Again: Thou art in great power, or place and authority; but thou art mistaken in this; the power thou hast is not inherent in thyself. One of the meanest of those whom it may be thou oppressest is as powerful as thee, and could, it may be, overmatch thee in strength, wit or policy; but thy power is invested in thee by those men whose promises, faith, or voluntary assistance thou hast. This power depends upon the fidelity or assistance of others, which, if withdrawn, leaves you like Samson shorn of his locks. Thy strength will go from thee, and thou wilt become weak, and be like another man.
Mother, you have read quite enough for one day. It will likely take us a week to learn all that by heart, and that will be a week of this visit lost! cried George disconsolately.
But suppose I entreat father to have you learn some verses from Mother Goose to recite to us instead of these maxims do you think you could memorize them quickly? suggested Mrs. Parke.
Oh, yes, mother! Do ask him that. We can learn Jack and the Beanstalk or anything like that in no time, hastily replied Martha.
Ah! then it shows that the only trouble with memorizing these truly great sayings is that you wont bother to study what is good and helpful! Mother Goose is funny and amusing, and you promise to learn any such verses quickly; that is why father wishes you to learn these Contemplations and afterward wear the uniform of an American soldier; because one cannot be frivolous and inclined to constant fun if he is to be the custodian of his countrys safety, declared Mrs. Parke.
But cant you see that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy? argued George impatiently.
Have you any proposal to make better than the one father planned for the earning of the prize packages? asked his mother.
Well, we might arrange it this way: For every set of contemplations or maxims we learn each day we are to receive something
for all, added Mrs. Davis.
Yes, I suppose it would, aunty, but you see times change and so do folks, and ways change with them. George Washington just had to be good cause it was born in him, and God made him feel that he had to be an example for America. Doesnt it show it was so, when he never wanted to quarrel in school, he never told a lie even kept his mouth shut when something was being asked that he knew all about and the way he sacrificed fun and good times just to study old dry stuff like these maxims? Oh, he was, indeed, a queer boy! sighed George, rolling his eyes upward in earnest contemplation of the ceiling.
The ladies had great difficulty in maintaining serious faces at these remarks, but they felt all would be ruined if they laughed outright, so they managed, both of them, to remain stern and respectful.
Havent we occasion to thank God that he was such a serious-minded boy? What would the United States have done if he had been otherwise? asked Mrs. Parke.
But it didnt! If Washington wasnt that kind God would have raised up another Moses in the Land of Bondage, to lead the poor colonists out of Egypt! declared Martha triumphantly.
You said yourself, while explaining some Bible reading the other day, that it wasnt the name or mortal man that did all the great and glorious things, but the power of the Principle that influenced and operated through a being. Then I could be as great as General Washington if the test came and I was being moved to do glorious deeds through the help of God, said George, frowning over such a theological problem.
Yes, you could, if you understood enough of the Truth and operation of God, who is Principle, to apply what you knew; but the Truth does not operate blindly, remember, and Washington would never have been guided as he was if he hadnt applied his thoughts seriously to finding out the deep things of God, said Mrs. Parke earnestly.
The children showed an eagerness to get away from further preaching, so the ladies rose as a signal that the meeting was over. With grateful sighs the youngsters hurried away to learn the next dry and, to them, senseless maxim of Washingtons.
CHAPTER IX THE ARMY WINS UNIFORMS
To insure continued interest in the maxims Mrs. Davis suggested a plan.
Now that Mr. Parke bought and gave the army uniforms, I think Ill do my bit also. These children ought to begin to make things and earn money for War Relief in Europe. I had thought of getting them a lightweight boat that would float on the creek, but now that every one ought to do something I think I will send for wool and needles, that the girls may learn to knit vests, caps and mittens for our boys at the front. What do you think of it?
Oh, George and Martha have plenty of those things, but somehow they never sit still long enough to knit more than one row a day, and the war will end before they complete a single sock. Besides, they feel as if knitting was worse than going in the trenches, so I havent insisted upon the work as yet. Better supply them with the boat, where they can frolic and keep healthy out-of-doors without danger to themselves, advised Mrs. Parke.