The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-26

ton was a real boy. a human boy, al
though there have been attributed to
him certain qualities which are not en-
tirely Of this world. He was devoted TO
riding. He was a great fisherman,
good hunter and, IT is pleasant to know,
no less mischievous. perhaps. than any
other boy. His schooling was not very
great. but Of what there was he made
the best use. because he was fond or
study. He was the kind OF boy who
always wanted TO know why, and II
there was nobody TO tell him he made
every effort to find out for himself
Washingtons first schoolmaster was
man named Hobby, who was sexton OF
the parish in which the family had set
tied. He was not n man Of universal
learning by any means. but he knew
enough to teach his young pupil MS
alphabet and to start him along In pen
manshlp as well. Judging from Washing
toms work In writing letters, the tounua-
ton in penmanship was better lald tndn
that of spelling, for IT must be admiltef
that the Father of his Country was
better man than speller, even IN the udys
of his power, when people speileu ai'e'
fashion that would to-day Drlhs lloie
ds4uerit marks than compliments
whether Washington was popular or
M, with his sexton teacher we have no
record but II may be assumed that he
was not. since the authorities give US
10 helieve that IL was not long before
tho nupn knew as much as, II not more
tha. his master.
In l74s. when George was eleven years
~ age his father died, and the iad went
10 live with his half-brother' Augustine;
While here he attended a good schooi
under the care of a man named "Hia"s.
from whom he received an educallon VI
tbe ordinary sort, learning hts own IAN
,uaoe 70 the exclusion of all others, ana
getting a fair grounding IN the plihClpics
of mathematics. which stood him IN Sood
eteod when. later. ne became surveyor.
At this time we are told ne was tan,
,ctiva and muscular. He was the pest
runner or walker or rider among his COM
nanions. and the historian adds: lie couiu
undoubtedly have thrashed the pest Oh
them. all which tended 10 make nm as
a boy that which he showed hmseH
among men-a leader
At the age Of fourteen II seemed wise 20
his always wise mother TO put MN "
work at earning his own living ana lor
n time II appeared as though washington
was destined to become a salior' l"99,
tortans dispute upon this point as Wen
as upo1 others. Some say that II was
mart of the maternal plan 10 have berth
nvocur.d for her son In the Royal Navy
as 2 midshipman; others that II was
Georges ambition 10 become captain OF
a small trading vessel engaged In the tneh
prevalent tobacco traffic. However TINS
may have been, fortunately for us, the
sea-faring project fell through ana me
lad returned once more TO MS matheiha'i-
cal and other studies.
lea
nosable that his name would have formed
20 brilliant a figure in the history Of his
country. -
Between the ages Of fourteen ard eigh-
teen he is said TO have written poetry
hut of this there is some reason 10 DOUBT
He was not by nature poet ana IL ne
did occasionally indulge in rhyme II Is
or Jba BILE that his illusions TOOK the iahl-
liar form OF valentines TO his lady loves
r,itb which those years Of his life. like
the same years I'm all other reasonable
bo,,s' lives. were no doubt enlivened. That
he wrote something there Is evidence
I'm his rules for behavior. which contain
much that is valuable, not only for boys
hrt also for grown men and women; that
he believed in them thoroughly 100 IS
eytnced by his record in after HIe' since
they strike the keynote OF the character
which enabled him to achieve all that
made him great.
Altogether the boyhood OF Washington
as far as can be judged. might have been
one of great nobility. Adventurous ne
was not RASH Determined, he yet knew
how not 10 lie stubborn. Chivalrous, yet
was he always judcous. He was above
all petty meanness and was In snort inc
true TYNE of the real boy OF whom his
mother who knew him best. could al
WAYS say, as she did say, He has been
a good boy, and is sure TO do his duty