The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-23
his head and looked confused, while with his toes

his head and looked confused, while with his toes
he scratched the soft ground
NOW look up, my SON" continued the father,
'1oo1 up, and see how richly the blessed God has
made my promise good to you. Wherever you
turn your eyes you see the trees loaded with
fruit, more than you could eat in all your life
time
George looked in silence on the wide wilder
ness of fruit then turning his eyes, shining with
tears to his fathers face, he said softly:
well pa only forgive me this once, and see
if l ever be so stingy any more"
And do not believe he ever was stingy any
more. for he had great many friends and play
mates. One of these was Richard Henry Lee,
and the following interesting letter, written
when George was nine years old, to this friend
.'Dcky, is still in the possession Of the Lee
family:
Dear Dielcy-I thank you very much for the pretty
pcture-book you gave me, Sam asked to show
him the pictures, and l showed him all the pictures
in it. and read to him how the tame elephant took
care of the masters little boy and put him on his
back and would not let anybody touch his masters lit
tie son. can read three four pages without miss
ing word. Ma says may go to see you and stay all
day with you next week If it be not rainy. She SAYS
may ride my pony Hero if Uncle Ben will so with
me and lead Hero. | have little piece of poetry
about the picturebook you gave me, but must not
tell you who wrote the poetry.
&. w. S compliments to R. H. L.,
And likes his book full well;
Henceforth will count him his friend,
And hopes many days he may spend.
Your good friend GEORGE WAsHINGToN.
81 am going to get whip-top soon, and you
may see it and whip it
While George Washington was but a youth he
culled from various sources a large number Of
valuable maXims, and copied them in Il manu-
script book
There are thirty pages of these maXims. The
following are few of them:
Every action in company ought to be with
some respect for those present"
Let your countenance be pleasant, but in
serious matters somewhat grave"
''Show not yourself glad of the misfortunes of
another, though he were your enemy"
Let your discourse with men of business be
short and comprehensive.
Wherein you reprove another, be INDIANA
BILE yourself; for example is more powerful than
precept"
Think before you speak"
Undertake not what you cannot perform, but
be careful to keep your promises
LET your recreation be manful, not sinful. ,
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little
spark of celestial fire called conscience"
At fourteen years of age, George, without
thinking sufficiently of his mothers wishes,
was about to go to sea as mdshlpman
Everything was in readiness; his trunk had
been carried on board the boat, and he went
to bid his mother farewell when he saw tears
filling her eyes. Seeing her distress he turned
to the servant, and said: go and tell them to
fetch my trunk back | will not go away to
break my mothers heart"
His mother, struck with his decision, said to
him, George God has promised to bless the
children who honor their parents and L believe
he will bless YOU"
The story familiar to all young people, about
George Washington and his little Ratchet can
not certainly be proved to have been true. But,
whether it was or not, of one thing we feel quite
sure that such remarkably straightforward,
upright child went
All lfe's journey, through and through,
Speaking what is just and true,
Doing what is right to do
Unto and all.