Great Americans and their noble deeds; containing the lives of almost fifty of our nation's heroes and heroines .. . he was not permit-ted to remain in hisretirement • for the Washingtons house, high street, Philadelphia. nation, aware of the importance of securing his wisdom and influence,chose him the first President, under the new constitution of 1789. In the first Presidency, the door of the Presidents house gathered butlittle rust on its hinges, while often was its latch lifted by the brokensoldier. Scarce a day passed that some veteran of the heroic time did notpresent himself at headqua
Great Americans and their noble deeds; containing the lives of almost fifty of our nation's heroes and heroines .. . he was not permit-ted to remain in hisretirement • for the Washingtons house, high street, Philadelphia. nation, aware of the importance of securing his wisdom and influence,chose him the first President, under the new constitution of 1789. In the first Presidency, the door of the Presidents house gathered butlittle rust on its hinges, while often was its latch lifted by the brokensoldier. Scarce a day passed that some veteran of the heroic time did notpresent himself at headquarters. The most battered of these types of thedays of privation and trial were kindly bid to stay, were offered refresh-ment and then dismissed with lighter hearts and heavier pouches. So passed the many; but not so with one of Erins sons. It wasabout the hour of the Tuesday levee, when German John, the porter,opened to a hearty rap, expecting to admit at least a Congressman orforeign Ambassador, when who should march into the hall but an oldfellow whose weather-beaten countenance and well-worn apparel showed. 28 GEORGE WASHINGTON. him to be no great man. His introduction was short, but to the had come to headquarters to see his honors excellence, God blesshim 1 He was an old soldier. In vain the porter assured him that it would be impossible to see thePresident at that time; a great company was momently expected; thehall was not a fitting place; would he not go to the stewards apartmentand get something to eat and drink ? To all which Pat replied he was inno hurry; that he would wait his honors leisure;—and taking a chaircomposed and made himself comfortable. And now passed ministers of state and foreign ministers, senators,judges, and the great and the gay; meanwhile poor Pat stoutly maintainedhis post, gazing on the crowd till the levee ended. The President, aboutto retire to his library, was informed that an obstinate Irishman had takenpossession of the hall,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidgreatamerica, bookyear1901
