George Washington had the right idea

The cherry tree myth is the most well-known and longest enduring legend about George Washington. In the original story, when Washington was six years old he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree. When his father discovered what he had done, he became angry and confronted him. Young George bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie…I did cut it with my hatchet.” Washington’s father embraced him and rejoiced that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees.

Re: George Washington had the right idea

But it was a myth though right?

Re: George Washington had the right idea

Sounds to me like his father secretly wanted the tree felling, that's why he gave young George the axe and was elated when George attacked it...

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Indeed it was LD

Re: George Washington had the right idea

get off!!

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Just what every small child needs as a gift - a hatchet.

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All the red Indian kids had them.

Re: George Washington had the right idea

GEORGE WASHINGTON & THE CHERRY TREE
A POEM FOR KIDS BY PAUL PERRO
Little George Washington was a good boy
So his mummy gave him a brand new toy.
It was a little axe, a real sharp one,
And George thought that it would be lots of fun.

He took the little hatchet out into
The garden, where lots of plants and weeds grew.
He chopped at some weeds, chopped them to the ground,
After that he began to look around.

He looked around for something else to chop,
He was having a ball, and could not stop.
Right at the bottom of the garden he
Came across his daddy's best cherry tree.

He chopped at it with his little hatchet
The tree was big, he could only scratch it.
So he tried much harder, chopping the wood,
Until at last it fell down with a thud.

Then George was happy and put down his axe
And he sat down and started to relax.
Suddenly, a cry, it was George’s dad;
He’d seen the felled tree and was really mad.

“Who has chopped down my lovely cherry tree?”
His face was red he was really angry.
George was scared to tell the truth but he knew
Telling the truth was the right thing to do.
So George said “Sorry daddy, it was I,
I killed the tree, I cannot tell a lie.”

At first dad was cross, then he realised
As he looked into his little boy’s eyes,
George’s behaviour had been outrageous
But he’d been honest, which was courageous.

“My boy” said dad, “I’m very cross, but still,
Your honesty is quite admirable.
I cannot punish you because I’m so
Proud that you’re my son. I love you, you know.”

If you’re brave and honest, you can go far,
You can grow up to be a superstar.
Yes George grew up to be one of the greats
A President of the United States!


there we are




I wonder if Donald Trump has a similar or not similar apocryphal or prophetic childhood experience.

That reminds me of a feckless feral girl in my class at school, aged 8, she said she'd show me her knickers for a bite of my Toffee apple,I didn't really want to see, but the toffee was getting in my fillings.& I stupidly agreed.
Women were ever deceivers thus

I was tricked, you've guessed correctly that she was sans knickers

Re: George Washington had the right idea

I knew a girl once who would do a 'turn' for a penny - she became very rich but I could never muster a penny! - she used to smile at me knowingly!

Re: George Washington had the right idea

Loved the other story...


"Albert did you push the outside privvy into the river?"

"I cannot tell a lie Father...yes, it was me!"

Albert got a good hiding and wept..."George Washington didn't get thrashed when he admitted to chopping the cherry tree!"

Father....

"Yeah..but his Father wasn't in the bloody cherry tree at the time!"