Year: 1867

A New Anecdote OF washington.


Paulding. in his Life of Wash
ington," narrates the following anec-
dote, which we judge will be as new
to our readers as it is to US:


Being accustomed to visit an old
and hospitable friend whose mansion
is not far from the place | have been
describing,'I formed an acquaintance
with the worthy dame by often stop
ping in my rambles to rest myself,
and listen to her stories about Wash
ington and Putnam, and other revolu-
tionary heroes of less note. Wash
ington was her hero. She had pic
ture of him hung up just below her
best looking-glass, and whenever she
looked that way it reminded her of
something the general said or did, or
some event of those doleful times
when the foot of an enemy pressed
almost every threshold in the land
She would look at the picture with
the affection of a mother, and ex-
claim,-


All, he was a good man. [ re-
member he used to come over some
times, nay, very often, to talk over
matters with Gen. Putnam, who had
his quarters here. If ever man loved
his country, it was Gen. Washington.
| could tell, but | am old, and lose my
memory every day could tell of
his perplexities, his watchings, cares,
and sufferings of mind and body,
which believe he never let any one
see but myself; and | shall never for
get his kindness when lost my young
est son. My boy was quite hero am
ong the young men Of the hills, and
night after night used to go out with
parties of militia, beating the plunder-
ing Yagers that came from below and
carried away every thing they could
find, to the ruin of many of our poor
people, who stayed between the lines
because they were old, and knew not
where else to go.


"One night-it was the twentieth
of January can recollect that-in
the dead of night, my son and his lit
tie troop were surprised in turn by
party from below, while warming
themselves in the house, which the
enemy surrounded in blank silence
and then set on fire. In attempting
to escape they were all butchered by
the Yagers, who hacked them down,
though they begged for quarter. The
next day, while | was out to a neigh
bor's house, my sons body was brought
home by some people who knew him !;
and when | returned, there | saw it,
with the blood frozen in the gashes
with which he was covered.


u don't remember what became
of me till found myself sitting in our
old armchair, and the general stand
ing Just by, with MS nat III one nanu
and the other resting on the back of
the chair. Mother, said he, soon
as | come to myself Mother'-and
the word made ME SO proud | almost
forgot what had happened Mother,
you have given son to your country
"a brave man to his God. Go now
to your room; and | will see every
thing done.


Il went. for no one could say nay
to him when he soothed or command
ed, and they buried my boy like sol
dier. The troops fired, while the
general himself stood over the grave,
and the pride of mother almost
overcome her affection. Time, hard
ships, and more sorrows that succeed
ed each other for years afterward
drove away the bitterness of this
bereavement; although when the floor
was washed, or the sun shone bright
upon it, we could see the stain of
| blood where the body had lain.
can talk of these things now, for when
| think of the death of my son, | re-
member also that he died in the serv.
ice of his country, and his country
father followed him to his grave"