Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-02
The Tall Pine.


"The tall pine" grew upon the backbone
Of Bald Mountain, a mighty spur Of the
Green Mountain range, and from nearly
every point for miles around the great tree
could be seen standing out clear and dis
tinct against the sky, and towering, like
Saul, head and shoulders above its brethren.
1t happened that upon a certain Fourth of
July, years ago, the eloquent orator Of the
day, in dilating upon the grandeur of his
country and her great men, particularly that
greatest of all, George Washington, turned
IN a certain fit OF inspiration, and pointed to
the tall pine.
GAS yonder magnificent tree, fellow-citi
zens, said the grandiloquent speaker, cup
lifts itself above all the giants of the sur
rounding forest, so, friends and fellow-citi-
zens, does the character of George Wash
ington uplift itself above all others upon the
page of history"
These words were received with great an
plause, and the tall pine was ever after
known in the neighborhood as "George
Washington"
The land upon which George Washing
ton" stood was owned by grabbed old
farmer named Hardaker. Mr.. Hardaker had
contract for supplying the Fitchburg rail
road with wood, and, winter by winter, was
gradually stripping his share of Bald Noun
tain of all its beautiful trees. This made
good places to go blackberrying, but hurt
the appearance of the hill side very much.
People wondered how Mr.. Hsrdaker could
be 80 "mean as 10 cut everything down so,
all at once. He did not need the money
particularly, and his motive was Just clear
greed or so the neighbors said.
At last he neared the vicinity of the tall
pine; and as February advanced he an
nounced, with loud laugh at his own wit,
that he was going to celebrate Washing
toms birthday by cutting down George
Washington himself with his little hatchet."
This created no little excitement through
out the town, and everybody protested.
ooh, l wouldn't, Mr. Hardaker," said
Mr. Prouty, the village minister dit has
been landmark here for many years, and
it is really, as thugs have come to be, an
object lesson in history to all the children
and youth around"
"Humph !" said the old farmer, GROSSLY.
I" j amt a-settin' up an'marks for folks, or
a:-givin' objsc' lessons. | pay taxes for all
that sort OF thing TO be did in the schools
awful big taxes, too. | can't raise the
money to pay 'em without cuttin' timber
pretty stiddy. calc'late there's-wa'al, a
thousan' foot O. lumber in that ar pine, an
can't afford to leave it stan no longer"
The old farmer scowled and shook him.
self as he walked away. He was evidently
more "sot" than ever on cutting down
George Washington"
There was bright boy in town, the son
Of MIR. Farnsworth, and named, like SO
many other bright American boys, after the
father of his country. As might have been
expected of boy with such name, Master
George Washington Farnsworth had been
brought up to think very highly of his
namesake, and all of the Farnsworth family
were justly indignant when the news Of
Farmer Hardakers intention reached them.
al declare" said his sister Grace, sit al
most seems like killing real person"
"Well, said her mother, thoughtfully,
you cant expect to find much sentiment in
a grasping, narrow-minded man like Mr..
Hardaker. There isn't any use in saying
much about it, but it is too bad to do it ON
his birthday, too. I'm really ashamed to be
so worked up but it seems as if tree like
that might be allowed to stand till it died
natural DEATH"
"' The bolt that strikes the towering cedar dead
Glides harmless Ger the hazel's lowly head