The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-02-16
7

ICOSeSSs country.
Since then the ma
ton each year has marked the
date of his birth in various ways,
first by holding religious ceremo-
MES in the churches throughout
the land at which the pastors, many
of whom had fought under the great
commander or had known him In pri-
vate life, talked feelingly about the
big heart and the broad soul of the
departed hero; then as the years roll
ed along and those who knew Wash
ington had joined him in the silence
the day was marked by a fireat fly
ing Of bunting and waving Of flags and
playing Of bands and %parading Of sol
dieTs. Still later the day was held
as a national holiday on which the
banks were closed and the schools
gave entertainments at which patriot
Ic songs were sung. fiery speeches
made, and the great deeds Of our
first president recounted in dramatic
manner; now the day IS still a ma
tional holiday, but the schools are
closed and churches, charitable organ
izations, clubs and individuals make
the occasion an excuse for giving colo
NAL teas, Washington birthday par
ties, Ratchet suppers or revolutionary
plays. The shop windows are full Of
hatchets, miniature cherry trees,
cooked hats, and cherries. ZEAL. can
died and for decorative purposes.
All this display and fun and frolic
makes the thinker wonder how George
Washington kept the day. and the in.
v~estigator who takes the pains to look
into the matter will find that from
1745 to the date of his death, Feb
ruary %, a day OF Importance not only
TO Washington but to his friends and
all those who did him service.
When Washington was 10 years old
he wrote for his own use 10 maxims
of civility and good behavior and add
ed one resolution which read: RE
solved, that on the 22nd day Of Febru-
airy, the day on which | was given the
gift of consciousness, | will each year.
do some good deed or deeds, as many
as come within my power. to show my
gratitude for the life given me for a
little space"
From 1745 until the late of his
death Washington never broke the res
olution made on his thirteenth birth
day. On this first anniversary of
which there is any record he tramped
fourteen miles, seven there and seven
home again, to the house of an aged
N who had been kind to his
mother during an illness. carrying a
large package Of provisions and re-
naming for several hours to stack her
woOdpile and build her fire.
Later in the day he drove two COWS
nearly two miles to the farm from
which they had escaped and. finding
the farmer laid up with rheumatism,
set to work to mend the pasture
fence, and so keep the COWS at home.
He returned at night to a good sup
per, and the evening was passed in
merriment. No doubt young George
slept the sleep Of the righteous that
night, for his resolution IA working
~splendidly.
Several years later he wrote to a
school chum early on the morning of
the 22d of February: This day | en-
ter upon a new ~epoch-the year
stretches before me-for what? Only
he who benefits his fellow-man has the
right to enjoy the glories of life. |
shall endeavor to my new
year clear from debt in this respect"
There is no record how the day was
marked in 1S4S, but judging from the
tone of the letter his life was fuller by
several good deeds.
Some Personal Remembrance of
Washington" tells how, on February
%, 1851, he hired some half dozen
sleighs, rented a hall, and gave all
the young people of Mount Vernon.
where he was then visiting his broth.
er, Capt. Lawrence Washington, a fine
afternoon and evening frolic. with a
big spread to crown the event. To
his party We're invited. not the young
hoods OF Washington's OWE class. but
those less favored, and 1t Is recorded
that although they stood about In shy
less at first. 1t did not take George
many minutes to set the fun going.
1t was on the following year that
Washington made his only ocean voy.