The record-union., 1896-01-16
WASHINGION'O VISION.
Curious Story Published by Wesley
Bradshaw.
What Anthony Sherman Says He Was
Told by General Washington
About Vision.

l.
from an old copy of ''Zion's Ensign:
The last time L ever saw Anthony
Sherman was on the Fourth of July,
1859. in Independence Square. He was
then 90, and becoming very feeble,
but though so old, his dinming eyes
rekindled as he gazed upon Independ-
ence Hall, which he had come to gaze
upon once more before he was gathered
home.
what time is it?'' said he, raising
his trembling eyes to the clock in the
steepIe and endeavored to shade the
former with a shaking hand, What
time is it? 1 can't see so well as l used
to-"
"Half-past three"
"Come then he continued, 'let US
go 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 see it veri-
fed. Mark the prediction-you will see
1t 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
from the peculiarities of our national
affairs at the present time, have been
induced to give to the world. I give 1t
as near as possible in his own words:
when the bold action of our Con-
gress in asserting the Independence of
the colonies became known in the Old
World we were laughed and scoffed at
as silly, presumptfous rebels, whom
n tame
into submission, but undauntedly we
prepared to make good what we had
said. The keen encounter came and the
world knows the result. 1t is easy and
pleasant for the present generation
to talk and write of the days of 10,
but they little know, neither can they
imagine, the trials and sufferings of
those fearful days. And there is one
thing that 1 much fear, and that is, the
American people do not properly ap-
preciate the boon of freedom. Party
spirit is yearly becoming stronger and
stronger, and without it is checked
will. at no distant day, undermine and
tumble into ruins the noble structure
of the republic. But let me hasten to
narrative.
From the opening of the Revolution
now good and now i'll, one time victori-
Gus, and another conquered. The dark
est period we had however, was,
think, when Washington, after several
reverses, retreated to Valley Forge,
where he resolved to pass the winter OF
TT. All! I have often seen the tears
coursing down our dear old command
er's careworn 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 is not only true, but he
used often to pray in secret for aid and
comfort from God, the interposition OF
whose Divine Providence, brought US
safely through the dark days of tribu-
lation.
"One day, I remember it well-the
chilly winds whistled through the leaf
less trees though the sky was cloudless
and the sun shining brightly-he re-
mained in his quarters nearly all the
afternoon alone. When he came out
noticed his face was a shade paler
than usual, and that there seemed to be
something on his mind of more than or
binary Importance. Returning just
after dusk he dispatched an orderly to
the quarters of the officer l mention
who was presently in attendance.
After a preliminary conversation, which
lasted about half an hour, Washington,
gazing upon his companion with that
strange look of dignity, which he alone
could command, said 10 the latter:
q" 7 do not know whether it is owing
to the anxiety of my mind, or what,
but this afternoon as I was sitting at
this very table engaged in preparing
a dispatch, something in the apartment
seemed to disturb me. Looking up I
beheld standing opposite to me a sim
guIarly beautiful female. So aston
ished was I, for I had given strict
orders not to be disturbed, that it was
some moments before 1 found Ian
guage to inquire the cause of her pres
ence A second, a third, and even
fourth time did I repeat my question,
but received no answer from my mys-
terious visitor except a slight raising
of the eyes. BY this time I felt strange
sensations spreading through me. /
would have risen, but the riveted gaze
of the being before me rendered voli-
tion impossible. I essayed once to ad-
dress her, but my tongue had become
powerless. Even thought itself sudden
" became paralyzed. A new influence
mysterious, potent, irresistible, took
possession of me. All I could do was
to gaze steadily, vacantly at my un-
known visltant. Gradually the sur
rounding atmosphere seemed as though
becoming filled with sensations and
grew luminous. Everything about me
seemed to rarity, the mysterious Wis
itor herself becoming more airy and yet
even more distinct to my sight than be-
fore. I now began to feel as one dying,
or rather to experience the sensations
which 1 have sometimes imagined ac-
company dissolution. I did not think;
] did not reason; I did not move; all
were alike impossible. I was only con-
scious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at
my companion.
Presently I heard a voice saying,
''Son of the Republic, look and learn,
while at the same time my visitor ex-
tended her arm eastwardly. I now be-
held a heavy white vapor at some dis
tance. rising fold upon fold. This grad
uaIly dissipated, and I looked upon a
strange scene. Before me lay spread
out in one vast plain all the countries
of Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
/ saw rolling and tossing between Eu-
rope and America the billows of the
Atlantic, and between Asia and Amer
lea lay the Pacific.
"Son of the Republic" said the
mysterious voice as before, look and
learn"
At that moment I beheld a dark
shadowy being like an angel, standing