The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-04-26
(By Wesley Bradshaw

(By Wesley Bradshaw
The last time that | ever saw An
tbony Sherman was on July 4, 1859. in
independence Square. He was then
90 and becoming very feeble; but
though so old, his dimming eyes re-
kindled as he looked at Independence
hall. which he said he had come to
gaze upon once more before he was
gathered home.
"Wbat time is it," said he, raising
his trembling eyes to the clock IN the
steeple, and endeavoring to shade the
former with a shaking hand; what
time is IT? / can't see so well now as
/ used to.
"Half past three.
Come, then," he continued. let us
90 into the hall. want to tell you an
incident of Washington's life, one
which no one alive knows of except
ing myself; and if you live, you will
before long see it verified. Mark me,
| am not superstitious; but you will
see it verified"
Reaching the visitors room. in which
the sacred relics of our early days are
preserved, we sat down on one OF the
old fashioned wooden benches, and my
venerable companion related to me the
following singular narrative, which,
from the peculiarity of our national
affairs at the present time, | have been
induced to give to the world. give 1t
as nearly as possible in his own words.
When the bold action OF our Con-
gress, in asserting the independence OF
the colonies became known to the old
world, we were laughed and scoffed at
as silly, presumptuuous rebels whom
British grenadiers would very soon
tame into submission; but undauntedly
we prepared to make good what we
had said. The keen encounter came,
and the world knows the result. 1t 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 sufferings of those fearful days.
And there is one thing that / much
fear, and that is, that the American
people do not properly appreciate the
boon of freedom. Party spirit is yearly
becoming stronger and stronger, and,
without it is checked, will at no distant
day undermine and tumble into ruins
the noble structure of the Republic.
But let me hasten to my narrative.
From the opening of the Revolu-
tion we experienced all phases OF for
tune-now good, now i'll, one time vic
torious, and another conquered. The
darkest period we had, however, was,
| think, when Washington, after sew
eral reverses, retreated to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to pass the
winter of TT. All! l have often seen
the tears coursing down our dear old
commanders careworn cheeks, as he
would be conversing with confiden-
tial officer about the condition of his
poor soldiers.
"You have doubtless heard the story
of Washington going to the thicket to
pray; well, it is not only tue, but he
used often to pray in secret, for aid
and comfort from that God, the inter-
position of whose divine providence
alone brought US safely through those
dark days of tribulation.
Zone day. remember it well-the
chilly wind whistled and howled
through the leafless trees though the
sky was cloudless, and the sun shining
brightly, he remained in his quarters
nearly the whole afternoon alone.
When he came out | noticed that his
face was a shade paler than usual, and
that there seemed to be something up.
on his mind of more than ordinary i'm
portance. Returning just after dusk
he dispatched an orderly to the quar-
ters of the officer | mentioned, who
was presently in attendance. After a
preliminary conversation, which lasted
some half an hour, Washington, 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 was ow-
ing to the anxiety of my mind, or
what, but this afternoon, as was sit
ting at this very table, engaged in
preparing dispatch, something in the
apartment seemed to disturb me.
Looking up, beheld standing exactly
opposite me, singularly beautiful fe-
male. So astonished was for | had
given strict orders not to be disturbed
that it was some moments before |
found language to inquire the cause of
her presence. A second, third, and
even a fourth time did | repeat the
question but received no other answer
from my mysterious visitor than a
slight raising of her eyes.
BY this time | felt strong SEN
sation spreading through me. | would
have risen, but the riveted gaze of the
being before me rendered volition i'm
possible. | essayed once more to ad-
dress her, but even my tongue had be-
come powerless. Even thought itself
presently became paralyzed. A new
influence, mysterious, potent, irresist-
ible, took possession of me. All |
could do was to gaze, gaze steadily,
vacantly at my unknown vistant.
Gradually the surrounding atmosphere
seemed as though becoming filled with
sensations, and grew luminous. Ev-
erything about me appeared to rarely
the mysterious visitor herself becom-
ing more airy, and yet even more dis
tinct to my sight than before. / now
began to feel as one dying, or, rather,
to experience the sensations which
have sometimes imagined accompany
dissolution. | did not think, did not
reason, did not move; all were alike
impossible. | was only conscious of
gazing fixedly, vacantly, at my COM
panion.
Presently | heard voice saving,
"Son of the Republic, look and learn, I"
while at the same time my visitor ex-
tended her arm and fore. finger east
wardly. | now beheld heavy, white
vapor at some distance, rising, fold
upon fold. This gradually disap.
peared, and looked upon a strange
scene. Before me lay spread in one
vast plain, all the countries of the
world, Europe, Asia, Africa, and
America. | saw rolling and tossing
between Europe and America the bill
lows of the Atlantic and between Asia
and America lay the Pacific.
Son of the Republic, said the
same mysterious voice as before, look
and learn. At that moment beheld
dark, shadowy being, like an agel,
standing, or rather floating in mid-air
between Europe and America. Dip
ping water out of the ocean in the hol-
low of each hand, he sprinkled some
upon America with his right hand