Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-07-19

the sacred relics Of cur esrly DAYS are
preserved, we sat down upon one OF
the old fashioned wooden benches, and
my venerable friend related 10 me the
following singular narrative. which.
from the pecunarity OF our national
affairs at he present time, | have been
induced to give to the world. / give
il. IS nearly a, possible in his own
words:
When he bold action of our Con-
EresS, IN asserting tie Independence
of the colonies, became known in the
world, we We're laughed and scoffed at
rs lily, presumptuOus n b l.. whom
4 BFi ISL grenadiers would soon tame in
10 submis-i n; but undauntedlY. We
! prepared to make good what we had
said. The Keen encounter came, aud
the world knows the result Il is easy
I and PHEASANT for those OF the p esent
( gcDeraf . 10 fslk and write Of the
I days OF seven'y-siX but theg title
know-neiiber can they imagme-the
triats aHd sulf-rngs ~ those teeriul
/ days There IS che thing That / much
/ fear and that Is that me American pro
/ pie d. not properly appreciate the
/ room If freedom Party spirit is
I yearly Becoming stronger. and unless
/ it is checked. viii at no distaft day.
/ undermine ana tumble iPtO ruins tne
noble structure Of the Republic. Bu,
/ let me hasten To my narrative
Prom the opening ~ the revolution
/ we experienced ali pt ases OF fortune -
now good and now I'll, at one time VIC
/ tprious, and at another conquered.
4 he darkest period we had, however,
I was | think when Washington. after
1 sey ee4l revelses, retreated to Valley
/ Forge, " here be resolved to pass the
winter OF n An | have often seen
the tears conrsing down our dear old
commander 5 care worn cheeks as he
would be cuu"erslng with a cor ftdential
officer about the condition of his poor
soldiers. You Rave doubtless heard
the story OF Washington gong to the
thicket 10 pray. Well it is not only
true, out he nsed often to pray 10 seerst
/ FOR aid and comfort from that God the
Intervention OF whose divine Providence
a.one brought Us safely through those
| dsrk days If lrbualiou.
"0ne day, | remember it well, the
the lcafless trees. though the sky WIS
cloudless and the sun shining brightly
he remained in bis quarters nearlv the
whole of the afternoon alone When
ne came ont, | note ID that his face
was shade paler than usual and that
there seemed to be something on his
mind of more than ordinary importance
Returning Just after dusk, he dispatch
Ell an orderly To the quarters of the
officer | have mentioned, who was pre-
sently III attendance. After a prelimi-
nary conversation which lasted some
half an hour. Washington gazing upon
his companion with that strange look
of digni y which he alone could CON-
mand, said to the latter:
Il do not know whether it was owing
to the anxieY of my mind or wba',
but this afternoon as was sitting at
this very table, engaged in preparing =
despatch, something iu the apartment
seemed to disturb me. Looking up, |
beheld, standing exactly opposite me,
a singularly beautiful female So
astonished was I--for had given strict
orders not 10 be disturbed-tn That | was
some moments before found language
to inquire the cause of her presence A
second, third and even a fourth time
did ! repeat the question. but receiving
no answer from my mysterious visitor
other than slight raising of her eyes
BY this time felt strange sensation
spreading through me. | would have
risen, but the Iiye.ed gaze of the being
before me rendered yolition impossible. |
1 essaYed once more to address her, but
my tongue bad become paralyzed A
new influence, mysterious, potent. ir-
resistible, took possession OF me All
could do WAS to gaze steadily. vacant
~ at my unknown visilant Gradually, |
the surrounding atmosphere seemed as
though becoming filled with sensation.
and grew luminous. Everything about
ma appeared 10 rarity, the visitor her
self becoming more airy, aud vet even
more distinct to nv sight than before,
now began to feel as one dying. or
rather to experience the sensations
which L have some times imagined
accompany dissolution l did not think
did not reason, did not move; all
were alike impossible. | was only
conscious of gazing fxedly, vacantly at
my companion