The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18

81 DID 1T WITH MY LITTLE HATCHET. +
dear as you are to my heart, gladly
would I assist to nail you up in your lit
tie coffin and follow you to your grave.
Hard, indeed, would it be to give up
my son, whose little feet are always 80
ready to run about with me, and whose
fondly looking eyes and sweet prattle
make so large part of my happiness,
but still I would give him up rather than
see him a common liar" He next as
sures George that while some parents
compel their children to become Liars
"by barbarously beating them for every
little fault" it. shall not be so in their
case. whenever, by accident, you do
anything wrong, which must often be
the case, as you are but poor little boy
yet, without experience or knowledge,
you must never tell falsehood TO- con-
ceal it, but come bravely up, my son,
like little man, and tell me of it, and
instead of beating you, George, I will
but the more honor and love you for it,
my dear" Need we longer marvel at
Georges penchant for mischief and bis
readiness to own up?
The anecdote, told in Weems' rambling
manner, is as amusing as the prelimi-
nary remarks. Hegives as his authority
"an excellent old lady," and declares
that the narrative is ''too valuable to be
lost and too true to be doubted" The
climax reminds one of Bill Nye in his
happiest vein:
"Presently George and his little
hatchet made theirs appearance. George,
said his father, do you know who killed
that beautiful little cherry tree yonder
in the gardenf' This was a tough ques-
ton, and George staggered under it for
a moment, but quickly recovered him
self, and looking at his father with the
sweet face Of youth frightened with the
inexpressible charm of all conquering
truth, he bravely cried out: L can't tell
a lie, pa; you know l can't tell lie. l
did cnt it with my hatchet.' Run tony
arms, you dearest boy cried his father
in transports, run to my arms; glad am
l, George, that you killed my tree The
puts premium upon mischief for the
sake of hearing the truth, for you have
paid me for it thousand fold. Such an
act of heroism [although the lad knew in
advance that he would not be punished
but commended |, my son, is more worth
than thousand trees, though blossomed
with silver and their fruits Of purest
gold"
Though ignored by Sparks, Marshall,
Washington Irving, Ramsay, Losing
and attacked by other serious Diogra-
pliers, the myth of the little Ratchet has
survived, a..d probably will survive for
ages to come. It's acceptance and popu-
larity are largely due to writers like Mrs.
G. NJ. Kirkland, who, in 1857, published
Il life Of Washington especially adapted
to young people" in which she praises
! Wcems' entertaining book" and ''the
poetic stylcOf the narrator and declares
that the various anecdotes are told with
the richness Of Jean Paul." and, in her
opinion, Oh good authority.
: Sho,n of its weak prclininaries and
told us if the youthful culprit expected
punishment, the hatchct story became a
| favolite selection III the common school
readers, ard served excellent pur-
pose as the best fable from Esop.
The advent of the American humorist
and the birth of the comic press made it
still more familiar, and what with the
naming of y comedy and newspaper in
its honor, the little hatchet has passed
into proverb, and, strange to say, be-
come the very synonym for truth. .:
WILLIAM MILL BUTLER.