The Press., 1891-03-05
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
THAT LITTLE RATCHET.


 THAT LITTLE RATCHET. HOW THE MYTH WAS INVENTED IN THE FER
 FILE MIND OF ONE MIR. wEEMs.
 "Father, cannot tell ie-I did it with my little hatchet P Who can think of the this affecting story ? And yet, like so many other cherished anecdotes of great men, it is absolutely without foundation.
 His name was w. l.. Weems. He was clergyman or preacher by profession, an adventurer by nature, and loved notoriety, money and a wandering life. So he wrote books which he correctly believed would meet with popular favor, and peddled them himself as she travelled through the coun- try. Chance brought him to Mount Yer non in the closing days of Waehington's life, and his commercial instinct at once told him here was chance for distinction and dollars such as he had never met be- fore. So he produced his famous biogra- phy, and being the first on the ground he had things his own way and ran riot in language and alleged "reminiscences.
 The father of the young hero, we are told, took great pains to inspire his son with an early love of truth. After describ- | ing the downward course of the prevarica- tor, he is made to exclaim i: "Rather than see you come to this pass, dear as you are to my heart, gladly would I assist to nail you up in your little coffin and follow you to your grave. Hard, indeed, would it be to give up my son, whose little feet are al. ways so ready to run about with me, and whose fondly looking eyes and sweet prat- | tie makes so large part of my happiness, | h1t afifI II v1onl1 o;vo him mn rather than see him common liar"
 | He next assures George that while some parents compel their children to become liars ''by barbarously beating them tor ev- cry little fault," it shall not be so in their case. "Whenever by accident you do any thing wrong, which must often be the case, as you are but poor little boy yet, with out experience or knowledge you must never tell 8 falsehood to conceal it, but come bravely up, my SOD, lik 8 little man, and tell me of it, and instead of beating you, George, will but the more honor and love you for it, my dear." Need we longer marvel at Georges penchant for
 mischief and his readiness to own up?
 The anecdote, told in Weems' rambling manner, is as amusing as the preliminary remarks. He gives as his authority Gan excellent old lady," and declares that the narrative is t'too valuable to be lost and too true to be doubted" The climax re- minds one of Bill Nye in his happiest vein
 Presently George and his little hatchet made their appearance. George, said his father, do you know who killed that beau. tiful little cherry tree yonder in the gar den This was tough question, ,and George staggered under it for moment, but quick ly recovered himself, and looking at his father with the sweet face of youth, bright ened with the inexpressible charm of all conquering truth, he bravely cried out 1 T can't tell a lie, pa you know I can tell lie. did cut it with my hatchet.
 Run to my arms, you dearest boy, crie(
 his father in transports, run to my arms glad am I, George, that you killed my tre' he puts premium upon mischief for tn, sake of hearing the truthl, for you hay, , paid me for it thousandfold. Such al act of heroism falthough the lad knew il advance that he would not be punished but commended, ], my son, is worth mor l than thousand trees, though blossomet f with silver and their fruits of purest gold. } Though ignored by Sparks, Marshall : Washington Irving, Ramsey, Tossing, ant
 attacked by other serious biographers, thu myth of the little hatchet has survived ant probably will survive for ages to come. It 1 acceptance and popularity are largely du , to writers like Mrs. o. M. Kirkland, who in 1857, published life of Washington , especially adapted to young people" il which she praises Weems' s'entertainin! F book" and ''the poetic style of the nara F tor" and declares that the various anec F dotes are ''told with the richness of Jeal 7 Paul." and, in her opinion, on good au l. thority.
 g Shorn of its weak preliminaries and toll as if the youthful culprit expected pun ishment, the hatchet story became fav , orlte selection in the common school read , CTS, and served ss excellent purpose a ] the best fable from Hsop. The advent c . the American humorist and the birth C the comic press made it still more fami l lar, and what with the naming of a comed 7 and a newspaper in its honor, the littl 7 hatchet has passed into proverb, and . strange to say, become the very synonyr
 for truth.