And now some of you are ready to ask me if these elements of character
were combined in the illustrious Washington, the father of his country,
whom I have held up as a model character for the American youth. Let us
see if such be the case. Let us recur for a moment to the history of
that unequalled man. And first, let us see what he was in his youth,
and under the training of his parents. And, as a boy, how is he shown
to you in history? He is shown to you as the very boy I have described.
He was the _dutiful and obedient son_. He was the simple-hearted,
affectionate, studious boy, who, by his gentle manners, and open and
candid disposition, made himself the idol of his parents. If you turn
to the history of Washington’s youth, and read it, you will find him
amiable, and honorable, and dignified, and pure. You will see him
almost without a fault, and with a soul made of such noble materials
that he becomes at once the object of your admiration and your love.
Why, of such a boy as Washington, his mother might well be proud.
Aye, his friends and his country might well be proud of him. What! A
nation proud of a boy? Yes, a nation proud of a boy! The free nation
of American citizens is proud, to this day, and ever will be proud of
the boyhood of Washington. He stands out in history in bold advance of
the boys of America. He stands out in bold advance of the boys of the
world. He is the model boy, and boys are great and wise, and good in
proportion to their imitation of his character. Let the light of his
boyhood’s example be the guiding star of the American youth. Let those
youth be what he was at the fire-side, at his mother’s knee, and at the
school, and their country shall be blessed in their manhood’s years.