Little Washington's Relatives Part 10

"Let's finish Bunker Hill," he suggested.

"Oh, we're sick of Boston! It's all right in a way, but not for a second time," said George, thinking of the battle of the day before.

"Then let's have a fight on Long Island, when the British drove the Americans from Brooklyn, to cross the East River to their main army,"

said John.

"I don't want that either! Can't we go somewhere or do something different?" asked Martha.

"If Was.h.i.+ngton's army had only used submarines or airs.h.i.+ps like they do at present, we could have heaps of fun that way," hinted Jack meaningly.

"Oh, say, why can't we build an aeroplane and try it?" cried George eagerly.

"What of?" asked John.

"Where can we fly?" said Anne.

"Well, we might experiment back of the barns. There's a telegraph wire which runs across our property there, and we can run a plane down the wire that steadies the pole," explained George.

"Or we could stretch a wash-line near the ground from the barn-eaves to the pole, and toboggan an airs.h.i.+p down that way," added Jack.

"I'd rather play Was.h.i.+ngton crossing the Delaware, or at his farm when he was through being president of the United States," said John, tenaciously clinging to the times of his ancestors.

"No one can cross the ice on the river when it's fall!" scorned George conclusively.

"Then we can have the farm!" insisted John.

"Hoh, we have farm enough-no one wants to _play_ farmer!" objected George.

"Oh, well! Play anything then-I don't care!" snapped John.

But a call from the veranda settled all such troubles. "Children, who wants to go on a picnic?"

"I do! I do!" sounded from every throat, and the children speedily rushed over to ask questions about the proffered treat.

"Everybody secure permission at home, and meet us here in half an hour.

I'll look after the luncheon, so hurry up," said Mrs. Parke.

Everything else was forgotten in the bustle of preparing for the unexpected outing.

"Where are we going, mother?" asked Martha.

"Why, aunty wishes to see Mount Vernon, so I thought it would be a fine drive there in the machine. We can have lunch in the woods along the road, and be home again before night," explained Mrs. Parke.

Before she had quite finished speaking the children were shouting and jumping with delight. Jim alone stood silently by, his face expressing his state of mind, for he had no idea that he was to be included in this joyous party.

"Hey, Jim! What's the matter? Aren't you glad and excited about it?"

cried George, catching him by his thin little arms and whirling him around in a dizzy dance.

"Whad should Ah be glad affer?" mourned Jim.

"Because you're going, too, if mammy will consent," said Mrs. Parke kindly.

"Me! Kin Ah ride wid yo' all to dat Mount Wernon?" yelled Jim shrilly.

Then not waiting for a reply he rushed away, and was soon out of sight around the corner of the house.

Every one laughed, and John was told to run home and get his coat and cap. In a few moments Jim was back again, talking six ways at once.

"Mammy say, da's fine! Is Ah goin' t' dress up lak fo' chu'ch? Is we goin' right off quick? Has Ah got time t' have granny sew b.u.t.tons on m'

boiled s.h.i.+rt an' get a baff?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Run along and do everything you say," laughed Mrs.

Parke, giving Jim a gentle push in the direction of the kitchen.

In half an hour's time every one was waiting on the veranda steps for Jim. The large car was puffing impatiently to be on the road, when a gayly bedecked personage emerged from the areaway.

"Oo-oh! It's Jim!" yelled George, clapping Jack's back.

"So 'tis!" breathed Martha as if a louder tone would dispel the illusion.

"Is Ah dressed enuff?" asked Jim, beaming.

"I should think so-the best of the lot of us!" admired Jack.

Jim minced over to display his fine feathers to the eyes that comprised his world. He had on a pair of patent leather pumps outgrown by George, a pair of Scotch plaid socks such as were worn by children some years ago. Between the top of the socks and his claret-colored velveteen breeches, his dark-brown bowed legs made a somber break. His starched s.h.i.+rt was too tight, but to obviate this failure, young mammy had pinned a lace jabot in front, where the black cloth Eton opened. A straw alpine hat presented to Jim's father by Mr. Graham, topped this unusual costume.

Although some of the children felt like giggling, they were too polite, and thought too much of Jim to let him see what they thought of his travelling costume. So, with heart bounding joyously, he climbed in "wid dee comp'ny" in the automobile.

It was a long but delightful drive to Mount Vernon, and on the way there, Mrs. Parke told the children many interesting things in connection with the Was.h.i.+ngtons.

"Of course we all know how Mount Vernon came to belong to George Was.h.i.+ngton, don't we?"

"We do!" exclaimed George, looking at Martha and his cousins.

"I don't, Mrs. Parke-and I don't b'lieve Jim does," said John.

"Ah knows that Garge General Washerton was the fust fadder uv dis country, but Ah nebber hearn who its mudder was," replied Jim seriously.

Every one shouted with laughter at the unexpected remark, and the chauffeur smiled, too.

"I'll tell you about Mount Vernon first, and then we may have time to explain to Jim about the parentage of America," said Mrs. Parke, patting the woolly head beside her.

"I have read to you how Augustine Was.h.i.+ngton, father of our famous George Was.h.i.+ngton, was twice married. Two sons of the first marriage and six children of the second marriage. At the father's death, his estate was divided among the children. The oldest son inherited an estate near Hunting Creek, afterward called Mount Vernon by him, after his friend and beloved hero, Admiral Vernon.

"This estate consisted originally of 2,500 acres, but later considerable land was added to it, until it became one of the best country estates in Virginia.

"The second son by the first marriage inherited an estate in Westmoreland. George Was.h.i.+ngton was left the land and mansion where his parents lived at the time of the father's death. Each of the other children inherited farms of from six to eight hundred acres.

"Soon after leaving school George went to live with his brother at Mount Vernon, the mistress of which was a sister of William Fairfax, distantly related to Lord Fairfax. In this way George became acquainted with William Fairfax, who invited the youth to visit him at Belvoir.