and howled through
ule leafiess trees, though the sky was
eioudless and the sun shining brightly. !
ne remained in his quarters nearly the !
Whole of the afternoon alone.
When he came out 1 noticed that his /
ace was shade paler than usual, and
mat there seemed to be something upon |
MS mind of more than ordinary impor-
Ance Returning just after dusk, he
dispatched an orderly to the quarters of .
we officer mentioned, who was pres
eatly in attendance. /
Aiter a preliminary conversation,
inch lasted some half an hour, Wash
1s'On, gazing upon his companion with
IN strange look of dignity which he
N0ne could command, said to the latter: