Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-02-15
A WASHINGTON STORY,
y = -
Probably Is Not, But Might
Have Been, True.

HAN + just been reading a note f; c IN
the diary of Gen. Washington, who
will remain until the cracl, of doom the
one great, tlawless, dignitied hero of the
nation. if not of the world. \ hero
means one who is brave gentleman all
the time.
Says Gen. Washineton's diary, June
so. 1855: "Dined with only Mrs. Wash
ington. which [ believe is the first in
stance of it since my retirement from
public life" That was Is months after
coming home from his victorious wars.
Think of the horror Of it! For all that
time the inquisitive hero wcrshipers
had been dropping in just about dinner
time to say: "llow wonderful, really,
MIR. Washington! Ii makes me quite
shudder to think of; really and truly it
does. Oh. mus; kiss your hand.' And
poor George would have to lie polite and
ask them to stay for dinner.
How coy that little dinner on June
80, 1885. must have been: how homelike
at last, when Gen. Washington raised
his glass and said: martha, my love,
your health. That ribbon becomes YOU
vastly. You look too young for bat
tered old hulk like me-
George" said Mrs. Washington,
don't dare talk like that. You Il
battered what did you-say. The idea.
Why, not Il young man in old Virginia.
has your figure"
Then she got up and came round The
table and kissed him, the cupbearers
having withdrawn, and they walked to-
cether in the gentle summer afternoon.
and his eNcellency said, as he gathered
some cherries: why can't people al
ways leave us in peace, Martha? How
nice this is. Let's go and look at the
pigs"
There were heaps of birthday pres
ents awaiting his excellency, and all
the jolly black house servants wished
him long life and happiness, and Il
table was weighed down with 5000
birthday poems from the 5000 most
promising poets in the country. and
there was heap of newspapers with
marked editorials in his praise. and
every man who had ever invented any
thing. from Il clockwork clumbaker Ca
most curious and amusing con trivancei
to Il baseball, sent the general one. and
every man. woman and child who had
written 4 book, even if not published
sent copy to George Washing, ton. Yes
everybody sent him a present and
wished him joy. and most of them
wished somelhlag for themselves in re-
turn.
Certainly George Washington should
have been happy with all these heau1i-
full. costly thirgs: but some how Ee
Slipped to the attic and eft all the off,
and looked at the little Ratchet his
father had given him years and years
ago. and he said as he put it back:
when was happier. then or now?"
Then the visitors c:.1Io. very old men
who told him he could never hope TO live
as long rs they, for they had cons1ilu
flons like iron, and he must 10Y him
self before it was time 10 give him I;
state funeral: and very old ladies who
had known his father and called hin
"Georgie. and very young misses wlle
tremb!cd so they could hardly utter he
words Of congratulation they hat
learned by heart. And there was CT,
manly little rascal who rode on his por>
bearing his @:andtat hers rnimcnts
and pushed siiai@h, 1t The hero crying
Ger raj, grarGnu's coa1pymens
-na%-% returns, n.in". 100. General.