FAREWELLS TO WASHINGTON
Letters came from New York, stating that Mr. Parke and Mr. Davis would
be in Philadelphia the following day, so if the children had not yet
visited various sights of historic interest, they would escort them
about and give the ladies a rest.
"Now, I'll tell you, mother! It is my birthday, you see, the day after
to-morrow, and you promised me a party this year. While father and uncle
take us about, you and Aunt Kate can fix up a fine party at home. Ask
every one you know and let's play Hallowe'en games, even if it is too
soon," said Jack coaxingly.
"It would be nice to have that party while your cousins are here,"
admitted Mrs. Davis.
"Oh, aunty, you don't know what a good worker mother is when there's a
party to be made ready!" exclaimed Martha eagerly.
"That settles it! Aunty must work for the party," laughed Mrs. Davis.
"We'll all work for it. You just tell us what to do, and see if we can't
hustle!" bragged Jack.
"I suppose you will be glad to crack walnuts and shell them for cake,
eh?" teased Mrs. Parke, who knew of her children's failing in that line
of work.
"Try me!" laughed Jack.
So it was hastily decided to celebrate Jack's birthday with a sort of
Hallowe'en party, although it was only the middle of October. And every
one went to work on the plan for the celebration.
About a dozen invitations were sent out, which, with the four cousins,
would make sixteen guests for the party; this was said to be quite
enough for a jolly time. Then cakes, prizes and other things had to be
prepared, and in the midst of the pleasant excitement the two fathers
arrived.
"Seen all of Philadelphia, I suppose," said Mr. Parke later in the
evening.
"Nothing but the battle-field between the Hessians and Washingtons,"
said George.
"Now, what does that mean?" asked Mr. Davis.
So the boys told about the fight, in terms to suit their patriotic sense
of the affair, so that it did not appear to the men as having been just
an ordinary brawl between two hostile factions, but that is what both
the ladies persisted in calling it.
The next day the two men escorted the four children as promised, Mr.
Davis using the automobile for the trip. They visited the old state
house, Girard College, the Custom House and Subtreasury, and the new
city hall, which had cost more than $20,000,000, and is one of the
finest and largest of municipal buildings in the United States. The
statue of William Penn crowns the top of its dome. Then, too, they saw
the post office, built of granite, which, they were told, has no
superior in postal buildings in the country.
In the state house the four little patriots saw a large apartment on the
first floor which the men said was Independence Hall. It was decorated
with quaint carvings, and pictures of famous Americans adorned its
walls. Many of the chairs used by the members of Congress in 1776 still
stood here to remind the children of that great event--the reading and
signing of the Declaration of Independence, executed in this city.
"Now, children, let us go and see the famous Liberty Bell. After that we
will visit the rooms where Colonial relics are kept on exhibition," said
Mr. Davis.
The children looked well at the token of what the great Revolution stood
for, and having read the inscription and felt sorry for the crack in its
side, they followed Mr. Parke to other sights.
They drove to Carpenters Hall, the building where the first Colonial
Congress met, the board that abetted Washington in his endeavors for
his country. Then they saw the William Penn dwelling, moved to Fairmount
Park. They visited Christ Church, where Washington worshipped when
president. Also Old Swedes Church, which was a memento of the old days.
Then, among the modern places of interest, they took the children to
Masonic Temple, because Mr. Davis was a Free Mason, and was very proud
of the granite structure. Then they drove past the Academy of Fine Arts,
containing the pioneer art collection of the United States, as the
children did not particularly care to go in and examine the objects.
They stopped for a short time in the Academy of Natural Sciences, where
the oldest and most extensive collection of natural history objects can
be found.
From there they passed the Ridgway Library, the United States Naval
Asylum, and many other great and well-known buildings. In Fairmount Park
they visited the Memorial and Horticultural halls, both being handsome
souvenir buildings from the Centennial Exhibition of 1876.
"Of course you two Southerners know who first settled our fine city?"
asked Mr. Davis, as they came from the museum and climbed into the
automobile again.
"Why, I think Benjamin Franklin did, didn't he, Jack?" said George,
taken unawares.
"No; William Penn did. He located and planned the city, and also made it
the chief city of his province of Pennsylvania. He also settled the
first order of 'Friends' in this country, and because the name
'Philadelphia' means 'brotherly love,' he called it that. In 1701 Penn
granted the town a charter, which constituted it a city with city
privileges.
"Benjamin Franklin, who lived in Philadelphia during the greater part of
the eighteenth century, planned many of its institutions, such as the
fire department, libraries, parks, and other public places. As Congress
first met here, and continued to do so after the British evacuation,
Philadelphia became the seat of government from the year 1790 to 1800.
The United States mint was built and established here in 1892."
On the homeward drive the children passed the oldest public library in
the United States, founded by Benjamin Franklin, containing about
175,000 volumes.
"To-morrow, if you like, we will drive you out to the suburbs of
Germantown, Manayunk, and Frankford, thence on to the places where you
have heard of the battles Washington fought with the British," promised
Mr. Davis, as they reached the house and wearily climbed the front
steps.
But the party engaged so much attention that the trip to historic spots
was almost forgotten in the flood of events which followed.
Every one invited came, of course, and besides Bob and Dick, the boys
next door, there were other girls and boys of Jack's age. As it was said
to be a premature Hallowe'en party, because the two cousins would soon
be going home again, no one brought a birthday gift, as most of the
guests had forgotten entirely that it was the date of Jack's birthday.
But he had received a gift from uncle Parke that morning that fully
recompensed him for the lack of any others. He found the small box at
his breakfast plate held something that made a significant noise, as it
regularly ticked away inside the paper wrapper and satin-cushioned case.
"Oh! I know what this is--right off without opening it!" cried Jack,
jumping up to run and throw his arms about his uncle.
Anne did not wait for him to finish his violent protestations of
affection, but broke the string and tore away the paper. By this time
Jack was back at his chair to rescue the gift, and upon opening the
spring lid, a boy's fine watch was displayed to his delighted eyes.
It was then passed around and admired by every one, George handling it
longingly, while Mr. Parke shook his head in a knowing manner.
Jack had other gifts, but the watch was the most treasured of all. What
boy or girl does not worship his first watch, and find it necessary to
consult the time every few minutes during the first days it is carried?
That night the watch was much in evidence, and every one present had to
hear it tick or handle it before full justice could be done to it.
When the guests were assembled, they played different games, and for the
diving contests, blindfolded games, and other guessing amusements,
suitable prizes had been provided, which added greatly to the evening's
enjoyment. Then, just as the two men went out to the dining-room to
light the pumpkin jack-o-lantern and put the finishing touches to the
witches' cave, where Mrs. Parke sat, dressed like an old gray-haired
sibyl, a fearful rattling sounded on the front windows.
"Some one's playing tick-tack!" cried Jack excitedly.
"But who can it be?--all the boys are here to-night!" said Dick. Bob and
George hurried to open the front door to run out on the piazza and see
if they could find the string that is used to fasten a nail or other
metal object so it will strike the glass when drawn sharply by some one
hiding across the street. But no sooner had they passed the threshold
than a large bag of flour descended upon their innocent heads, breaking
open and covering them with white, and causing them to choke and cough
furiously.
The other children had followed to the hall, and now seeing what had
happened to the two scouts, they stood together, not daring to move
nearer the door. Jack and Dick, believing the flour-bag trick to be one
of Mr. Davis's practical jokes, rushed out to capture him, but both boys
tripped over a string stretched across the steps and rolled down the
four steps going to the street. At the same time, dreadful cabbages,
tomatoes, and every other form of vegetable used for saluting unwelcome
stage performers, were showered plentifully into the hallway and
against the windows.
"The Hessians! The Hessians!" yelled George, spluttering flour from his
mouth to give the battle-cry of the Washingtons.
In another moment the American army was running in full pursuit of the
enemy. The six boys who had not known of the party, but took this
evening to show their attentions to the "American army," were
out-numbered and quickly outdistanced. When Jack and George, and their
two boy neighbors, caught up with the rear guard of the Hessians, they
fell upon them with great gusto. The other six boys soon came up, and
had not the old friendly officer hurried up to see what all the
hullabaloo was about, the chances are the Hessians would have been
entirely destroyed and Howe would have lost a signal battle. Even as it
was, the six Hessians were carried from the field of battle with sore
heads, black eyes, skinned shins and lame backs.
"My! Nothing like a little fight to give one an appetite, eh?" laughed
Jack, as he and his friends went back to the party.
The boys were not much the worse for the scuffle; their hair was
tousled, collars loosened, and ties hanging, but that was about all the
damage done them. The witch in the cave, and the two gentlemen who
offered to serve refreshments, had not heard a thing of the assault
until Martha ran into the dining-room with the news.
"We licked the Hessians! They got it this time!"
Without a second's hesitation (so certain were these parents of their
children's tendencies), the fathers and Mrs. Parke rushed out to the
hall to meet the victorious warriors returning from the scene of battle.
Although parents may try to dampen the ardor of youth from such warlike
fun as battles and assaults on an enemy, still it was in the blood of
these little Washingtons, and would crop up when chance offered as
naturally as General Washington rode his white charger on to victory.
The supper was greatly enjoyed, not only for the great plates of cake
and deep cereal-bowls of ice cream that were passed and passed in
endless procession, but for the realization also that one great battle
had been won over the Hessians without as much as bloodshed on the side
of the Americans.
A few days after this party, the Davises accompanied their relatives to
the station, where the Parkes boarded a train bound for Washington. A
few hours later they reached that fine city, and took a trolley about to
leave for the nearest road that passed their country estate.
Late that same afternoon, as the travellers walked up the driveway, they
spied Jim and old mammy waiting with the baby on the front veranda, to
welcome them.
"Oh, George! I almost forgot we had a baby at home during all the
wonderful travels and sights we have had since leaving home almost ten
days ago!" sighed Martha, with compunction.
"And just see how funny Jim looks! Why, he isn't half as big as I
thought he was. Jim, maybe we haven't a lot to tell you! Oh, Jim, _what
a fight_ we gave those Hessians when we drove them from Philadelphia!"
cried George, as he went running up the pathway.
But Mrs. Parke had not forgotten she had a baby at home, as old mammy
could testify, for long letters had reached her daily, advising and
reminding her what to do for baby while she was away on this unusual
visit.
That dinner was a happy reunion; not only for mother and baby, but also
for the faithful colored help. And what do you suppose Jim did?
George and Martha were so eager to explain all about the historic sights
and places they had visited, that they could not wait for the next
morning, so Jim was invited to sit at the table when fruit and nuts were
served, and there he rolled his widened eyes dangerously backward when
he heard about the battle with the Hessians.
"Jim, that was a _real_ fight! Not the make-believe kind we always play
down here!" said Martha impressively.
"And, Jim, you can believe those Hessians knew _how_ to fight, too. But
it took Washington's army to lick them, didn't it, father?" gloated
George, mentally patting himself on the back.
"Yes, and I remember the story of a great battle waged on Brooklyn
Heights, when Washington had to cross the East River in the fog. That
scene will never be forgotten by many of the New Yorkers who felt sure
they had cornered the Black Hand and kidnappers of some very sweet
little angels," remarked Mr. Parke.
"Father! Who told you about it?" asked Martha, who had felt quite sure
that not one of the elders had discovered anything at all about that
long-to-be-remembered escapade.
"Why, the American eagle whispered it in my ear when we came in from
the theatre party that night!" teased Mr. Parke.
Then George had to tell Jim all about that battle on the roof when they
were dressed in the bellboys' uniforms. And Jim sighed and sighed, and
wondered why it was the lot of some folks to have all the joys of life,
while others have bandy-legs and stay at home! Ah, Jim, such is life! I
have never been able to explain the cause of such partiality, either.
"Oh, George, tell Jim about your wonderful dream, when the Germans
captured you in the submarine and you escaped on the torpedo!"
Here was another marvelous tale for the most attentive of listeners, and
Jim's eyes opened again, wider and wider as George described his
experience, and it lost nothing of its weirdness and wonder in the
telling, either.
Then he stopped the story just as the American eagle dropped to let him
slide off from the cupola, but failed to explain to Jim that it was all
a dream.
"Jim, do you know what saved George from bumping his head on the ground
of City Hall Park that day?" asked Mr. Parke.
"No, sah, Ah don'. He diden bump, did he?" worried Jim.
"No, because we all came into the room in time to wake him out of his
nightmare. He was on the floor, where he had rolled when he fell from
the couch."
Jim pondered this information deeply, and that night in bed, as his
mammy was turning over to see if it was daylight, he sat up and
exclaimed:
"Why, mammy! Dat mus' hab been a dream Garge had!" Then he cuddled down
again and was fast asleep in another moment.
"Now, whad's dat chile talkin' uv in his sleep? He shore is a queer lil'
honey-boy!" sighed mammy, finding she still had an hour before it was
time to rise and get breakfast for the master.
John came home from his visit to his great-aunt the day following the
arrival of the Parkes, and many new and exciting experiences had to be
retold. John had some of his own that were quite as exciting in their
way as the battle with the Hessians, but he has to tell them in the next
book of the little Washingtons.
Mrs. Parke wrote to thank Mrs. Davis for the lovely visit they all
enjoyed in Philadelphia, and at the last, she had a revelation. Both
ladies had wondered and wondered what caused the battle between
Washington's army and the Hessians that day, and now that Mrs. Parke
thought again over the event and retraced her steps mentally, she
suddenly remembered the half-finished story told to the children on the
cars from New York to Philadelphia. They had heard enough of the warfare
between the Americans and British on the Delaware, that they needed no
more of a cue to start on.
So she explained to her friend what had been the cause of the spirit of
'76 showing itself so powerfully in the four cousins that day the wash
was covered with mud from the back lot.
"And do you know, my dear, I am greatly relieved now, when I remember
that the most dangerous period of George Washington's career is over.
From now on I shall only touch lightly on the battles he fought with the
British, so that the children cannot try them out in real life. But it
will be a satisfaction to have them play President and Lady Washington
in the White House, and later, when Washington returns to his farm to
spend his days there, that will be very quiet, acceptable fun, I think."
But Mrs. Parke forgot that her children, as well as John and Jim, their
playmates, were not of the kind that cared for quiet play. So she still
had many experiences before her that resulted from the reading of George
Washington's life history.
And naturally, the little Washingtons had loads of fun in applying this
history, as you will see when you read the next book of their doings,
called "Little Washington at School."
THE END
* * * * *
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS SERIES
By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
For Children 6 to 12 Years
This series presents early American history in a manner that impresses
the young readers. George and Martha Washington Parke, two young
descendants of the famous General Washington, follow in play, the life
of the great American.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS
Their thrilling battles and expeditions generally end in "punishment"
lessons read by Mrs. Parke from the "Life of Washington." The culprits
listen intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas for
further games of Indian warfare and Colonists battles.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' RELATIVES
The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the games
of playing George Washington. So zealously, in fact, that little Jim
almost loses his scalp.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' TRAVELS
The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New York
City. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patriotic
Washingtons vanquish the Hessians on a battle-field in the empty lot
back of the Davis property.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS AT SCHOOL
After the school-house battle the Washingtons discover a band of gypsies
camping near their homes and incidentally they recover a stolen horse
which the gypsies had taken from a farmer.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' HOLIDAYS
They spend a pleasant summer on adjoining farms in Vermont. During a
voyage they try to capture a "frigate" but little Jim is caught and
about to be punished by the Captain when his confederates save him.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS; FARMERS
Nero, the donkey, had never heard of George Washington, and so the game
the children had planned after reading the story of the General's life
on his farm turned out to be quite a different game altogether.
* * * * *
LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND
By DAVID CORY
For children from 6 to 8 years.
A new series of exciting adventures by the author of the LITTLE JACK
RABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual and
exciting adventures on land and sea and in the air.
THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK
This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah invites
Marjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in time
and away it floats out into the big wide world.
THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE
The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he blows a wonderful
bubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time in
Gnomeland.
THE ICEBERG EXPRESS
The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. The
Polar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip with
him and away they go.
THE WIND WAGON
Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a journey to
many wonderful places and had a delightful time.
THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took him to
Happyland, where he had many adventures.
* * * * *
TUCK-ME-IN TALES
(Trademark Registered)
By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY
AUTHOR OF THE SLEEPY-TIME TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES
A delightful and unusual series of bird and insect stories for boys and
girls from three to eight years old, or thereabouts.
THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBIN
THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROW
THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL
THE TALE OF JASPER JAY
THE TALE OF RUSTY WREN
THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS
THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDID
THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLY
THE TALE OF BUSTER BUMBLEBEE
THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY
THE TALE OF BOBBIE BOBOLINK
THE TALE OF CHIRPY CRICKET
THE TALE OF MRS. LADYBUG
THE TALE OF REDDY WOODPECKER
THE TALE OF GRANDMA GOOSE