Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-19
WASHINGTON'S VISION
AT VALLEY FORGE

The Kennebec Journal has pub
lished "Washington's Vision At Valley
Forge" but 90 many people have In
Quired for it and others have asked
that 1t be reprinted 50 they could clip
1t for scrap books, we are giving space
to it again. The copy was kindly
furnished by Rev. Alexander Stewart
Of Mount Vernon.
| The last time ever saw Anthony
Sherman, was on the fourth OF July,
1859. in Independence Square. He
was then ninety nine years old and
! becoming very feeble. But though so
old. his dimming eyes rekindled as he
gazed upon independence Hall which
he had come to look upon once more
before he was gathered home.
Let US go into the hail." he said,
Il want to tell you an incident in
Washington's life. one which no one
alive knows of except myself. and II
you live, you will before long see it
verified
From the opening of the Revolu-
ton we experienced all phases OF for
tune. now good. now i'll; one time VIC
torious, another time conquered.
The darkest period we had, was 1
think. when Washington after several
successive retreats went to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to spend the
winter Of ~. All, have often seen
the tears coursing down our dear old
commanders careworn cheeks, as he
would be conversing with a confiden-
tial officer about the condition of his
poor soldiers.
You have doubtless heard the story
Of Washingtons going into the thicket
to pray well. it was not only true,
but he. used often to pray in secret for
aid and comfort from God, the inter-
position Of whose divine providence
brought us to safety through those
dark days. One day l remember well ;
the chilly winds whistled through the
| leaf1ess trees, though the sky was
cloudless and the sun shone brightly.
He remained in his quarter all the
afternoon alone. When he came out
noticed that his face was a shade
paler than usual and there seemed to
be something on his mind Of more
than ordinary Importance. Return
| ing just after dark he dispatched an
order to the quarters of the officer l
mentioned, who was presently in at
tendance. After a preliminary con-
yersation Of about half hour, Wash
ington. gazing upon his companion
with that strange look Of dignity
which he alone could command. said
TO the latter, I do not know whether
! it is owing to the anxiety of my mind
or what, but this afternoon as ! was
sitting at this very table engaged in
preparing a dispatch, something in the
department disturbed me. Looking up
/ l beheld standing opposite TO me a
singular, beautiful female. So aston
ished was l. for had given strict or
ders not to be disturbed. that it was
some moments before l found Ian
guage to inquire the cause Of her
presence. A second. third, and even
a fourth time did l repeat my ques-
ton, but received no answer from my
mysterious visitor except a slight
raising of the eyes
BY this time / felt strange sensa-
tons spreading through me. l would
have risen. but the riyeted gaze Of the
being before me rendered volition i'm
possible.
1 assayed once more to address
her. but my tongue had become
become paralyzed.
! "A new influence. mysterious, po-
tent, irresistible, took possession Of
me; all l could do was to gaze stead
lily, vacantly. at my unknown visitant.
Gradually the surrounding atmos-
phere seemed as though becoming
filled with sensation and grew lumi-
nous everything about me seemed to
rarity my mysterious visitor, herself
becoming more airy and yet more
distinct to my sight than before.
now began to feel as one dying, or
rather to experience the sensation
which l sometimes imagined accom-
panied dissolution. I did not think,
did not reason, / did not move. all
were alike impossible. l was only
conscious Of gazing fixedly. vacantlv
at my companion.
! Presently l heard voice say.
Son of the Republic. look and learn
while at the same time my visitor ex-
tended her arm eastward. / now be-
held a heavy white vapor at some
distance. rising fold upon fold, this
gradually dissipated and l looked upon
a strange scene. Before me lay
spread out in one vast plain all the
countries Of the world. Europe. Asia.
Africa and America. saw, rolling
and tossing between Asia and Amer
lea. the Pacific.
'"Son Of the Republic" said
the mysterious voice as before. '1ooA
and learn" At the same moment I
saw a dark shadowy being, like an
angel standing or rather floating in
mid air between Europe and America
dipping water out Of the ocean In the
| hollow Of each hand. He sprinkled
some upon America with his right,
while with his left he cast some upon
Europe Immediately a dark cloud
raised from these countries and joined
in mid ocean. For a while it re-
manned stationary, and then it moved
westward until 1t enveloped America
in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of
lightning cleaned through it at inter-
walls, and heard the smothered
groans and cries Of the American peo-
pie.
"A second time the angel dipped
| water from the ocean and sprinkled It
as before. The dark cloud was then