Chapter 19

Together we come farewell to say, Ere in our graves we hide away. Till another year hath passed its round, Our voices shall utter forth no sound. Our lips have only told a part About this great and noble heart; But go and study history's page, You'll find him there from age to age. Before we go a challenge brave we send Unto this year, and on till time shall end, To e'er produce a greater one Than _our_ immortal Washington. [_Pass out in order, repeating_ "_Farewell, farewell!_"

_If there is a bell on the school-building, have some boy at this point ring it with bright, quick strokes_.

SCHOLAR.

List! I hear the bells a-ringing, High within their steeples swinging. Loud let them ring, and ring, and ring, And all abroad their music fling, For honor doth belong to him Whose memory ages cannot dim.

SCHOOL.

Ay, ring the bells, and raise the shout, And drag the massive cannon out, Let all unite as though in one To praise immortal Washington.

_School sing in closing "Speed Our Republic" etc., or some other patriotic hymn_.

* * * * *

SOMETHING BETTER

BY CLARA J. DENTON

_For a Very Little Girl_

I cannot be a Washington, However hard I try, But into something I must grow As fast the days go by.

The world needs women, good and true, I'm glad I can be one, For that is even better than To be a Washington.

* * * * *

THE STATES CROWNING WASHINGTON

BY KATE BOWLES SHERWOOD

_For Forty-five Children_

This exercise will require forty-five children, boys or girls, or both, as most convenient. Where a stage and curtain are obtainable, have the speakers grouped upon the stage at rise of curtain. If a stage and curtain are impossible let the speakers sit near the platform, each coming forward quickly, as the predecessor retires. A bust or framed portrait of Washington must occupy the center of the stage or platform; surrounding it must be an arch containing forty-five nails. Each speaker at the close of speech hangs upon a nail the wreath he or she carries. Where flowers cannot be obtained in the winter time, use wreaths of evergreen. If a stage is possible, but not a curtain, the States may form at back of schoolroom and march upon the stage in time to martial or patriotic music. Each State may wear a badge with name if convenient.

1. Maine comes marching on as one To crown immortal Washington.

2. New Hampshire brings him honor, too, In offerings both sweet and true.

3. Vermont here comes to take her stand To crown him with a lavish hand.

4. Massachusetts, Pilgrim state, Proclaims him hero grand and great.

5. Rhode Island comes with willing feet To place a garland fair and sweet.

6. Connecticut, with laurel's light, Would keep our hero's honor bright.

7. New York, a mighty empire now, Still crowns her gallant leader's brow.

8. Pennsylvania holds him great, Who spurned a crown to make a state.

9. New Jersey, Trenton can't forget, Her hero claims her honor yet.

10. Delaware will wreathe her bays To tell our hero's matchless praise.

11. Maryland crowns the peaceful heart Unspoiled by cruel deed or art.

12. Virginia hails her first-born son, The proud and peerless Washington.

13. West Virginia will proclaim The splendors of a patriot's name.

14. North Carolina's wreath is brought To him who independence wrought.

15. South Carolina follows on To twine a wreath for Washington.

16. Georgia exalts him high Who made the flag of freedom fly.

17. Alabama's lore is pure, For him whose fame shall aye endure.

18. Florida a tribute brings To him exalted over kings.

19. Ohio twines with generous hand The garlands of a goodly land.

20. Indiana's wreath is green For him of grave and gentle mien.

21. Illinois cannot forget That Washington is speaking yet.

22. Michigan with love is stirred For him who always kept his word.

23. Wisconsin hangs the victor's palm For him, in peace or tumult calm.

24. Kentucky would his praise prolong, For fortitude and valor strong.

25. Missouri comes with gifts of love For Washington's all men above.

26. Iowa exalts the man Who shaped his life on honor's plan.

27. Minnesota will revere The name that all the world holds dear.

28. Nebraska brings from summits high Immortal gifts that cannot die.

29. Kansas speaks of duties done, Of battles fought and victories won.

30. Mississippi tells the tale Of glorious acts that never pale.

31. Louisiana counts the deeds By duty done where valor leads.

32. Arkansas brings an offering bright To him who struggled for the right

33. Texas will her honor show To faithful friend and generous foe.

34. Tennessee exultant bears The crown a conquering hero wears.

35. Nevada from her mountain height Has plucked this garland kissed with light.

36. California's thousand flowers Will crown this patriot of ours.

37. Oregon brings offerings rare For him she holds in loving care.

38 Montana, from the mountains blue, Has brought him love, and honor, too.

39. North Dakota loves him well, And comes his valiant deeds to tell.

40. South Dakota follows on To crown the patriot Washington.

41. Washington is proud to claim The glory of his noble name.

42. Colorado ever true Will bring him loving garlands, too.

43. Wyoming from her mountain height Would crown the man who stood for right.

44. Idaho brings garlands fair For him whose life's beyond compare.

45. Utah comes with fadeless pine In his immortal crown to shine.

_Chorus of States_

We all will honor Washington, His fame will ever lead us on To better lives and nobler deeds, To guard our land in all her needs, To keep us ever kind and true To friends, and home, and country, too, In virtue strong, in honor bright, The foe of wrong, the friend of right.

We all will honor Washington, The first in war when wrong was done. The first in peace when freedom came To crown him with immortal fame, The first in all our hearts to-day, To bind us all as one for aye, While battle and freedom lead us on We all will honor Washington.

(_Issued under the auspices of the George Washington Memorial Association. Used by permission of the New England Publishing Co_.)

* * * * *

THE NEW GEORGE WASHINGTON

ANONYMOUS

_To Be Recited by a Small Boy_

I am six years old, And like play and fun. I mean to grow up Like George Washington.

So, when mother said, "Who ate all the pie?" I, spoke like a man, And said, "It was I."

But she didn't say She'd rather lose the pie, And know that her boy Would not tell a lie.

She just shut me up Where I couldn't see, Then sent me to bed Without any tea.

* * * * *

IN PRAISE OF WASHINGTON

_For Nine Pupils_

FIRST PUPIL.--To the historian few characters appear so little to have shared the common frailties and imperfections of human nature as that of Washington. _William Smyth_.

SECOND PUPIL.--No matter what may have been the immediate birthplace of such a man as Washington! No clime can claim, no country can appropriate him; the boon of Providence to the human race, his fame is eternity, his residence creation. _Charles Phillips_.

THIRD PUPIL.--As a ruler of mankind, he may be proposed as a model. Deeply impressed with the original rights of human nature, he never forgot that the end, and meaning, and aim of all just government was the happiness of the people. _William Smyth_.

FOURTH PUPIL.--As a general, he marshaled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience. As a statesman, he enlarged the policy of the cabinet into the most comprehensive system of general advantage; and such was the wisdom of his views and the philosophy of his counsels that to the soldier and the statesman he almost added the character of the sage. _Charles Phillips_.

FIFTH PUPIL.--Immortal man! He took from the battle its crime, and from the conquest its chains; he left the victorious the glory of his self-denial, and turned upon the vanquished only the retribution of his mercy. Happy, proud America! The lightnings of heaven yielded to your philosophy! The temptations of earth could not seduce your patriotism! _Charles Phillips_.

SIXTH PUPIL.--It is the happy combination of rare talents and qualities, the harmonious union of the intellectual and moral powers, rather than the dazzling splendor of any one trait which constitutes the grandeur of his character. _Jared Sparks_.

SEVENTH PUPIL.--Washington did the two greatest things which, in politics, man can have the privilege of attempting. He maintained, by peace, that independence of his country which he had acquired by war. He founded a free government, in the name of the principles of order, and by re-establishing their sway. _Guizot_.

EIGHTH PUPIL.--Greater soldiers, more intellectual statesmen, and profounder sages have doubtless existed in the history of the English race, perhaps in our own country, but not one who to great excellence in the threefold composition of man--the physical, intellectual, and moral--has added such exalted integrity, such unaffected piety, such unsullied purity of soul, and such wondrous control of his own spirit. He illustrated and adorned the civilization of Christianity, and furnished an example of the wisdom and perfection of its teachings which the subtlest arguments of its enemies cannot impeach. _Vance_.

NINTH PUPIL.-- He fought, but not with love of strife; he struck but to defend; And, ere he turned a people's foe, he sought to be a friend. He strove to keep his country's right by Reason's gentle word And sighed when fell injustice threw the challenge sword to sword. He stood, the firm, the calm, the wise, the patriot and sage; He showed no deep, avenging hate, no burst of despot rage; He stood for liberty and truth, and dauntlessly led on, Till shouts of victory gave forth the name of Washington. _Eliza Cook_.

IN CONCERT.-- Washington, the brave, the wise, the good. Supreme in war, in council, and in peace. Valiant without ambition, discreet without fear, confident without presumption. In disaster, calm; in success, moderate; in all, himself. The hero, the patriot, the Christian. The father of nations, the friend of mankind, Who, when he had won all, renounced all, and sought in the bosom of his family and of nature, retirement, and in the hope of religion, immortality. _Inscription at Mount Vernon_.