Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1901-03-07
GEORGE WAS A HERO.
ny LOUISE FRANKLIN MILLER,

! George Washington Simmons, 70 sVop
dat racket, yo' heah me, now! 70 nv
goin' to dat celebration"
Mrs. Simmons portly figure, attired IN
gorgeous pink dress with immense sleeves;
looked like duslly goddess with wings ana
completely filled the small room. She was
going to sing at a celebration given 10y Ilu
Zion church, in honor of Washington
birthday.
George Washington Simmons, like his u
tustrious namesake, had made hls APP
pearance about the 22d OF February
which fact also accounted for his name
Here all resemblance to his namesaHo
ceased. An unluclly planet must surely
have reigned at his birth, and still contin'
ued to rule his destiny. His parents were
both nearly white, and Mrs. Simmons par
ticularly prided herself on the fact that she
was mo niggah;" while George Washington,
by some strange freak of nature, was liter
ally as black as the ace of spades, his black
wool clnging tightly to his small round
head. As it was his tenth birthday, ne
thought he was justly entitled to attend the
celebration given in honor of his namesake,
whose heroic deeds had often been related
to him by his aged grandmother, who could
member Massa Washington right well.
"Now, nanny, / specs it my birthday,
an orter go to dat celebration jes' as
much as anyone"
George Washington Simmons, yo' specs
too much. Yo' jes' goin' to stay home and
tax care of Herman; Sides | shamed OF
such ornery black niggah as yo'.'
Il don care" said George Washington,
81 jes' celebrate anyhow; yo' see when 20
gone if don't do sumfin''
"Yo' jes' have yo'self an tax good care
ofHerman or make yo' celebrate when get
home" said Mrs. Simmons, as she took her
departure.
George Washington watched her re-
treating form until the outer door closed and
she was safe not to return, then he threw
himself face downward upon the floor and
sobbed forlornly
81 dom care, I wish L was dead" he
walled. "Itlooks like everybody hates me jes
cause Ise black. l can't help bein' black,
can II" he inquired, as if some unseen per.
son would answer him. But here Herman,
frightened at his brothers crying, set up a
dismal howl upon his own account, and
George Washington forgot his own woes in
trying to quiet Herman. After = merry
game, George Washington undressea Her
man and carried him up the narrow stairs
to bed, lying down beside him sntil he
should fall fast asleep. Then he intended to
celebrate his birthday in his own fashion,
He lay thinking of what he would do. He
had pennies in his bank-he would take
them out and spend every one; but at this
point, overcome by previous excitement and
the present stiffness, he, too, fell fast asleep.
They both slept soundly for some time,
but suddenly George Washington awoke
with bewildered sensation that something
was the matter-a confused sound OF
whistles and bells and voices shouting out
side. He jumped up and ran to the win
dow; a great crowd of people filled the
yard, while fremen were seen rushing about
in great excitement, and the air seemed
full of smoke everywhere. His eyes smart
ed and he felt choked II guess I'll go see
wher' de fire am" he said to himself, and
started for the door of the room. He CROPPED
blindly, but at last found the latch and
opened the door. A great cloud of smoke
rushed over him. and the cracking of the
flames distinctly reached his ears.
ooh, Lawdy!" he gasped, "de house am
on fire." He CROPPED his way back to the
window and pounded with all his might, but
no one heard him amid the din outside. He
UTled 10 SnOuU, DuC JDe SIlOke cHOkeu Dlu'
so that he could not make sound.
George Washington tried to raise the
window, but in vain; he could not move it;
then all at once he remembered Herman
asleep in the bed. He must save him. What
would his mother say if anything happened
to Herman? He forgot his fears in his
anxiety for the baby. He must get him
downstairs in some way. He grabbed the
quilt and wrapped Herman up in it, COM
pletely covering him in the thick folds, lift
ed the awkward bundle in his arms, and stag
gered blindly out of the room and down the
burning stairway. The heat and smoke
choked him, and he nearly dropped his
heavy burden, but he bravely struggled on
to the open door at the foot of the stairs,
where the assembled crowd were Mortified
by the sight of a small, black figure, with
scorched clothing, emerging from the sup
posed empty house, bearing an immense
bundle in his arms.
As he reached the doorway he stumbled
and fell the bundle rolling out into the
midst Of the crowd and emitting smothered
walls.
When George Washington Simmons re-
gained consciousness he was lying in clean
white bed in long hospital ward, while a
graVe-taced doctor and uninterrupted nurse
were bending over him. His head felt queer,
and when he tried to put up his hands he
found it was bandaged and helpless. He
looked at his strange surroundings curious
ly, then whispered: cam dis place Heab-
in?"
No, my child" said the nurse, smiling.
"This is the hospital" Then, as he still
looked questionngly: Don't you remem-
Der your house was on fire, and what brave
boy you were to save your little brother"
Did Hermie get hurt?' he interrupted.
mo, but he would have been burned to
death but for you; why, you are hero, she
continued.
George Washington lay very still for some
moments, thinking deeply.
Wasn't George Washington hero?" he
asked
Yes, very great hero" replied the
d. I Al l. L.