The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1917-12-14
WASHINGTON HAD VISION
OF AMERICAS FUTURE

The following which is a reprint
from the National Tribune, Washing
ton, D. c., in December, 1880, and
which was recovered in a package
of documents and given I oThe Eagle
by a friend, relates General Washing
tons strange vision, given to Wesley
Bradshaw by Anthony Sherman when
the latter was 80 years cid. 1t shows
the three great crises of the Repub-
lie, and the vision is stated by Wash
ington to have been given to him
by a warning angel. The vision as
,iven by Mr.. Bradshaw is as follows:
THE darkest period we had !
think. was when Washington, after
several r~everses, retreated to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to pass the
winter Of l777. You have
DOUBTLESS heard the story of Wash
lngton going to- the thicket to pray.
Well, 1t was not only true, but he
used to often pray in secret for aid
and comfort from God, the interpo-
sition Of whose Divine Providence
brought US safely through the dark
est days of tribulation.
Zone day, l remember it well, the
chilly wind whistled through the leaf
less trees, though the sky was cloud.
less and the sun shone brightly, he
remained in his quarters nearly all
the afternoon alone. When he CANE
out, l noticed his face seemed a
shade palcr than usual ard that there
seemed something on his mind OF
more than ordinary importance.
After a preliminary conversation
of about half an hour, Washington,
gazing upon his companion with that
strange look Of dignity which he
alone took command, said to the lat
ter: Il do not know whether it is
owing to the anxiety Of my mind or
what, but this afternoon ! was sitting
at this very table engaged in prepar-
ing a dispatch, something seemed to
disturb me. Looking up, ! beheld
standing opposite me a sineularly
beautiful female. So astonished was
I. for had given strict orders not to
be disturbed, that il was some mo-
nients before I found language to in
Quire the cause Of her pres
ence. felt strange sensations
spreading through nc. would have
risen, Blu: the riveted gaze of the
being before me rendered v~oiition i'm
possible. essayed to address her,
but my tongue had become powerless.
Even thought itself became ~paralyz-
ed. A new influence, mysterious, po-
tent, irresistible, took possession Of
me. All ! could do was to gaze
steadily. vacantly at my unknown
visitant.
presently l heard a voice saying,
Son of the Republic, look and learn,
while ut the same time my visitor ex-
tended her arm eastwardly.
81 now beheld a heavy white vapor
at some distance rising fold after
fold. This gradually dissipated and
| looked upon a strange scene. Be-
fore me lay spread out in one vast
plain countries of the world. Europe,
Asia, Africa and America. | saw
rolling and tossing between Europe
and America the pillows of the At
lantic, and between Asia and .Ameri-
CO lay the Pacific. Son of the Re-
public said the mysterious voice as
before, look and learn At that
moment ! beheld a dark shadowy
being like an angel, standing or rath-
er floating in the midair between
Europe and America, dipping water
out of the ocean in the hollow OF each
hand. He sprinkled some on Ameri.
ca with his right hand. while with his
left he cast some on Europe. I'm.
mediately a dark cloud rose from
these countries and joined in mid.
SNSohE wi al NIlllc IL Say ~ SlI
tionary, and then moved slowly west
ward until it enveloped America il
its murky folds.
SHARP flashes Of lightning CLEAN
through it at intervals. and | heart
the smothered groans and grief o
the American people. A second tim,
the angel dipped water out as be
fore. A dark cloud was then drawn
back to the ocean, in whose heavin!
pillows it sank from view. ! thir,
time | heard the mysterious voic,
saying, Son Of the Republic, lool
and learn | cast my eye upon Amer
lea and beheld villages and towns an,
cities springing up one after the 9th
OF until the whole land from the At
lantic to the Pacific was dotteed wit
them. Again | heard the mvsteri