St. Landry democrat., 1888-02-11
THE GENERAL.

The Valentine He Did Not. and the One He
Did, Receive.
We fellows always called him Sem
eral George, and so did the girls. His
name was George Washington. There
was a Smith tackled on to it, but that
was so short and SO at the end, like a
bob on a kite, that folks most always
forgot it.
He belonged to Miss Melissa Melon.
She got him out Of the county house,
and he did chores for her and was COM
pany, seeing she lived alone two miles
down the road from the Corners. 1t
was pretty good walk on cold win
ter morning, for the roads were gen.
orally driftcd down that way. but tell
You that made no difference to Cen
eral George. Rain or shine, he was al
WAYS the first at the school-house. He
swept out, you know, and made the
fire. and SO on, and he was always at
his post.
Jane Graham, one of the girls that
has travelled around considerable, and
seen big statue of the first George
Washington, says that there was few
lines on the bottom of the marble. and
they said: First in peace, first in war,
and first in the hearts of his country
men, Our General. she said, .'was
first in piece (his clothes were awfully
patched, you see). FIRST in war Che could
fight like biazes when he was mind
toy. and first in the school-house in the
morning.
Well, he was the Misunderstanding
creature you ever saw! My, how we
did laugh the first day he camel Tall,
awful tall. and rs thin as rail, with a
big head and shock of black hair.
Celesty Moore said he looked for all
the world like her big stawl-pin! And
when Miss Root asked his name, he
drew himself up on his long legs and
stood up straight and stiff as a poker.
and says in II loud voice. like as he was
going to speak = piece. George Washr
ington-a' here Bill Greene, who sat
behind, pinehed him. and he jumped
and turned rcd. and never said the
Smith at all, and there no knowing
whether Miss Root ever put it down. y
Well, the General want much in
his studies when he first came.
Teacher put him in the First Reader, =
with Billy Dwight and Jerry Gray and
all those shavers. But my stars! 1t
want two terms before that ere chap
had skipped up into the highest classes,
and was figuring out Partial Pay
ments" aud patsing Paradise Lost
with the biggest scholars! He was at
1t all the while. too. Dig! dig! dig!
Didn't care a copper for recess.
Praps, though. he didn't have much
fun out on the play -ground- I've fellows
run him 50 much, and the girls were
always .poking fun. too.
But les sec; [ started out to tell you
about his valentine, didn't 4? It hap
pened the morning of February FOUR
teenth. School hadn't begun yet Rob
Halliday. Charlie Forbes. and one or |
two other fellows. were over by the girls
seats Myrtle Talbot had lot of val
entines ON her desk. Some had been
sent her. and others she was going to
send to folks
Most of them were real pretty--all
1aee-paper. pink roses. hearts and |
darts, and little angels playing with
bows and arrows bat there were q /
few funny ones There was one gamey |
old chap, with cooked hat. Iong-tailed
coat, and pair of top-boots He |
looked as though he'd just got up to
make speech. - ss.s
.Oh. my eyep' says Rob. that's
General George, sure enough
You ought 10 send It to him, says
Clara Gordon. rs
Dor we all joined in. 1T would
be a splendid ioke.'
How can 1 send il to him so he'll
ret it today says Myrtle.
..Put ii in his dinner basket said
Clara.
ayes, and now's your time to do it, =
saws Rob, ..for he's gone down to the
pump.
we all rushed pell-mell across the
room to General Georges seat. Rob
grabbed up the basket It was . rag
eed old one, the cover tied on by .
string I,
Now, we'll see what the Generals
rot to eat!n says Rob. He's q selfish
pig. any way! Now. YOU know. when
any Of Us boys bring something nice
Nc. share ii. We just have q jolly pic
ME in the recitation-roonl.
But the General don't, says 1 HE |