If nothing else, I do take your mind off your problems, I’ll explain
This am at 5:30 I already had the smoker doing it’s thing, 40 degree small to slim chance of melting the Provolone & Munster cheese, cheese melts at a 100 degrees, as I said, slime to no chance of melting. That cheese will make nice gifts later on. Came in, got a coffee, first thought, I really want to go fishing, not happening, I keep a clean house, barrowing words from Gunny Ermey
” the virgin Mary herself would be proud to use my facilities”
sipping my coffee and thinking, is this chore beneath my dignity? No, not even close, wanna know why? If Crawford could clean latrines at the Academy, I have no room to complain.
Was President Reagan who gently placed that MOH around William Crawford’s neck. Getting my cleaning supplies at the ready, words from nowhere came to my lips (like what the hell )
maybe it was Sabaton that was blaring
” Son of the Republic, look and learn”
Hey now, I know those words
It’s a long read, worthy of your time
This is a true copy of General George Washington’s Vision, reprinted
from the U. S. war veterans’ news paper: The National Tribune, in
December, 1880. The Tribune, now called The Stars and Stripes,
reprinted this article in December 21,1950.
Believe or not, that’s on the reader to decide
In 1859, Sherman gave this account of Washington’s vision to a writer
named Wesley Bradshaw, who published it. Wesley Bradshaw wrote:
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
was becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes
rekindled. “Let us go into the hall,” Sherman said to the writer. “I want
to tell you of an incident of Washington’s life— one which no one alive
knows of except myself; and if you live, before long you will see it
verified; mark the prediction, you will see it verified.” Following is the
account that Sherman gave to the writer, Wesley Bradshaw:
The darkest period of the war was when Washington retreated to
Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I have
often seen the tears coursing down our dear Commander’s care-worn
cheeks, 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
often he used to pray in secret for aid and comfort. And God brought us
safely through the darkest days of our tribulation.
One day, Iremember 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 an
officer, 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 in the apartment seemed to disturb me
Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful Being.
Because I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, it was some
moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit.
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 the 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 assayed once more to speak, but my tongue had
become useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent,
irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily,
vacantly at my unknown Visitor.
Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed to fill with
sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy,
the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy and yet more distinct to
my sight than before. I began to feel as someone who is dying, or rather
to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined,
accompany death. 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 unknown companion.
Presently I heard a voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and
learn,” while at the same time my visitor extended an arm eastward.
I now beheld 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. Isaw 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 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 hand, while with his left he cast some
over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries, and joined
—in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then it moved
slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp
flashes of lightning 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 comes, look and learn.”
And this time the dark, shadowy Angel turned his face southward.
From Africa I saw an ill-omened specter approach our land. It flitted
slowly and heavily over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants
presently set themselves in battle array against each other.
As I continued looking Isaw a bright Angel on whose brow rested
a crown of light, on which was traced the word ‘UNION.’ He was
bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between the divided nation
and said, “Remember, you are brethren.”
Instantly the inhabitants, casting down their weapons, became
friends once more and united around the National Standard.
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
continents 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. These men, moving with the cloud, marched by
land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the
volume of cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole
country and the villages, towns and cities which I had seen 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.” Where 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 shown
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 the loud
voice: “While the stars remain, and the heaven 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
disappeared, and 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 most fearful for her is the third. But 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,
the progress, and the destiny of the United States.
“Such, my friends,” the venerable narrator concluded, “were the
words I heard from Washington’s own lips, and America will do well to
profit by them.”
A mash-up of sorts
