Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1893 — GEORGE WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Condensed Story of tho Life of Our First President. All the boys and girls are glad when Washington’s birthday comes, for they know that that means a holiday, and who does not welcome that? But how many of them know very much about the “Father of his Country,” as he is called, in whose honor this 22d day of February is kept? The story of George cutting down the cherry tree with his little hatchet and then frankly owning up to the deed is well known, as is also another story ■of much the same kind which tells how he was very fond of taming and breaking in unmanageable colts. One day, however, just as he had succeeded in gaining control over a very valuable colt, it burst a blood vessel and died in a few minutes. But George, With his usual honesty, did not hesitate to

tell his ‘mother and frankly confess his fault. There are many other stories told about Washington’s youthful days, all of which tend to give one the impression that he was a stiff, priggish little fellow; hut the fact is, that all these stories are without foundation, and very little is actually known about Washington’s boyhood, except that he was a sturdy, athletic hoy, and probably very far from being a prig. In those days in Virginia it is not at all unlikely that he was fond of breaking in colts, and, judging from his character in after days, there is no doubt that if he had caused the death of a colt or had injured his father’s cherry trees, he would have promptly confessed it at once, just as any other honest boy would have done. He was horn Feb. 22, 1732, at Bridge's Cieek, Va. The house in which he was born was a quaint old farm-house, with a high roof sloping down almost to the ground. There were four rooms on the ground floor, with an attic When George was *3 years old this house was burned down to the ground aad was never rebuilt. The family moved to a place on the banks of the Rappahannock River, opposite Fredericksburg, and there lived for many years, in a farmhouse much like the one in which George was horn. There was a large family of children, and a happy time they had, playing about in the meadows which sloped down from the house on the river. George was large for his age and very strong and athletic, and this made him a leader among the hoys. At one point in the river, opposite the lower part of Fredericksburg, it is said he could fling a stone across to the other side, a feat which none of the other boys could perform. His father died while George was still young and his mother was then left with several small children to provide for, and so it was necessary that 14-year-old George should go to work. But It was hard to find work that he could do, and at length it was decided that he should go to sea. The boy was delighted with this prospect, but at the last moment Mrs. Washington’s heart failed her and she could not consent that he

should go, so he stayed at home for a time and went on with his mathematical studies. A few years later Lord Fairfax, a gentleman who owned a great deal of property, and who had taken a great fancy to the hoy, engaged him to do some surveying, and for two or three years he lived and worked in the forests, often wading through swamps and sleeping upon ground, and thus growing hardy

and strong. He distinguished himself by his bravery and wisdom in the French and Indian war, and when our colonists decided to be po longer subject to England, he was made Commander-in-chief of our army. At the close of the war he was chosen to he our first President. He was remarkably large of stature and very strong. He had the appearance of being about 6 feet 6 Inches in height, but was really 6 feet 2 inches. His hands and wrists were very large, as were also his feet. He was obliged to have his gloves made to order, and his boots were No. 13. The following fact will Illustrate his strength. When in camp his tent and poles when rolled up were so heavy that two men were needed to carry them, hut Washington could pick them up with one hand and pitch them into the wagon. In 1799 he died at his home at Mount Vernon of- the croup or something very similar, and his loss was deeply mourned by the whole nation. Mount Vernon is situated on the hanks of the Potomac River, and to this day the boats, as they steam up and down the river, toll their bells "‘when they pass the house where Washington lived and died and the tomb where he lies buried.

GEORGE WASHINGTON. Sketch from the original painting by James Sharpies.