The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-15
AN INTERVIEW WITH WASH
INGT0N.

King Wiley has romance of the
American Revolution entitled, "Maur-
ice and his Father" A brave little
English lad is separated from his
father, and falls into the hands of the
Americans. His father afterwards
embraces the patriot cause, and his
son is restored to him through the
medium of Washington, as shown in
the following extract:
Maurice was informed that Gen
eral Washington was there showing
the works OF General Lafayette, and
his heart began to futter and thump
within him.
Barney was sitting beside him,
looking at his master with bright and
loving eyes, his little black nose
quivering.
Barney" said the boy, "we're
afraid, but we're not going to stop if
we are"
And, picking up the dog, he took
his way. through the rustling leaves
that lay like heaps of gold, toward
the house which one of the soldiers.
from whom Maurice ventured to ask
for directions, had pointed out to
him.
eyes, General Washington is there
and alone" he was told.
Could he see him9
"Sure, no, ye little bye" said the
Irish sentry. cts worn out the poor
gintleman is, already, and it's mesilf
wouldn't bother with all thin jabber-
ing Enrichment"
Maurice was desperate.
"Ohl pleased" he said. BEG, Bar
ney; you beg, too"
The little dog sat up at once with
dropping paws.
"Sure, me own names Barney.
And is your dogs name O'Rielly,
too? said the sentry.
ooh, if he is your namesake," ex-
claimed Maurice, you must let him
in! Oh, see, you can hold him while
l go in" Maurice thought no one
could resist such an offer.
"I'll see," said the soldier, and he
stepped within, and returning, said,
Go on"
Maurice yielded up Barney and
stepped into the hall, went along it,
and paused just inside an open door.
He was trembling. A voice said:
What is your errand?"-a voice
even, grave, and rather severe.
Maurice raised his eyes. Just be,
fore the fireplace stood the great
commander; to the boys excited
thought he seemed even larger than
he was. Washington's hands were
behind his back, his handsome head
bent little forward.
"What is your errand, my lad?"
said he again, with note of COM
mand in his tone.
"Oh, my father-my fatherl" he
said. II have been lost from him so
very longl"
Something in the thrilling child's
voice, something in the piteous and
forlorn expression of his face went
staight to the warm heart that the
general carried beneath his calm ex-
terror. He crossed the room in quick
strides, and laying his hand on the
boys shoulder, said kindly:
My poor child"
This was too much. Maurice had
borne bravely the long strain of wait
ing, the repeated disappointments,
but the unexpected sympathy broke
down his self-possession. He put his
head in the crook of his arm, and
sobs came fast, sobs that shook him
from head to foot. The general drew
him aside, sat down in an armchair,
and taking the little hanging head in
both his own, said: "There, there,
stop crying, and tell me all about
it,"
Maurice choked down his sobs and
told his story. At his fathers name
the general rose quickly.
Colonel Terraine's son Why,
then your father was here short
time ago-he may be upstairs now!"
Maurice forgot even the great chief