The record-union., 1896-07-10
INTERVIEWED WASHINGTON.
How a Brave Little Boy Met the
Great Commander.

UredC (OmTndn0cr.
| In the July "St. Nicholas Sara King
Wiley has a romance of the American
| Revolution, entitled Maurice and His
Father A brave little English lad is
separated from his father and falls
into the hands of the Americans. His
father afterwards embraces the patriot
cause, and his son is restored to him
through the medium Of Washington, as
shown in the following extract:
| Maurice was informed that General
| Washington was there showing the
works to General Lafayette, and his
| heart began to fiutter and thu1np
within him.
Barney was sitting beside him, look
| ing at his master with bright and low
| ing eyes, his little black nose quiver-
| ing.
| Barney" said the boy, we're afraid,
but we are not going to stop if we are. "
And, picking up his dog, he took his
way, through the rustling leaves that
lay like heaps of gold, towards the
house which one of the soldiers, from
when Maurice ventured to ask for di-
rections, had pointed out to him.
| Yes, General Washington is there,
and alone" he was told
| Gould he see him?''
Sure, no, ye little bye" said the
Irish sentry. It's wore out the poor
gintleman is, already, and it's mesilf
wouldn't bother with all thin jabbering
Frinchman."
| Maurice was desperate.
| "Oh, please" he said BEG, Barney;
you beg, too"
| The little dog sat up at once with
dropping paws.
| Sure. me own names Barney. And
is your dogs name O'Reilly, too?''
said the sentry.
| "Oh, if he is your namesake," ex-
claimed Maurice, you must let him
in! Oh, see, you can hold him while 1
go in!" Maurice thought no one could
resist such an offer.
| I'll see," said the soldier, and he
stepped within, and returning said: $50
on"
Maurice yielded up Barney and step
ped in to the hail. went along it, and
paused just inside an open door He
was trembling. A voice said: What is
your errand?"-a voice even, grave and
rather severe.
| Maurice raised his eyes. Just before
the fireplace stood the great command
er; to the boys excited thought he
seemed even larger than he was Wash
| ington's hands were behind his back,
his handsome head bent little for
ward.
| What is your errand, my lad?" said
he again, with a note of command in the
tone.
| "Oh, my father-my father" he said.
I have been lost from him so very
longi"
something in the thrilling child's voice,
| Sonethlng I'm the piteous and forloqn
! expression of the face went straight to
the warm heart that the General car
| RED beneath his calm exterior. He
| crossed the room in quick strides, and
| laying his hand on the boys shoulder,
said kindly:
My poor child"
This was too much Maurice had
borne br.avely the long strain of waiting.
the repeated disappointments, but the
unexpected sympathy broke down his
| seif-possession. He put his hand in the
crook Of his arm and sobs came fast.
sobs that shook him from head to foot.
The General drew him aside, sat down
in an armchair, and taking the little
hanging hand in both his own, said:
There, There, stop cying, and tell me
all about it
| Maurice choked down his sobs and
| told his story. AT his ia theirs name the
General rose quickly.
| Colonel Terraine's son. Why, then,
your father was here short time ago
he may be UP stairs now"
Maurice forgot even the great chief
and sprang for the door But Washing
ton caught him by the arm
| Hy dear boy-ihe does not know-I
win CO."
| Maurice stood still in the center of
| the room, and pressed his hands hard
| together. The General went out and
up stairs; 1T seemed to Maurice that he
stepped very slowly
Colonel Terraine sat in an upstairs
room writing; he laid down his pen and
rose as the General entered.
Colonel" said Washington, 81 have
some wonderful news for you" He
paused; the officer took a step forward
and opened his lips, but did not speak
Come down stairs with me-" con-
tinued the General slowly land remem-
Der as you go that passage in the Scrip
| lures, But the father said, Let us be
merry, for this my SON Colonel Ter
| raine caught the back of a chair" for
this my SON" went on the sweet.
| grave voice, "'was dead, and is alive
| again; he was lost and is-found'"
Colonel Terraine stood an instant with
| wide, questioning eyes; then he rushed
through the doorway and down stairs
The General followed him quickly.
| There was loud cry as the Colonel en-
tered the room and Maurice sprang into
his fathers arms. General Washington
closed the door and stood guard over it
himself. Barney, having escaped from
| the soldier, tore in, and the General
stopped from his great hight to pat the
little dog. If Barney had been a man
he would have seen that there were