The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-08-29
Gen. Washington and the Ragamuffins

In the month of October, 1879, Gen.
George Washington, who was then Pres
ident of the United States, and residing
in New y York CITY, made a tour, attend
ed by his secretaries. MeSSrs. Lear and
Jackson. to the States of Connecticut,
Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
History tells us how, in every part of
the country through which he passed,
the citizens embraced the opportunity,
then offered, to testify their respect and
even veneratiOn fOr this man, in whose
character whatever was great and good,
whatever dignified and adorned human
nature, was so happily blended.
Whenever he approached a town or
village the roads were lined with the in
habitantS who had turned out to bid him
welcome and in many instances he was
escorted by local companies of militia
from point to point.
The whole community was now wrO't
up to the highest pitch of excitement in
regard to the presence of the distinguish
ed visitor, and hardly anything else was
talked of in the towns and villages thro'
which he had to pass.
Esquire Samuel DuntOn came home
from a.trip to Norwich to Wilmington, a
little township nestled among and almost
hidden by the hills of eastern Connecti-
cut. and set all the men. women and
children into a blaze of enthusiasm with
the news that the Presidential party
were to pass over the Hartford and
Providence turnpike, " and would ar
rive at a point in the south part of Will
lmgton. near Mansfield, at about eleven
O'Clock on the next forenoon. The Will
lingtOn folks Immediately set about or
ganlZng company to go down and join
the Mansfield people in giving General
Washington a suitable reception.
OF course there We're plenty of wide
awake girls and boys who wanted to 90
with the older people and get glimpse
of the great man but in those dayS
children were taught that they were ''tO
be seen and not heard and on all i'm
pOrtant occasions were kept rather in
the background.
The October morning opened bright
and beautiful, and the Preston family at
the Jannery were aStir early. and with
their neighbOrs. the HOlts, the Westons
/ the Aliens, the Pearls, and the DuntonS.
started in the early, rosy morn. in holi-
day array, down the woody Mansfield
road.
y group of eager, active. bright faced
boys were gathered on the bridge to see
them off. They watched the cavalcade.
men and women both on horseback
each horse carrying a man with a wo-
man behind him on ''pilliOn it
disappeared in the gray mist rising oven
FentOn river.
There was a few moments of silence
and the lUgubTiOuS faces of the bows
/ were growing longer and longer ovel
their disappointment, when Timothy
Pearl, the oldest and most daring of the
group, said:
"I'll tell You what it is, boys. if Gen
eral Washington is to pass so near us to.
/ day, l intend to get a sight of him
Esquire DmtOn said he'd likely be along
down on the crossroads about clever
+ O'Clock. I'm going to run away down
! to the turnpike. How many of YOU viii
go with me ? If we go cross lots anC
run down all the hills, and step pretty
/ Spry the rest Of the way, there ; no doubt
. that we can get there in time to see
him. "
Half a dozen of the boys caught of
. their hats, and, swinging them high il
/ the air, gave three rOusing cheers fOl
General and President Washington
Little eight-years-old Amos Prestor
jumped up and down, swinging his tas
Seled hat and shouting as enthusiastic a.
his older comrades. When, with zone
t,co, three! start - they were off with
/ leap-frOg jump, they found Amos bring
J ing up the rear.
''Amos, you con'tgo - Zebadiah Mar
ey shouted back at the little fellow
''Y our legs are too short"
Try Inc and see, - said Amos stoutly
Il think t's too bad if General Wash
ingtOn is to come so near and not SCI
{ him as well as the rest of YOU. | wan
To 500 him inst aE lonch nv Iarr
were longer"
Let him 60" said David Glazier
who was only little older than Amos
but very much taller. Hes pleasan
little fellow, and never complains no
whimpers when he is tired. We bi
boys can give him lift if he fuckers.
And reaching out he took Amos bv tn
hand, and the boys started once more.
Away they went, striking out acros
the fields and woods, gay with the vari
egated leaves, not stopping to distur
the squirrels laying in their store of nuts
nor taking time to pause in the shadow
orchards to fill their wide pockets wit
the fragrant fruit that lay thickly strew
on the turf. First one and then anothe
of the boys took Amos by the hand for
run, or to help him jump over the hug
fallen trees or the brooks that intercept
I ed Ihelf Way.
just before the boys came upon th
turnpike, they paused under a group c
NAPLES to take breath.
GLOW like Tagamuflins we look wit
our old clothes on. and they ali so tor
and muddy :" said Zebulon Crocke
''What would the General think of us
he should happen to spy us ?''
f ''Iet's trim ourselves up, said lit
Amos. Here's lots of bright leaves
and there's a thorn bush with plenty ,
thoTns to fasten them on with
''Sure enough, and well thought of,
said Elijah ElDridge. amos knows
thing or two, if his legs are so short. =
When the boys again resumed the
running march, decked out from hea
to foot with the golden and scarf,
leaves, they presented a fantastic sigl
indeed.