The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-02-01
A Little Washington.

One day in spring Geordie found q
tiny cherry tree growing in corner OF
the grounds. When he told papa about
his find" papa said he might have
that tree for his very own.
How proud Geordie was of his tree.
He watched 1t closely that spring, wa
tered it several times day, and tried
to wait patiently for the cherries to
come. Papa laughed some times and
said: "You don't give your baby
cnance to grow, Geordic."
Soon the baby" was covered with
tiny blossoms and Geordie knew that
that meant cherries by and by. He ran
in to tell Momsie: Bushels and BUSH
els of cherries, Momsie, and every sim
gle one of 'em for you!'
Dear mel" said Momsie 81
should get sick eating all those cher
ries, Geordie. You'll have to help me-"
And Geordie Rugged her and promised
that he would.
But week later big storm came,
and the ground beneath the little tree
was strewn with torn petals. Geordie
most cried when he saw it. only one
branchful of flowers left, Momsie."
But that one branch danced in the
warm breezes, and pretty soon the
blossoms fell off of themselves, and
Geordie could see the little, hard,
green cherries there.
II counted Is cherries, Momsie, tru-
lxr 81 scnb
so many as we thought he said dole
fully, but soon he frightened up again.
We'll, you can't get sick eating only
Is cherries, Momsie."
Just then Harold Conklin came over
to play, bringing his fireman's suit and
his red express wagon. Let's play
fire." said Geordie, '.and the trees can
be the burning houses"
"All right" said Harold. He usu-
ally did say that to everything Geordie
proposed.
So off dashed the express wagon.
drawn by two pranclng horses, and
drew up before burning barn, near
the baby" tree; but to you or me the
barn would have looked like an old
stump. There the firemen alighted and
swarmed up to the top of the blazing
building.
1--WE can chop this rotten old stump
IL we like" said one brave fireman
"Papa's going to cut it down some
day."
"All right" replied the other. So
Geordie and he hacked away until
Geordie, with one sharp blow, broke
off great limb, which went crashing
down almost on top of Harold.
Now, don't know how it happened,
but the falling limb crashed through
the baby" tree, and the dear little
branch that bore the cherries was split
off close to the trunk.
Poor Geordie. He threw himself on
the grass and cried and cried, till Har-
old, after vainly trying to comfort him,
ran home very much frightened.
Still Geordie lay there, till at last
somebody came and took him in her
lap, shaking with sobs, and said:
Don't cry so hard, dearie. Momsie is
sorry that Harold broke your little
tree, but papa will give you another,
and next year there will be two trees
full of cherries"
Then Geordie's sobs ceased and he
lifted up his head bravely. But,
Momsie, 1t wasn't Harold that broke
my baby It was me-" he choked.
then went on chopped the old
stump-it was barn, you know-and
1t fell-and broke my tree all to pieces
so | mustn't have mother tree cause
| broke this one"
And to Geordie's surprise, Momsie
Rugged him tighter aud kissed him
and called him her brave little Wash
ington."
So Geordie waited another year for
MS cherries, but next rinie the baby"
tree was loaded down, and Momsie
really did have bushels and bushels"
OF cherries, all that she could eat
Brooklyn Eagle.