Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919Anonymous
History
Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919
Anonymous
Holidays -- United States; Schools -- Exercises and recreations -- New Jersey
"How did George Washington look?" asked Nell;
"What was he like? Won't you please to tell?"
Thus I answered: "A courtly man,
Wearing his honors as heroes can.
Erect and tall, with his six feet two;
Knee-breeches, buckles, frills and queue;
Powdered brown hair; blue eyes, far apart;
Strong-limbed and fearless, with gentle heart;
Gracious in manner toward every one--
Such, my Nellie, was Washington."
Washington one day came across a small band of soldiers working very
hard at raising some military works, under command of a pompous little
officer, who was issuing his orders in a peremptory style indeed.
Washington, seeing the very arduous task of the men, dismounted from
his horse, lent a helping hand, perspiring freely, till the weight at
which they were working was raised.
Then, turning to the officer, he inquired why he, too, had not helped,
and received the indignant reply: "Don't you know I'm the corporal?"
"Ah, well," said Washington, "next time your men are raising so heavy
a weight, send for your commander-in-chief." And he strode off,
leaving the corporal dumbfounded.
An American sailor landing in England shortly after the close of the
War of the Revolution took a first-class seat in a stage coach, but
was told to get out, as such seats were reserved for gentlemen. "I am
a gentleman," said the sailor. "Who made gentlemen out of fellows like
you?" asked the coach guard. "George Washington," said the sailor; and
he kept his seat.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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