The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-19
REFUSED A GROWN.
Washington Was Once rendered a
Crown and sceptre.
The story of His Refusal as Narrated by
One of the Officers Who Made
the Offer.

When Nathan Williams enlisted in the
continental army he was filed with the
desire to do great things as q soldier, SO
that he might win not only the favor OF
Washington himself, but also that OF a
fair maid, whom he had known from his
earliest childhood, and who even in their
school days used to cast shy but fascinat-
ing glances to HIM across the school
room. She was Mary Trumbull, and
after the news came to their town that
the British had fired upon the farmer boys
at Lexington and Concord, she still said
70 Nathan:
'Ah, Nathan, if you were only little
older and little taller, then you would
take a musket and march away with the
militia and by and by you would come
back an officer"
''But am almost tall enough now"
Nathan said to her in reply, "and if we
do not beat the British right away, why
then the time will come when 1 shall have
grown big enough and old enough to be a
soldier too.'
The time came three years later, when
Nathan had grown so greatly that he was
of imam S stature, although his rosy cheeks
and boyish countenance revealed that
though of great stature he was yet no
more than youth in years. But he was
well favored, of quick intelligence and
great ambition, and one of the officers OF
Washington's army, who was distant
relative, was glad to take HIM as orderly
upon his staff.
Nathan babe his sweetheart goodby,
and there seemed to be more of sorrow
IN his parting than hers, since she was
filed with a mighty ambition for him and
told him that when he came back to her
he would very likely be great officer and
wear gold trimmings upon his uniform
and carry a sword and epaulettes-
f'Then when you have become an otfi-
Ger and have made acquaintance with
Washington and the other generals, they
will do great things for you, so that You
too will be esteemed Of consequence, and
/ shall rejoice to have such a man for my
lover and my husband, - and with this
parting the fair maid sent Nathan forth
to DO battle for his country.
Therefore he had the ambition to win
great fame for himself as soldier, and
perhaps an even greater desire to gain
high honors and q promise of good for
tune so that he might be able to give his
sweetheart joy.
Nathan was a fine soldier, and he had
not been for many months upon the staff
of his general before Washington himself
was made acquainted with him, and in
that silent but impressive manner which
characterized the commanding general,
he revealed TO The youth that he had con-
fidence in him.
Before the siege of Yorktown Nathan
had not only revealed his courage, but in
critical moments had displayed such
military capacity that he received promo
ton. so that in the last conflict of the
war he was already in command of regi-
ment and was rejoiced with the promise
that he should be brevetted a brigadier-
general, although he was then only in his
twenty first year.
In the assault which was made upon
Cornwallis's redoubts at Yorktown Co.
lionel Nathan Williams was conspicuous,
and soon after the surrender OF CORVALLIS
Washington bestowed upon the young
officer such compliment as tinged his
cheek with the flush of proper pride, and
he thought as he returned TO his brigade,
'tNow, Mary, when she hears of this,
will be rejoiced, because that prophecy
which she made when l parted with her
has already been fulfilled. Colonel
Nathan Williams, with his brigade,
followed Washington and the conti-
mental army to their encampment
upon the banks of the Hudson, where
they waited many months for the treaty
of peace to be signed, and the young Off
Ger was taken into the confidence of some
of his superiors, who in that long time OF
waiting were discussing with much earn
estness the form of government which
would follow the acknowledgment of the
independence of the colonies.
Nathan yearned to see his sweetheart,
whom he had not once embraced with the
gentle courtesy OF a betrothed affection
since he parted with her when he Joined
the army, and he received Through SO
that he might make this visit. When he
came into the presence of Mary Trumbull
the two lovers for an instant seemed
scarcely to recognize each other. Ma
than's uniform, as his sweetheart had
predicted, was distinguished by gold lace
and epaulettes, although he did not carry
his sword as she hoped that he would do
when she first met him again. His cheeks
were sunburned, buy be had grown a
handsome man IN the place of the beauti-
full youth who had left her.
And he, when he saw her, perceived
that in the place Of a maiden fair to see
there was now woman, beautiful to look
upon, and with the mutual revelation
there came surprise to each for an instant,
and then with outstretched arm, she cry
ing nNathan,' and he saying "My
Mary, - they received and gave the low
ers' greeting.
A day or two later Mary said to her be-
throthed: "And now that the war is
over, what is it that you are going to do!
You viii not stay soldier, because there
will be no army should think. -
-'Ah, - said he, q do not know about
that, my sweetheart, for if all that 1 hear
be true, we shall still have an army and
may have high command in it. -
land will Washington also be COM
mander-in -chief?' she asked.
mo, not exactly that, for he will be
greater than q commander-in-ch chief, since
he viii be- Here Nathan hesitated.
"Why do you not go on7'' she asked
impatiently-
Because the secret is not mine"
~ ct you possess It,
eyes. ! possess it.
HAnd am I not yours, and what YOU
think | think, and what you know ]
know. and what you love l love7'' she
suggested with such fascinating glance
that Nathan could no longer resist her
entreaty.
''Well, / VIII tell you, but if / tell you
it is like telling myself ana no other. The
officers have agreed to go to Washington
some day not far off now and say to him
that ii viii do no good TO have conquered
independence unless we have a govern
mert, and that there can be no govern
ment unless he is an authority. So they
will say to him, we will make a govern
ment, and the army will be yours to sup
port it. You shall take the throne and
rule US in peace with the gentleness and
success with which you have carried on
this war.'''
As he said these things Nathan per-
ceived that the eyes of Mary were very
bright and that her cheeks were flushed
with the delight which this information
gave to her, and she said, speaking in
tones which revealed her Joy: s'Ah, then
we shall have kingdom, al 1u viii be
a great man in it. SO tbs o. shall
share your honors and p naps We shall
even go to New York, here the great
danes live and have our part IN the life
that viii be lived there And when she