Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-03-01
stances over which he has no control
have limited his activities.

| have limited his activities.
| '.And, first and last and all the time,
it is impossible to make him under
stand that there is nothing very large
or fine or generous in spending his own
money on himself and building hospit-
ais with his chlldren's cash. Why,
some people do seem to get duller and
duller the deader they get. Oh, we'll,
perhaps it's no matter; it is the way
they are made. Probably the mistak e
was in making them at all. Imean, if
! it was mistake-I am no judge OF that
but would not leave it to them. 1t
| was pleasant and patriotic thought to
dedicate this building and confirm this
| grace to Fair Haven on the natal day
of Washington-George Washington,
first of all Americans-George Wash
ington, the father of his country
George Washington, the father of those
who cannot lie. The family has dwin-
died a good deal. But l am left yet;
and when I look back over the waste
of years and call up the faces OF the
others and know that l shall see them
no more in this life and that l must re-
main now solitary and forlornly con-
spicuous to the last, the sole remnant
of that old noble stock, it makes me
feel sad, and, oh! so lonesome!
"What I owe to Washington no
words of mine can tell. He was my
model from my cradle up. All that l
am-morally speaking-l owe to his
example. Even in my terderest youth
his spirit was ever near. to guide and
succor me. The first time ever stole
watermelon in my life-I fhink it
was the first time-it was the thought
of Washington that moved me to make
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES me to the path OF
rectitude, made me morally whole
again. When / found out it was a
green watermelon, l was sorry-not
specifically, but deeply and honestly
sorry.
..Then came the thought of Wash
ington, and I said to myself: What
would Washington do?' That is what
said to myself - What would
George Washington do if he had stolen
a watermelon-green one-he would
make restitution. That is what he
would do And that is what did. /
rose up spiritually refreshed and strong
and carried the watermelon back to
the farmers wagon and restored it to
him, and said the merit was not mine
but Washington's.
..And then l felt that insplriting
something, that electric thrill, that ex-
altation which rewards duty done, a
moral victory won, moral heroism
added to ones stock of dear and prec-
ious memories, aud | told the farmer
he ought to be ashamed of himself, 60
ing around working off green water
melons on people that had confidence
in him; and made him give me ripe
one for it. And he was ashamed and
said he would not ever 10 it again. So
l forgave him. For when person has
done wrong and acknowledges it and is
ashamed of it, that is enough for me.
s'It was Washington that saved me
at that time. He has been my guard
ian angel ever since-and has had an
active career. am glad and proud to
have an opportunity at least to help
celebrate his memory and do honor to
his noble name.
..In the distribution of the privileges
of this platform / was appointed to
temper the glare Of the gay and
thoughtless oratory of those others
with the wholesome shadow of a few
words of sober advice-for there is
time for such Things, and it is meet
that we recognize this truth and rest
our spirits with intervals of seriousness
and solemnity. Aud so, my advice to
you-yes, more, my supplication-is
that you live as Washington lived
live as I have lived-and build your
gift halls and hospitals while you still
live and can build your heart, rs we'll
as your money, into your gift"