The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-05-24
Washington at Valley Forge

for the tenth grade English class !
Speech Of Washington at
Valley Forge.
My comrades. my brothers IN the
cause Of Liberty. Tonight while We
a mass of tattered, half-starved. treez
ing patriots hudded in log cabin
while the cold wind whistles through
the cracks, our enemy the British who
have come 20 rob us Of liberty, the
dearest right known to man, are teas'-
ing and banqueting amidst smiles oil
alteration, toasts to the Brittans. hne
clothes and gay laughter. In comfort
sits a weak and stumbling Congress
which through Encouragement mas
gent clothes and food from reaching us
We have met with defeat as well as
victory. Our cause is not yet won.
In few months those of MS who do
not sucoumb to the cold or disease,
must again cope with the foe, must
again WELD the sword or what weapon
we can secure tor the defense OF the
nation. we must be a nation protec
! tors and preseryers. Could any duty
be greater than ours Could any cause
be more vital, more sincere, or more
righteousg You of the tattered gar
ments and half. starved bodies, You OF
the frost bitten and bleeding feet. YOU
are the saints OF your country and
next in rank TO the saints of the coun-
try. The blood stained path your
bleeding feet left behind on that jour
new 10 Trenton over ice and snow will
be pointed out and referred 10 by future
generations az the path of duty perfect
" trod. The scene OF your inevitable
victory will be the shrine of nation.
II this nation should again meet as
great crisis as the one which you are
now Drawing for it, your heroism
J faithfulness. and love of duty will be
/ 10 them as an example set and they
I will meet the crisis with hearts and
3 souls like yours. What wonderful
spirit ia yours that rouses,you ont OF
your comfortable homes and away
from loved ones TO face hardships and
suffering, and perhaps fall by the hand
of mighty enemy. But dear com.
i rades. / tear that the flame OF this
, spirit once kindled so brightly is dying
in the breasts OF few here. being
5 gradually quenched by homesickness,
Y suffering and despair. oh that
) might lead you to see the terrible con
} sequences your despairing now would
bring. Why should you lay down youi
Q musket and turn your back on the
c field of battle when the rights for
s which you have struggled so long are
a almost within Your grasp Is it that
you cannot see how near victory il
4 hoyering1
by the coming springtime the aooc
Baron Won Stuben will have trans
formed Won into band OF skilled war
s riors and You must know by this tim,
y the advantages of being trained. 3,
Is that time too. the British will be lea
d able 10 stand the hardships OF battle
IT after having lived so luxuriousl.
Is through the winter Then too. on
cause is the soul Of righteousness
'e while theirs what Nothing bu
10 the soul of greed, Of tyranny, and @
st hatred And surely when making ID
~ final settlements Of the controversy
a the God OF Battles will assign the vic
i tory 10 the party warmed by the ardC
g. of righteous cause. Again, ever
3. man here is "A thorough American wit
the heated love of America and Anne
ch lean liberty surging in every veil
ON But think OF the hired HessianN I
%. Is but "A substitute for a patrio
ii. He has no vital interests of dear IN
me Their country piercing the very quI,
no of his heart and urging him on 70 fa'
ng battle. What can he accomplished
he the heart is not in it, A hired patri
&c. is no patriot at all Remember Prime
vic ton. Trenton. Lexington and Bunk
ial Hill Shall the heroes who died
these battles have died in vainl Sh
rs. their precious blood have been spill
n for cause which failing hearts shi
ct. leave Incomplete The cause Is as ri
as as precious, az vital now az IL "
BILE when they sacrificed their lives for
al DO not he filled with despair by
thought Of tho British feasting a
Ire, banqueting in buildings owned by 20
IS while you sit freezing in = log cab
as. on the side of a bleak hill gnawi
your moldy crusts Let IL fire y
nd with indignation, and thrill every I'll
me with the desire 20 maze things rigl
thow them what the backwocdsm
md whom they took down upon 50 haul
[rs. lilly can do Show then that theirs