The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-02-28
WASHINGTON'S INNER LIFE.


about the actual facts of the story OF
Washington and his immortal hatchet;
it serves, however, to give us clear IN
SIGHT into the moral training Of Master
George, by upright, honorable and God
fearing parents.
AS he grew, we find him never stray
ing from the right and narrow path
which leads to righteousness, into
which stern but kind father had started
him. His cOnstancy must be admired
by all who still retain the least spark OF
love for the good and the beautiful,
that love which is given. withouteXcep-
ton, to all humanity.
AS a youth, of eighteen summers, II
nv memory be not at fault, we meet
him lust from shower bath, which all
of us have experienced, and can there
fore heartily sympathize with him. This
is decidedly beside the subject, but too
good to omit, althoughn names and dates
, cannot be recalled.
At 30 great distance from his chllo7-
hood home lived d proud ana wealthy
; man of royal stock and high amDltloh;
, this man had, among other DRESSINGS,
: beautiful and accomplished daughter
; of promising age and enchanting ways.
Washington, unfortunately for himself,
was like other men, built OF human
, clay: he fell unconsiously but desper-
Y atelv in love. that first love so sweet
:, and full of hope; he was encouraged oy
l. the maiden who finally referred nm 10
her father. Brave, hopeful and broad
: minded, as young man can be, ne pre-
. sented himself, without fear or mlsg!v-
y ing. before his WOuld-nOt-be father-lh-
y law. When asked as to his means OF sup,
> porting his daughter III the veal TN ana
y atfluence to which she was accustomeu'
George could show him but two honest,
willino hands and tell of his bright
~ prospects. He was coldly shown the door
), and informed those prospects would
= not support family, and furthermore,
% he was neither by birth nor standing
II II worthy of the hand to which he aSplred.
II Imagine the feelings Of this lady and
- her father. both being present, when
70 Washington entered Y orktOwn with the
70 conquered Lord COrnWallls at his size
In his highest triumphs as in his
II severest trials, we find HIM IN such
y >, close communion with ms Hoo tnaC
# our worldly minds cannot grasp the
~ Significance of his fidelity. The tlrSt
10 words in the morning and his last at
night were petition to the throne, or
VII VII sounded praises of Thanksgiving for
% % the benefits of the day. The darkest days
"a ofhis life were passed in that dreadful.
~ ~ winter of 1777-7S at Valley Forge
W With his devoted soldiers; frequently
~ less than half clad and half fed; his
"A \ LOYALTY decried by jealous and ignorant
-, ~ people. and even congress, for time,
20 turned to him the cold shoulder. At
L'o ~, this season of unjust and unmerlted
.'o !. trials he was often found, standing
- knee deep in snow under an oaken can
no 1 opv. wrestling with his God.
We Following his life, skeptlcal as we
ne ne NAV be. we are unable to shut out the
~ ~ vision of a kind and merclful PrOVl-
W Wno dence. in which he placed such implicit
" confidence. Among numerous other
" instances of divine protection 1T is re
y. lated that he personally discovered
ltI iao rtrea acherous plot to deliver him into the
~ ~ hands of the British enemies. Again
do during a memorable battle, he mac
of three horses shot under him, yet ht
~, ~ escaped without single scratch; an(
w" W. later. an Indian chief related that OF
)ne this same day his braves had repeated.
ess taken deliberate aim at him but finall,
~ ~ concluded he was protected by tn
ouo i1 GREAT ManitOu and ceased their effort
ND to kill him.
anu fnr Thus through his eventful life W
iic iHl cannot help but admire the noble Chris
end an9 tian spirit so predominant in this maj
,ne' ,ne though we may be unable to share Tn
9 o. same feeling or even to compreheno
D So ~ He died as he had lived: kind lovlns
20 I honorable and brave. He passed ava
tho in peace. to the glory for which ne ma
dia sIrlven, ouS ilis l non1nod nmod from oener,
ama he ton to generation, and his name sha
ceit, De sPoAen VIII at%ar .n" nsma in history ca
ind call forth. ooLEn'