The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-01
The Washington Birthday Lesson

A cold is a bad thing to have at any
time, but cold just before holiday
seems a double calamity! 1t may not
be a bad thing. on the whole, to get
out of a day at school, but to miss
u holiday.
Dick Hardy stood at tn door on
the morning of the twenty-first CT
February His throat felt undeniahly
queer, and his head was funny, too.
But tomorrow was the birthday OF
George Washington, a holiday. ana
the day of the baseball match. lie
had been promised thai he might go
with Walter. his elder brother. and see
1t all through. He had never seen q
ball game right through before. This
might have beer because he had only
seen the game through hole in the
fence, and there's always some selfish
boy pulling you away TO look him
self.
"Dicky, dear" called his mother.
"You must put on your comforter
now, It's quarter to nine
Dickt seized his comforter and be-
gan TO wind 1t round and round his
own throat with his own hands His
mother had way of seeing what he
was thinking about when she put 1t
on.
But he nearly strangled himself
in his haste, and she had to do 1t
after all. Just as he foresaw she
would, she stopped and looked serious
ly at him.
You're hot. DEAR she said, lay
ing her cool hand against his burn
ing cheek. I'm keeping Mary at
home today, her cold is so bad. Per-
haps you'd better stay. too"
mo. mother said Dicky. fearing
for tomorrow. "Im-rm quite all
right
Seeing that she still looked at him
doubtfully, he swaggered,---
Pm feeling-finei"
He had his way and went to school
But his throat grew queerer and his
head funnier----at least that was how
he described his SYMPTOMS TO himself
The teacher made the morning quite
pleasant for the members of her
class She let them sing patriotic
songs-Dicky couldn't manage even
a line. though-and recite patriotic
pieces" and at last they rested while
abe talked to them about George
Washington.
He simply told the truth" she
said. He didn't try to reason it out
till he persuaded himself that he
neednt. He did not"--here she looked
at a little girl. who quickly looked at
the floor,--''he did not say: Well,
the trees cut. and ii can't be helped
My telling all about IL won't mend
it" No. he was asked question, and
he answered the truth
but sometimes it's kind to say a
wrong story" said one very argumen-
cative little gill tSuppose there's
only one piece of cake, and you're
company. and they said Do you want
IL? Is it wrong to say No. SO that
some one else can get X T.
The teacher smiled. @
"A hostess usually says win you
have piece Of cake Marjorie 2 " was
her reply, "and then you can answer
trarhfully. No. thank you"
And then she thinks you don't
want it, and It's all right" said Dicky,
suddenly.
And she thinks a story" retorted
Marjorie, trium phantly. Isn't Is as
bad for her 10 think a story. as for
You to say one?''
The teacher crossed abruptly over
TO look at the goldfish. Then she
turned to her class again.
"A story can't be story unless the
person telling ii or thinking 1t knows
II isn't she TRUTH she s.tia. But
you don't have to worry sab out what
other people think--oniy about what
you say. And / hope youIl none of
you ever tell any kind of lie. white
or black
NO, ma am, we won't" chorused
the class earnestly. 1t was really
necessary to set her mind at rest, for
ii was nearly twelve O'Clock and she
had = way of enthusiastically for
getting the time-someu mes>
The next morning Dicky's throat
was astonishingly queer. and his head
extraordinary funny. But SO strong
was the little fellows will. and so
keen his desire to go with Matter,
that he rose and dressed. with some
assistance from the said Walter, and
eNen tried TO eat his breakfast. Mother
luckily was not at the table She was
with Mary. and so Dicky hoped to get
off safely.
But. Just rs Walter was tying the
comforter on, their mother came into
the room.
"Dicky. Is your throat all right"
she asked anxiously.