The winter at Valley Forge was a time of bitter discouragement for
Washington and his cause. Tradition has preserved a touching picture of
the great man in his lonely hour of trial.
A Quaker farmer, Isaac Potts, one day returned home joyful and
confident in the ultimate success of the Americans: _George Washington
will succeed! George Washington will succeed!_ he told his wife. _What
makes thee think so, Isaac?_ was her reply. _I have heard him pray,
Hannah, alone out in the woods to-day. The Generals horse was tied
to a sapling in a thicket. He himself was on his knees, praying most
fervently. The Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah; thee
may rest assured, he will._
* * * * *
Washington’s soldiers were often exasperated by the pettiness and
tedious delays of Congress. On one occasion a group of them proposed
to improve matters by making their leader King. His downright reply to
the man who finally summoned sufficient courage to broach the matter
to him is too little known: _I am at a loss to conceive what part of
my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which seems to
me big with the greatest mischief that can befall any country.... Let
me conjure you, if you have any regard for your country, concern for
yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from
your mind, and never communicate, as from yourself or any one else, a
sentiment of the like nature!_