The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-22

stop and take dinner with you. You
must prnmise, however. to call me
George There must be NO formahty,
you know What's your given manner
ss0Iy names Samuel
4tNV ell, sam, iii stop and hev bite
with you. j want to talk with you and
sit your opinion on how this country
orter be run. An opinion from SIGH
man as you is Of more value than the
opinions of 10 other men mbined-"
No one had ever told Farmer Simmons
that George Washington was dead, and
the hired man had read nothing fla the
hook to that effect. 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-
cepted the tramp for what he claimed to
be and led the way to the house
ssWhy, Samuel, we hain't nuthin fur
trampsr exclaimed the wife as she
caught sight of the stranger.
Madam. let me explain" smiled the
fellow sfW lille I am i'm the disguise of
a tramp it is for q purpose. i am George
Washington. I shall call your husband
Sam, and he viii call me George or
George. Your given name is-is''
Hammer"
II viii call you Han fur short. I hate
Formally Now, then, Han, fly around
and git up a good dinner while i tell Sam
how crossed the Delaware and licked
the British. Although great man. i git
hungry same as other folks, and nOthln
pIeases me more than 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 d ye 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 cause he is In disguise. IF he
amt George Washington. why would lie
lie about it? 'Tain't likely a Teller would
cum along and lie about his own name.
is its7
ut don't seem So
Mrs. Simmons put on a dinner which
made Washington smile like a June
morning and he did ample justice to it,
Tia 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 q smoke. He knew
the weak paints ia the characters Of the
pair and he praised and hattered and I'M
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
breal zfast next morning he still fingered.
His heels were under the table at dinner
and again at supper After supper he
said he was SO comfortable taat he
thought he'd stay for q week. ~ nile the
farmer and bis wife believed him to be
George Washington right enough. they
didn't propose to board even the Father
of his Country a whole week for nothing.
They withdrew to the kitchen for a con-
sultatiOn. and fortunately a neighbor
named Snow happened to drop ia TO Dor
row some tool. The question was asked
him if George Washington was dead, and
between his surprise and merriment il
was half an hour before he learned all
the facts in the case. Then he saids
cit is 8 sharp old tramp who has been
playing you. co right in and drag him
Off the lounge and boot him outdoors
ssDurn his hind buttons, but Ill break
him ia four piecesI" shouted Simmons
as he realized the imposition.
land think Of his calm me Han and
savin I seemed as nigh to him as q sis
teri" walled the wife as she fell to weep
ing.
EtlLLArl f-AAAAAAA3L1 A-LalArA q AAA-AAJAt
stick from the woodbox and made q rush
for the sitting room. George Washing
ton wasn't there any longer. He wasn't
even in the house. he had not only van-
ished, but an overcOat, a suit of clothes
and several articles of jewelry had van-
ished with him and were a mile away
and going at q gallop. George" had
been in q hurry to go, but he didn forget
what belonged to good manners. He had
left his card on the table. and on it was
vvritten5
g. wash. patriot and fath- Of his country
g. 50 forth has reed a telegram TO hast his de-
part Thanks, awfuly WIN cali again next
birthday Them fried chickens was gaul-
burned gcodi
Farmer Simmons pursued the crosser
of the Delaware. but could not overhaul
him When the story got out and the
neighbors began to laugh, he tried to
crawl out Of it by saying:
ssThat Jest shows ye what I've allus
said and VIII allus stick to-that eddeca-