Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-02-16
Wy PARSONS was a Wash
UY PARSONS was q Wash.
tngton boy.
He had read a great deal
about the Father of His
q Country, and was trying to
emulate his example, and
live uD to the ideals which


the great Washington had set, and
loved to read the many anecdotes told
about him In his boyhood.
OF course he had had many back
sets in his career. even though he was
very small boy as yet. One Of these
came near being disastrous, though at
least it resulted comically. He had
heard his father and neighbor dis
cussing Washington. and heard his
father quote from his farewell Ad-
dress" a paragraph advising his coun-
try men to Beware of foreign influ-
ence." Going to school that morning,
with the words fairly sizzling in his
mind. he said over the words, when
he was confronted suddenly by q
crowd of boys of mixed nationality,
who proceeded to roll him in q mud
puddle-one of them. lively little
mick" as Guy described him after
ward, saying, We'll taich him to
how'd his tongue about foreign in
looence, sure"
I have neglected to say that Guy
was born on the 22d Of February,
which was what first caused him to be
called washington boy" When
Guy was about IL years of age, or
nearing his 18th year, the winter was
a particularly hard one. The snow
came down early, and staid late. It
prevented the animals in the woods
from finding food, and they came
down to the farms to see what could
be discovered in that direction. The
rabbits even gnawed the bark from
many Of the fruit trees in the Or
chards: and hunters and trappers
went In quest Of them. that the fruit
crop for the next year and subse-
Quently should not be a failure.
"Well.'' said Guy. bright and early
on the morning of his 18th birthday.
that winter, what do I get to-day
present or a ncking?"
WELL" said his sister Madge, two
years younger, who looked at him rev.
erently, seeming to wish that it had
been her lot to have been born on
some heroine's birthday. that she
might have a model to strive for, II
hope it will be a present. Lickings
are awful
The family dog came along just
then, and licked Guys hand, which
hung down just within his reach.
well, I don't know about all lick
ings." said Guy. THAT one seems
to be all right. So, as I've had my
licking. I'll not get another one. may
be-"
He seemed to look upon this as an
omen Of good, and went away with
the dog, ostensibly to have a play.
possibly to get into some mischief.
Through the orchard they went, and
presently the dog started up a rabbit,
and soon ran him down.
Guy laid the rabbit down beside
the step. and went in, with the dog.
Ma" said Guy, little later, what
are we going to have for dinner?"
"Oh, just ordinary stuff, guess.
We didn't make any preparations for
dinner to-day. I s'pose we'll have
some cider to drink
"Well, ma, If should get a rabbit,
could we have rabbit fricassee?"
well, go along, and see what you
can do"
"Towser, you understand" he said,
opening the door, and motioning to
the dog. go along. and get a rab-
bit."
The dog went out. and in a few
moments was whining at the door.
Here he is. ma
He opened the door, and in walked
the dog, with the rabbit, which he
laid at Guys feet, after which he
looked up at him, and wagged his
TAIL
WELL" said the boys mother, you
go and skin him, Guy, and I've got
just about time to get him cooked"
The rabbit fricassee seemed to
touch the spot" with Mr.. Parsons,
and he praised the boy highly.
And your mother has cooked it
splendidly too," he said.
Eyes, she had the right kind of
wood" said the boy.
'"What kind was that?" asked the
father.
Green cherry" was the reply. ri
thought, seeing as it was my BIRTH
day-and Washington's-Id down a
cherry tree, and I did, and ma used
it to cook the rabbit WITH"