The Ordway new era., 1913-10-03

mon spy. granting him not even the
favor to be shot. like . soldier. il
seemed hard to learn the innexible
lines upon which that consistent mind
worked. ~ II It had gone to schoo
to Fate.
0oodby to His ofiieers.
But NO one deemed him hard OF
stern. or 30 much ~ thought more
or less than human, when at last the
British had Withdrawn from New
York. and he stood amidst his oficer1
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. 1 now take my leave OF you
most devoutiy. wishing that your lat
ter days may be as prosperous and
happy as your former ones have been
glorious and honorable. I can
not come to each Of you and take my
leave" he said. but shall be Obliged
II you will come and take me by
the hand" hoo
A Fsrvsnt Parting. rs
When General Knox. who stood
nearest, approached him. he drew him
to him with q 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 crowning
touch of simplicity to his Just repute
as a man beyond others noble and
sincere.
Resigns His Commission.
II 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 sfIord-
ed the United States Of becoming .
respectable nation, resign with sat.
isfaction the appointment ! accepted
with dimdence-a diMdence In fmy
abilities to accomplish 20 arduopS a
task. which. however, was supsfseded
by confidence in the rectitude Of our
cause. the support of; the supreme
power OF tho 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 have received from my
countrymen increases with every re-
view Of the momentous contest.
co6sider It my Indispensable duty to
close this last solemn act OF my ofhcial
life by commencing the interests of
our dearest country to the protection
Of Almighty God and those who have
the superintendence Of them to his
holy keeping"
It was as II spoken on the morrow
Of the day upon which he accepted
his commission; the same dimdence
the same trust in a power greater and
higher than his own.
An Idol and Hero.
The plaudits that had but Just now
filled his ears at every stage of his
long journey from New York seemed
utterly forgotten; he seemed not to
know how his fellow countrymen had
made of him an idol and a hero: his
simplicity was once again his authen-
tic badge of genuineness. He knew,
1t would seem. no other way in which
to act.
A little child remembered after.
wards how he had prayed at her
fathers house upon the eve Of battle:
how he had taken scripture out Of
Joshua, and had cried. THE Lord God
Of gods. the Lord God Of gods, he
knoweth. and Israel he shall know: If
It be in rebellion. or II In transgres-
sion against the Lord (save US not
this day)."
There was here the same note OF
solemnity and of self.forgetful devo-
tion as II duty and honor were alike
Inevitable. 49,
On Christmas eve, 1888, Washington
was once more at Mount Vernon, to
resume the life he loved more than
victory and power.
He had xest for the means and the
labor Of succeeding. but not for the
mere content of success. He put the
revolution behind him as he would
have laid aside book that was resd;
turned from it as quietly az he had
turned from receiving the surrender OF
Corvallis at Yorktown-interested In
victory. not as a pageant and field OF
glory, but only as means to an
end.
He looked to find very sweet satis-
faction, in the peace which war had
earned. as sufficient q scope for his
powers at home as in the field. ~
Once more he would be virginian.
and Join hfs strength to his neigh.
bors' in all the tasks Of good citi-
! zenship.
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