The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22


a dream. So might l, too, and
so would most people. But not
u Little Billie. No indeed So
vivid was 1t all that you simply can't
convince him II did not really hap
pen, Besides. when you try to, he will
inform you proudly, and as proof pos
itivh, of the existence of everyone
of the relics of George Washington
In their glass cases at the National
Museum in Washington, d. C. They
are there, too, as you can see for your
self II you wish to.
"If you don't believe 1 heard them
talking" Billie will maintain stoutly
go and look at them for yourself
you'n find everyone of them right
there! Humphl I guess you'll tell me
next that they don't really exist and
that I simply dreamed them"
And after that, what can you say?
Nothing absolutely nothing. so far as
convincing Billie is concerned. Why,
bless you, he won't hear to 1t even
when you remind him that he went
with his mamma several days be-
fore to see this wonderful collection
OF the relics of George Washington
and that, having them In his mind,
1t was most natural for him to dream
about them. But that doesn't bulge
him-not even an inch! He insists
that his dream wasn't a dream at all
but a real happening.
b. No indeedl He says he walked
right into the big museum last night
on the eve of Washington's birthday
and heard them talking-heard each
relic tell affectionately and proudly of
its relations to the Father of His
Country. And-but here Is the story.
Hello, folks, so another birthday
of the great Washington has rolled
around and we can talk to each 9TH
eri" piped up a childish voice from
one of the exhibition cases well,
well, how glad I ami And how proud
am I that I knew the Father of His
Country before any of you did. Why
bless you, / can remember we'll how
my soft, brocaded folds used to cover
him and keep him warm in babyhood.
I'm fact, 1 was his Christening Robe
and he cried, too, just like other ba-
bies, when the water ran down his
little facel Then l had a beautiful
lining of sea-shell pink but, alas, some
one took 1t out of me in the year 1S42,
so I'm told And now my once beau
tiful cream color has faded and aged
to a light, cloudy brown. Oh, well,
once-once / covered the most won
derful baby in all the world"
"Humph!" broke in a pair of shah
by Epaulets, their silver long since
turned almost black from usage and
their field" of green silk cow dull
and in shreds. "Humphl Quite true!
But knew him as a young man when
he was a brave, handsome officer un-
der General Braddock. l can see him
now, always the officer and the gentle
man, all during those dreadful French
and Indian Wars All, he was good
to look upon! My, my, how old am
why, let me see, that was way back
in the years 1854 and 1881!
And l." chimed in a Dress Uni
form, II knew him personally-good-
ness me, yes, for l clothed him! 1
look quite shabby now, 1 must ad-
NIT. But once 1 was bright and rich
looking, and General Washington him
self was pleased with me- Then this
long. cutaway coat of mine was at
tractive indeed with its rich, dark
blue color, Its buff revers buttoned
back from neck to waist, each rever
held In place with these rows of small
gilt buttons that now look so tarnish-
ed. All, and the buff turned-b
cuffs on my sleeves-how pretty they
werel And how they particularly
suited the effect produced by turn.
ing up my buff collar,
Then. too. just gaze upon my buff
knee -breeches They look shabby