The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-07-11

his disgraceful death, like any COM |
mon spy, granting him not even the |
favor to be shot, like soldier. 1t |
seemed hard to learn the inflexible
lines upon which that consistent mind
worked, as If 1t had gone to school
to Fate
Goodby to His Officers.
But no one deemed him hard or
stern, or SO much as thought more
or less than human, when at last the
British had withdrawn from New
York, and he stood amidst his officers
in Frances tavern to say goodby.
He could hardly speak for emotion;
he could only lift his glass and say
with, heart full of love and graft
| tude, I now take my leave of you,
most devoutly wishing that your lat
happy as your former ones have been
glorious and honorable. l can
not come to each of you and take my
leave" he said. "but shall be obliged
if you will come and take me by
the hand"
A Fervent Parting.
When General Knox, who stood
nearest, approached him, he drew him
to him with sudden impulse and
kissed him, and not soldier among
them all went away without an en-
brace from this man who was deemed
cold and distant, After the parting
they followed him in silence to White
hall Ferry, and saw him take boat for
his journey
And then, standing before the con-
gress at Annapolis to resign his com
mission, he added the GROWING
touch of simplicity to his just repute
as man beyond others noble and
sincere.
Resigns His Commission.
Il have now the honor of offering
my sincere congratulations to con-
gress," he said, as he stood amidst the
august scene they had prepared for
him, "and of presenting myself before
them to surrender into their hands
the trust committed to me, and to
claim the indulgence of retiring from
the service of my country
Happy in the confirmation of our
independence and sovereignty, and
pleased with the opportunity afford
ed the United States of becoming a
respectable nation, | resign with sat.
: isfaction the appointment | accepted
with diffidence-a dffidence in my
abilities to accomplish so arduous a
|, task, which, however. was superseded
by a confidence in the rectitude of ouI
cause, the support Of the supreme
power of the Union, and the patronage
:, of Heaven.
THE successful termination of the
war has verified the most sanguine ex
pectations and my gratitude for the
interposition of Providence and the as
sistance l have received from my
! countrymen increases with every re
view of the momentous contest.
! l consider it my indispensable duty tc
: close this last solemn act of my officia
life by commencing the interests o.
our dearest country to the protection
of Almighty God and those who have
the superintendent of them to hii
!, holy keeping"
1t was as if spoken on the morrow
| VI llC 0dy 3nPOl WhASh ~ 6SSSPSSN
his commission; the same diffidence
= the same trust in power greater anC
: higher than his own.
An Idol and a Hero.
o The plaudits that had but just nov
q filled his ears at every stage of hi
q long journey from New York seemet
a utterly forgotten: he seemed not Il
!. know how his fellow countrymen hal
made of him an idol and hero; hi
! simplicity was once again his authen
. tic badge of genuineness. He knew
it would seem, no other way in whicl
s to act.
v A little child remembered after
h wards how he had prayed at he
fathers house upon the eve of battle
d how he had taken scripture out Q
v Joshua, and had cried. The Lord Go
O of gods, the Lord God of gods. h
IS knoweth, and Israel he shall know;
h it be in rebellion or If in transgres
Il sion against the Lord (save US nc
e this day."
T. There was here the same note c
It solemnity and of self-forgetful devC
ton as If duty and honor were alik
y inevitable.
n On Christmas eve, 1888, Washingto
r was once more at Mount Vernon, I
le resume the life he loved more tina
it victory and power.
f. He had zest for the means and tn
u labor of succeeding, but not for th
y mere content of success. He put tn
u revolution behind him as he woul
e. have laid aside book that was read
lie turned from it as quietly as he ha
a. turned from receiving the surrender {
CORVALLIS at Yorktown-interested
victory. not as pageant and field {
is glory, but only as means to a
to end.
lie He looked to find very sweet sati
C. faction in the peace which war ha
ut earned. as sufficient a scope for h
Ye powers at home as in the field.
e. Once more he would be Virginia
as and join his strength to his neig
bors' in all the tasks of good eli