The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-02-23


stop and take dinner with you. You
must promise, however. to call me
George. There must be no formality.
you know. What's your given name?'
my names Samuel"
swell, Sam. I'll stop and hev a bite
with you. want to talk with you and
git your opinion on how this country
crter be run. An opinion from SIGH a
man as you is of more value than the
opinions OF 40 other men combined
No one had evertoldiFarmer Simmons
that George Washington was dead. and
the hired man had read nothing in the
book to that eject. He had a dim idea
that Washington. Grant and Lincoln all
had something to do with the Late war,
but he wasn't sure whether all were
dead or whether all were living. He ac-
copied the tramp for what.he claimed to
be and led the way to the house.
"Why, Samuel, we hain't nuthin fur
trampsI' exclaimed the wife as she
caught sight of the stranger.
madam, let me explain" smiled the
fellow. while | am in the disguise Of
q tramp it is for a purpose. | Inn George
Washington. shall call your husband
Sam, and he will call me George or
George. Your given name isis
Hammer"
II will call you Han fur short. | hate
formality. Now, then, Han, fly around
and git up a good dinner while tell Sam
how / crossed the Delaware and licked
the British. Although a great man, | git
hungry same as other folks, and nothin
pleases me more than a square meal"
The wife wasn't as easily satisfied as
the husband. She winked him out into
the kitchen and shut the door and said:
Samuel, how dye know he's George
Washington"
"'Cause he says he is"
but he looks jest like the rest of the
tramps that cum.along."
THAT'S 'caus is in disguise. If he
amt George washington. why would he
lie about it? 'Tain't likely a Teller would
cum along and lie about his own name,
is it?'
''It don't seem So"
Mrs. Simmons put on q dinner which
made Washington smile like a June
morning, and he did ample justice to it.
In fact. his appetite was amazing. When
he could eat no more, he borrowed pipe
and tobacco of the farmer and stretched
out on the lounge for a smoke. He knew
the weak points in the characters of the
pair, and he praised and lattered and in
vited himself to supper. After supper
he decided to stay all night, and for two
long hours that evening he entertained
the farmer and his wife with his adven-
lures while crossing the Delaware and
various other rivers and things. After
breakfast nextmorning he still fingered.
His heels were under the table at dinner
and again at supper. After supper he
said he was so comfortable that he
thought he'd stay for a week. While the
farmer and his wife believed him to be
George Washington right enough, they
didn't propose to board even the Father
of his Countrya whole week for nothing.
They withdrew to the kitchen for a cor
sultation, and fortunately a neighbor
named Snow happened to drop in to Dor.
row some tool. The question was asked
him if George Washington was dead, anG
between his surprise and merriment il
was half an hour before he learned al
the facts in the case. Then he said:
1T is a sharp old tramp who has been
playing you. Go right in and drag him
off the lounge and boot him outdoorsl'
.Durn his hind buttons, but I'll break
him in four pieces!" shouted Simmons
as he realized the imposition.
dad +h,,ly &C he oaI1in mo Hon anI
sayin l seemed as nigh to him as a sis.
teri walled tine wife as she fell to weep
ing.
Farmer Simmons grabbed a hickory
stick from the woodbox and made q rush
for the sitting room. George Washing.
ton wasn't there any longer. He-wasn'
ever in the house. He had not only van
isbed, but an overcoat, a suit of clothes
and several articles OF jewelry had a
ished with him and were a mile away
and going at a gallop. George" had
beeni in a hurry TO go, but he forget
what belonged to good u He had
left his card on the table, and on it was
written:
G. Wash, patriot and faith. of his country
q so forth has reed q telegram to hast. his de-
part. Thanks, awfully. Will call again next
birthday. Them fried chickens was gaul-
burned goodi
Farmer Simmons pursued the crossel
of the Delaware, but could not overhaul
him. When the story got out and the
neighbors began to laugh. he tried to
crawl ont of it by saying:
"That jest shows we what I've allus
said and will allus stick to-that eddeca-
shun is all bosh. If | hadn't bin SO
~ IN M.4I& ~