The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
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Ss- -sssb8n s5 OEh's Notable Eis5ora zls
 Valley Forge.

Ss' sssia1n n,sl OEh'- -SOfsa l,se sis5oEs a
 Valley Forge,
 A friend has furnished us with tn
 following copy of "Washington's Wis
 ion, and we have also been requeste,
 by others to publish it. It was origin ally printed in the Cincinnati Times and was then credited to Wesley Brad shaw:
 The first time ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the 4th of July, 1852, on Independence Square. He was then ninety one, and becoming very feeble, but though so old, hls dimming eyes rekindled as he looked on Independence Hall. which, he said, he ha come to gaze upon once more before he was gathered home
 What time is it?' said he, raising his trembl- ing eyes to the clock in the steeple, and endeav- or,ne to shade the former with sha king hand What time is it? I can't see so we'll as used to-" "Halfpast three " Come then, he con- tinued, "let us go into the hal want to tell you an incident If Washington's life; one which no l one alive knows of except myself and if you live you will, before long, see it verified. Mark me- am not supersttfous but you will see it verified D
 Reaching the visitors ro6m in which the relics of our early days are preserved, we sat down on one of the oldfashIoned woo den benches. and my venerable friend related to methe full owing | singular narrative, which, from the pscul arlty of orr national affairs at the present time have been in iuced to give to the work I give It, as nearly as possible, in his own words
 When the bold acion of our Congress in assert asY,f1r ,.aax,o ,Fsl...f fN-1
 to the world, we were laughed and scoffed at. as silly presumptuous rebels whom British grenad- lers would soon tame into subm ssion. but dndau1tedly We prepared to make good what we had said. The keen encounter came and the world knows the result. It is easy and pleasant for those of the present generation to talk and write of the days of 76, but they little know, neither can they imagine, the trials and suffer- ings of those fearful days. And there is one thing that l much fear, and that is, that the American people do not properly appreciate the ! boon of freedom Party spirit fs yearly beeafo- ing stronger and stronger. snd unless iE is checked. will at no distant day. undermine and tumble into ruin the noble structure of the Rep .".- .s. Le. rs. t..s... .. .-r ....a..s From -.e opening of the Revolution vre tx- Perieaced all phases of fortune. now good and
 
 conquered. The darkest period l- hal, how ever, was I think when Washington after sev- eral reverses retreated to Valley Forge where he resolved to pass the winter of IT. An! I have often seen the tears crushing down our dear old commanders care-wOrn cheeks as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the conditiono his poor soldiers You have doubt less 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 that God, the interposition of whose pro- vidence alone brought us safely through those dark days of tribulatiOn. One day, remember it well. the chilly wind whisted and hOwIed through the leafess trees though the sky was cloudless and the sun was shining brightly. he remained in his quarters nearly the whole of the forenoon alone. When he came out mo- ticed that his face was a shade paler than usual and that there SC med to be some hing on his mind of more than ordinary importance Re | turning just after du he despatched an orderly ] to the quarters of the officer mentioned who was presently in attendance After a pre,imin- ary converSati n which lasted some half an hour | Wash'ncton gazing upon his companion said to | the latter: "I do not know whether it was owing to the anxity of mind or what, but this l afternoon as was sitting at this very table en- gagged in preparing dispatch something in the | department seemed 10 disturb me. Looking up | beheld standing exactly opposite me a singu- | larly beautiful female. So astonished was l. for | l had given strict orders not to be disturbed | that 1t was some moments before I found lan- | guage to inquire the cause of her presence A | second, third, and even fourth time did re- peat the gu stion, but received no answer rom | my mysterious visitor. other than slight rais- ing of the eyes By this time felt strange | sensation spreading through me would nave [ Iisen, but the rivetted gaze of the being before me rendered yoitiOn impossible. essayed ! once mo to address her, but my tongue had become paraWzed new influence, mysteri- | ous, DO eut, irresistible toak possession of me All uli do ".s 70 gag $. ely al1 .anrly at s.y vjs taut. Gradually J..6 surrounding a.- mOslhere seemed as though becoming filled ettb ' -le same .sa11. and re- luminous --.r..