The last time
I 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 hall, " he said. "I want to
tell you an incident of Washington’s life- one
which no one alone knows of except myself; and, if
you live, you will before long see it verified. Mark
the prediction, you will see it verified.
"From the
opening of the Revolution we experienced all phases
of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorious
and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I
think, was when Washington, after several reverses,
retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass
the winter of 1777. Ah, I have often seen the tears
cursing down our dear commander’s care-worn
checks, as he would be conversing with a confidential
officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You
have doubtless heard the story of Washington’s
going to 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 interposition of whose Divine
Providence brought us safely through the darkest days
of tribulation.
"One day,
I remember it well, the chilly winds whistled through
the leafless trees though the sky was cloudless and
the sun shone brightly, he remained in his quarters
nearly all the afternoon alone. When he came out I
noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual,
and there seemed to be something on his mind of more
than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk,
he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of the
officer I mentioned who was presently in attendance.
After a preliminary conversation of about 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 is owing to the anxiety of my mind,
or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this
table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something
seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing
opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So
astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not
to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I
found language to inquire the cause of her presence.
A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I
repeat my
question,
but
received
no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight
raising of her eyes. By this time I felt strange
sensations spreading through me. I would have risen
but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered
volition impossible. I essayed once more to address
her, but my tongue had become useless. Even thought
itself had become paralyzed. A new influence,
mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of
me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at
my unknown visitant. Gradually the surrounding
atmosphere seemed as though becoming filled with
sensation, and grew luminous. Everything about me
seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor herself
becoming more airy, and yet more distant to my sight
than before. I now began to feel as one dying, or
rather to experience the sensation which I have
sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did not
think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were
alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing
fixedly, vacantly at my companion.
‘Presently
I heard a voice saying, <Son of the Republic, look
and learn>, while at the same time my visitor
extended her arm eastwardly. I now behold a heavy
white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold.
This gradually dissipated, and I 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. I saw rolling and tossing between
Europe and America the billows 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 I
beheld a dark, shadowy being, like and 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 hand, while with his left hand
he cast some on Europe. Immediately a dark cloud
raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean.
For awhile it remained stationary, and then moved
slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its
murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightening gleamed
through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered
groans and cries of the American people. A second
time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and
sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then
drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it
sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious
voice saying, <Son of the Republic, look and
learn>. I cast my eyes upon America and beheld
villages and towns and cities springing up one after
another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the
Pacific was dotted with them. Again, I heard the
mysterious voice say, <Son of the Republic, the
end of the century cometh, look and learn>.
‘At this
the dark, shadowy angel turned his face southward,
and from Africa I saw an ill-omened specter approach
our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city
of the latter. The inhabitants presently set
themselves in battle array against each other. As I
continued looking, I saw a bright angel, on whose
brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the
word ‘Union,’ bearing the American flag
which he placed between the divided nation, and said,
<Remember ye are brethren>. Instantly, the
inhabitants, casting form them their weapons became
friends once more, and united around the National
Standard.
‘And
again I heard the mysterious voice saying, <Son of
the Republic, look and learn>. At this the dark,
shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew
three distinct blasts: and taking water from the
ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of
these countries arose thick, black clouds that were
soon joined into one. And throughout this mass there
gleamed a dark, red light by which I saw hordes of
armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by
land and sailed by sea to America, which country was
enveloped in the volume of the cloud. And I dimly saw
these vast armies devastate the whole country and
burn the villages, towns, and cities that I beheld
springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering
of the cannon, clashing of the swords, and the shouts
and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard
the mysterious voice saying, <Son of the Republic, look and learn>.
When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel
placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a
long and fearful blast.
‘Instantly
a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above
me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark
cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the
angel upon whose head still shone the word Union, and
who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in
the other, descended from the heavens attended by
legions of white spirits. These immediately joined
the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were
well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking
courage again, closed up their broken ranks and
renewed the battle. Again, amid the fearful noise of
the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying.
<Son of the Republic, look and learn>. As the
voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time
dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon
America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back,
together with the armies it had brought, leaving the
inhabitants of the land victorious.
‘Then
once more I beheld the villages, towns, and cities
springing up where I had seen them before, while the
bright angel, planting the azure standard he had
brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud
voice: <While the stars remain and the heavens
send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union
last>. And taking from his brow the crown on which
blazoned the word ‘Union,’ he placed it
upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down,
said, <Amen>.
‘The
scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at
last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at
first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself
once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in
the same voice I had heard before said, <Son of
the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted:
Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The
more fearful is the third, passing which the whole
world united shall not prevail against her. Let every
child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his
land and Union>. With these words the vision
vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I
had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the
birth, progress and destiny of the United
States.’
"Such, my
friends," concluded the venerable narrator,
"were the words I heard from Washington’s
own lips, and America will do well to profit by
them."
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