CHAPTER IX
FAREWELLS TO WASHINGTON
Letters came from New York, stating that Mr. Parke and Mr. Davis wouldbe in Philadelphia the following day, so if the children had not yetvisited various sights of historic interest, they would escort themabout and give the ladies a rest.
"Now, I'll tell you, mother! It is my birthday, you see, the day afterto-morrow, and you promised me a party this year. While father and uncletake us about, you and Aunt Kate can fix up a fine party at home. Askevery one you know and let's play Hallowe'en games, even if it is toosoon," 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 aparty 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'thustle!" 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 lineof work.
"Try me!" laughed Jack.
So it was hastily decided to celebrate Jack's birthday with a sort ofHallowe'en party, although it was only the middle of October. And everyone 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 quiteenough for a jolly time. Then cakes, prizes and other things had to beprepared, and in the midst of the pleasant excitement the two fathersarrived.
"Seen all of Philadelphia, I suppose," said Mr. Parke later in theevening.
"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 senseof the affair, so that it did not appear to the men as having been justan ordinary brawl between two hostile factions, but that is what boththe 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 statehouse, Girard College, the Custom House and Subtreasury, and the newcity hall, which had cost more than $20,000,000, and is one of thefinest and largest of municipal buildings in the United States. Thestatue of William Penn crowns the top of its dome. Then, too, they sawthe post office, built of granite, which, they were told, has nosuperior in postal buildings in the country.
In the state house the four little patriots saw a large apartment on thefirst floor which the men said was Independence Hall. It was decoratedwith quaint carvings, and pictures of famous Americans adorned itswalls. Many of the chairs used by the members of Congress in 1776 stillstood here to remind the children of that great event--the reading andsigning of the Declaration of Independence, executed in this city.
"Now, children, let us go and see the famous Liberty Bell. After that wewill visit the rooms where Colonial relics are kept on exhibition," saidMr. Davis.
The children looked well at the token of what the great Revolution stoodfor, and having read the inscription and felt sorry for the crack in itsside, they followed Mr. Parke to other sights.
They drove to Carpenters Hall, the building where the first ColonialCongress met, the board that abetted Washington in his endeavors forhis country. Then they saw the William Penn dwelling, moved to FairmountPark. They visited Christ Church, where Washington worshipped whenpresident. Also Old Swedes Church, which was a memento of the old days.
Then, among the modern places of interest, they took the children toMasonic Temple, because Mr. Davis was a Free Mason, and was very proudof the granite structure. Then they drove past the Academy of Fine Arts,containing the pioneer art collection of the United States, as thechildren did not particularly care to go in and examine the objects.
They stopped for a short time in the Academy of Natural Sciences, wherethe oldest and most extensive collection of natural history objects canbe found.
From there they passed the Ridgway Library, the United States NavalAsylum, and many other great and well-known buildings. In Fairmount Parkthey visited the Memorial and Horticultural halls, both being handsomesouvenir 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 theautomobile 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 itthe chief city of his province of Pennsylvania. He also settled thefirst order of 'Friends' in this country, and because the name'Philadelphia' means 'brotherly love,' he called it that. In 1701 Penngranted the town a charter, which constituted it a city with cityprivileges.
"Benjamin Franklin, who lived in Philadelphia during the greater part ofthe eighteenth century, planned many of its institutions, such as thefire department, libraries, parks, and other public places. As Congressfirst 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 inthe United States, founded by Benjamin Franklin, containing about175,000 volumes.
"To-morrow, if you like, we will drive you out to the suburbs ofGermantown, Manayunk, and Frankford, thence on to the places where youhave heard of the battles Washington fought with the British," promisedMr. Davis, as they reached the house and wearily climbed the frontsteps.
But the party engaged so much attention that the trip to historic spotswas almost forgotten in the flood of events which followed.
Every one invited came, of course, and besides Bob and Dick, the boysnext door, there were other girls and boys of Jack's age. As it was saidto be a premature Hallowe'en party, because the two cousins would soonbe going home again, no one brought a birthday gift, as most of theguests had forgotten entirely that it was the date of Jack's birthday.
But he had received a gift from uncle Parke that morning that fullyrecompensed him for the lack of any others. He found the small box athis breakfast plate held something that made a significant noise, as itregularly 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 ofaffection, but broke the string and tore away the paper. By this timeJack was back at his chair to rescue the gift, and upon opening thespring lid, a boy's fine watch was displayed to his delighted eyes.
It was then passed around and admired by every one, George handling itlongingly, while Mr. Parke shook his head in a knowing manner.
Jack had other gifts, but the watch was the most treasured of all. Whatboy or girl does not worship his first watch, and find it necessary toconsult 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 tohear it tick or handle it before full justice could be done to it.
When the guests were assembled, they played different games, and for thediving contests, blindfolded games, and other guessing amusements,suitable prizes had been provided, which added greatly to the evening'senjoyment. Then, just as the two men went out to the dining-room tolight the pumpkin jack-o-lantern and put the finishing touches to thewitches' cave, where Mrs. Parke sat, dressed like an old gray-hairedsibyl, 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 andGeorge hurried to open the front door to run out on the piazza and seeif they could find the string that is used to fasten a
nail or othermetal object so it will strike the glass when drawn sharply by some onehiding across the street. But no sooner had they passed the thresholdthan a large bag of flour descended upon their innocent heads, breakingopen and covering them with white, and causing them to choke and coughfuriously.
The other children had followed to the hall, and now seeing what hadhappened to the two scouts, they stood together, not daring to movenearer the door. Jack and Dick, believing the flour-bag trick to be oneof Mr. Davis's practical jokes, rushed out to capture him, but both boystripped over a string stretched across the steps and rolled down thefour steps going to the street. At the same time, dreadful cabbages,tomatoes, and every other form of vegetable used for saluting unwelcomestage performers, were showered plentifully into the hallway andagainst the windows.
"The Hessians! The Hessians!" yelled George, spluttering flour from hismouth to give the battle-cry of the Washingtons.
In another moment the American army was running in full pursuit of theenemy. The six boys who had not known of the party, but took thisevening to show their attentions to the "American army," wereout-numbered and quickly outdistanced. When Jack and George, and theirtwo boy neighbors, caught up with the rear guard of the Hessians, theyfell upon them with great gusto. The other six boys soon came up, andhad not the old friendly officer hurried up to see what all thehullabaloo was about, the chances are the Hessians would have beenentirely destroyed and Howe would have lost a signal battle. Even as itwas, the six Hessians were carried from the field of battle with soreheads, black eyes, skinned shins and lame backs.
"My! Nothing like a little fight to give one an appetite, eh?" laughedJack, as he and his friends went back to the party.
The boys were not much the worse for the scuffle; their hair wastousled, collars loosened, and ties hanging, but that was about all thedamage done them. The witch in the cave, and the two gentlemen whooffered to serve refreshments, had not heard a thing of the assaultuntil 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 theirchildren's tendencies), the fathers and Mrs. Parke rushed out to thehall to meet the victorious warriors returning from the scene of battle.
Although parents may try to dampen the ardor of youth from such warlikefun as battles and assaults on an enemy, still it was in the blood ofthese little Washingtons, and would crop up when chance offered asnaturally as General Washington rode his white charger on to victory.
The supper was greatly enjoyed, not only for the great plates of cakeand deep cereal-bowls of ice cream that were passed and passed inendless procession, but for the realization also that one great battlehad been won over the Hessians without as much as bloodshed on the sideof the Americans.
A few days after this party, the Davises accompanied their relatives tothe station, where the Parkes boarded a train bound for Washington. Afew hours later they reached that fine city, and took a trolley about toleave for the nearest road that passed their country estate.
Late that same afternoon, as the travellers walked up the driveway, theyspied Jim and old mammy waiting with the baby on the front veranda, towelcome them.
"Oh, George! I almost forgot we had a baby at home during all thewonderful travels and sights we have had since leaving home almost tendays ago!" sighed Martha, with compunction.
"And just see how funny Jim looks! Why, he isn't half as big as Ithought he was. Jim, maybe we haven't a lot to tell you! Oh, Jim, _whata 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 mammycould testify, for long letters had reached her daily, advising andreminding her what to do for baby while she was away on this unusualvisit.
That dinner was a happy reunion; not only for mother and baby, but alsofor the faithful colored help. And what do you suppose Jim did?
George and Martha were so eager to explain all about the historic sightsand places they had visited, that they could not wait for the nextmorning, so Jim was invited to sit at the table when fruit and nuts wereserved, and there he rolled his widened eyes dangerously backward whenhe heard about the battle with the Hessians.
"Jim, that was a _real_ fight! Not the make-believe kind we always playdown here!" said Martha impressively.
"And, Jim, you can believe those Hessians knew _how_ to fight, too. Butit took Washington's army to lick them, didn't it, father?" gloatedGeorge, mentally patting himself on the back.
"Yes, and I remember the story of a great battle waged on BrooklynHeights, when Washington had to cross the East River in the fog. Thatscene will never be forgotten by many of the New Yorkers who felt surethey had cornered the Black Hand and kidnappers of some very sweetlittle angels," remarked Mr. Parke.
"Father! Who told you about it?" asked Martha, who had felt quite surethat not one of the elders had discovered anything at all about thatlong-to-be-remembered escapade.
"Why, the American eagle whispered it in my ear when we came in fromthe theatre party that night!" teased Mr. Parke.
Then George had to tell Jim all about that battle on the roof when theywere dressed in the bellboys' uniforms. And Jim sighed and sighed, andwondered 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! Ihave never been able to explain the cause of such partiality, either.
"Oh, George, tell Jim about your wonderful dream, when the Germanscaptured you in the submarine and you escaped on the torpedo!"
Here was another marvelous tale for the most attentive of listeners, andJim's eyes opened again, wider and wider as George described hisexperience, and it lost nothing of its weirdness and wonder in thetelling, either.
Then he stopped the story just as the American eagle dropped to let himslide off from the cupola, but failed to explain to Jim that it was alla dream.
"Jim, do you know what saved George from bumping his head on the groundof 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 hisnightmare. He was on the floor, where he had rolled when he fell fromthe couch."
Jim pondered this information deeply, and that night in bed, as hismammy was turning over to see if it was daylight, he sat up andexclaimed:
"Why, mammy! Dat mus' hab been a dream Garge had!" Then he cuddled downagain 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 wastime to rise and get breakfast for the master.
John came home from his visit to his great-aunt the day following thearrival of the Parkes, and many new and exciting experiences had to beretold. John had some of his own that were quite as exciting in theirway as the battle with the Hessians, but he has to tell them in the nextbook of the little Washingtons.
Mrs. Parke wrote to thank Mrs. Davis for the lovely visit they allenjoyed in Philadelphia, and at the last, she had a revelation. Bothladies had wondered and wondered what caused the battle betweenWashington's army and the Hessians that day, and now that Mrs. Parkethought again over the event and retraced her steps mentally, shesuddenly remembered the half-finished story told to the children on thecars from New York to Philadelphia. They had heard enough of the warfarebetween the Americans and British on the Delaware, that they needed nomore 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 washwas covered with mud from the back lot.
"And do you know, my dear, I am greatly relieved now, when I rememberthat 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 theBritish, so that the children c
annot try them out in real life. But itwill be a satisfaction to have them play President and Lady Washingtonin the White House, and later, when Washington returns to his farm tospend 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, theirplaymates, were not of the kind that cared for quiet play. So she stillhad many experiences before her that resulted from the reading of GeorgeWashington's life history.
And naturally, the little Washingtons had loads of fun in applying thishistory, 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 impressesthe young readers. George and Martha Washington Parke, two youngdescendants of the famous General Washington, follow in play, the lifeof 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 culpritslisten intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas forfurther games of Indian warfare and Colonists battles.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' RELATIVES
The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the gamesof playing George Washington. So zealously, in fact, that little Jimalmost loses his scalp.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' TRAVELS
The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New YorkCity. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patrioticWashingtons vanquish the Hessians on a battle-field in the empty lotback of the Davis property.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS AT SCHOOL
After the school-house battle the Washingtons discover a band of gypsiescamping near their homes and incidentally they recover a stolen horsewhich the gypsies had taken from a farmer.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' HOLIDAYS
They spend a pleasant summer on adjoining farms in Vermont. During avoyage they try to capture a "frigate" but little Jim is caught andabout 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 gamethe children had planned after reading the story of the General's lifeon 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 JACKRABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual andexciting 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 invitesMarjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in timeand 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 wonderfulbubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time inGnomeland.
THE ICEBERG EXPRESS
The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. ThePolar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip withhim and away they go.
THE WIND WAGON
Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a journey tomany wonderful places and had a delightful time.
THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took him toHappyland, 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 andgirls 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
The Little Washingtons' Travels Page 9