Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-24

in enc Of Augustine washington
fields. 1t was known as the field
school," The school master, even
though said to be an ex-convict
brought from England, must have been
guilty of some very small offense, for
he was kind, good-humored and gentle
as compared with school masters OF
that day when the hapless scholars
were ruled by rods of IRON so to
speak, and the stout hickory CAD was
much in evidence during the hours OF
study. 1t seems that Georges. first
master, hOwever-whO was called
Hobby and who had but one eye with
which to watch his mischievous
charges-was never harsh with them.
On the other hand, it is said that he
was too timid to be a good teacher"
which meant that he did not flourish
the whip as frequently as was the
custom with school masters.
The little George rode to school, a
distance of two miles, on a big farm
horse in front Of an old colored serv-
ant (slave) named Peter. But later,
when he had grown somewhat, and
was considered old enough to have his
own saddle horse, his father supplied
him with pony. This pony-and
Georges first riding of it's described
by S. Weir Mitchell in his book en-
titled THE Youth of Washington
II remember that, when later my
father was teaching me to leap my
pony, the pony refused over and over,
and this being near to the house, my
mother ran out, and at last had kind
of hysteric turn. My father sat still on
big stallion and took no notice Of her
entreaties. At last l got the pony over
and he fell with me. l jumped up and
was in the saddle in moment. My
father said that was ill-ridden; that
must try it again, and upon this my
mother ran back to the house crying
out that would be murdered But my
father was this manner OF mamie
hated defeat, while my mother was
ever DESTROYS of keeping me out of
danger, because it made her uncom-
Portable; and this was strange, for
have never been able to see that she
was greatly pleased when I was sue
cessful or was much moved by what
the great master allowed me to attain
in later years"
When George Washington was 8
years of age his half-brother, Law
renee, served with Admiral Vernon
and General Wentworth in the disas-
trous attack on Cartagena. Law
rence's letter to his father at Mount
Vernon aroused in little Georges
breast desire for the life of soldier.
One of the letters which colored
Georges Imagination ran as follows:
Honoured and Dear Father what
with discussions between the General
and Admiral Vernon, who
was, as we think, not to blame, we
have come away, leaving the Span
ards to crow, and our Colonel Gooch
IL at Jamaica. When am to have an
other dose Of glory pray to have bet
ter doctors We were to storm Fort
Lazaro-which must mean Lazarus
at night But we were too long getting
there, or the guides treacherous, and
the ladders too short and no sufficient
breach. This Lazarus fort was too
much alive, but we were actually on
the rampant when Colonel Green was
killed and we were driven back in con-
fusion, and half of us, a good thou
sand, killed or wounded for want OF
I came off with no more
hurt than to be 80 spent that l had no
breath to curse the folly for which so
many brave men died. The climate
was worse than the dons, and we took
ship with out tails between our legs
and some 1000 shaking with ague and
racked with fever"
After his father had finished read
ing this letter little George, full OF ex-
element, sprang to his feet, crying
out: II wish I'd been there!" upon
which his parents are said to have
laughed at him, his father telling him
he was far better off in his own safe
home, and his mother warning him 1t
was time to say his prayers and go
10 bed. n...
But the soldier spirit then awaken
I'd in the little George was never
again quiet, and he became one OF the
and most daring men when
lighting the Indians, and later doing
he great service to his country dur
ng the revolution.
Some writer has said that George
WASHINGTON, like all the Washingtons,
vas "born DID," meaning, of course,
hat he was ever of serious and
penetrating mind, and full of a great
1urpose even in his youth.