The Columbus journal., 1881-05-18
Washington's Dream.
(Cor. National Tribune.) }

| bIcdih, nuu as OhO vi ihf uciSuooI'
chanced to have it, | borrowed the
paper containing il and take the lib.
erty to send you a copy OF the
dream. J. w. III.
wAsHINGToN's VISION.
"The last time ever saw Anthony
Sherman was on the 4th of July,
1859, in independence Square. He
was then nine-nine years old, and
becoming very feeble; but, though
so old, his dimming eyes rekindled
as he gszed upon Independence Hall,
which he mad come to gaze upon
once more before he was gathered
home.
"Let us go into the Hail. he said.
Il 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 the predic-
ton, you will see it verified. =
From the opening of the Revolution
we experienced all phases of for
tune-now good and now i'll, one
time victorious and another con-
quered. The darkest period we had,
| think, was when Washington. after
several reverses, retreated to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to pass
the winter of ". All! | have often
seen the tears coursing down our
dear old commanders care worn
cheeks as he would be conversing
with a 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 was not only true,
but he used often to pray in secret
for aid and fort from God, the
interposition of whose Divine Prov
ideuce brought US safely through
those dark days of tribulation.
"'One day, | remember it well,
the chilly winds whistled through
the leafess trees, though the sky was
cloudless and the sun shone bright
ly; he remained in his quarters
nearly all the afternoon alone. When
he came out | noticed his face was
shade paler than usual, and there
seemed to be something on his mind
of more than ordinary importance.
Returning just after dusk, he dis
patched an orderly to the quarters
of the officer | mention. who was
presently i'm attendance. After
preliminary conversation, which
lasted about half an hour, Washing
ton, gazing upon his companion
with that strange look of dignity
which he alone could command, said
to the latter: Il do not know wheth-
er it is owing to the anxiety OF my
mind, or what, but this afternoon as
| was sitting at this very table en-
gagged in preparing a dispatch, some
thing ia the apartment seemed to
disturb me. Looking up L beheld
standing opposite to me singularly
beautiful female. So astonished was
|, for | had given strict orders not
to be disturbed, that it was some
moments before | found language
to inquire the cause of her presence.
A second, third, and even fourth
time did | repeat my question, but
received no answer from my mys-
terious visitor except a slight rails
ing of the eyes. By this time felt
strange sensations spreading thro'
me. | would have risen, but the
riyeted gaze of the being before me
rendered volition impossible. es-
ssyed once more to address her, but
my tongue had become powerless.
Even thought itself suddenly be-
came paralyzed. A new influence,
mysterious, potent, irresistible, took
possession Of me. All [ could do
was to gaze steadily, vscantly, at my
unknown visitant. Gradually the
surrounding atmosphere seemed as
though becoming filled with sensa-
tions and grew luminous. Every
thing about me seemed to rarity, the
mysterious visitor herself becoming
more airy, and yet even more dis
tinct TO my sight than before. | now
began to feel as one dying, or rather
to experience the sensations which
L have sometimes imagined accom-
pany dissolution. L did not think,
| did not reason, L did not move;
all were alike impossible. | was
only conscious of gazing fixedly, va
csntly. at my companion.
presently | heard a voice say
ing, Son of the Republic, look and
learn, while at the same time my
visitor extended her arm eastward
ly. now beheld a heavy white |
vspor at some distance rising fold |
upon fold. This gradually dissipa-
ted, and | looked upon a strange |
scene. Before me lay spread out in |
one vast plain all the countries of |
the world - Europe, Asia, Africa,
and America. | saw rolling and
tossing between Europe and Amer
lea the pillows of the Atlantic, and
between Asia and America Law the
m