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- POCAHONTAS
- THERE was once a very brave man whose name was John Smith. He
- came to this country many years ago, when there were great woods
- everywhere, and many wild beasts and Indians. Many tales are told of his
- adventures, some of them true and some of them untrue. Among the
- latter is the following story:—
- One day when Smith was in the woods, some Indians came upon him,
- and made him their prisoner. They led him to their king, and in a short
- time they made ready to put him to death.
- A large stone was brought in, and Smith was made to lie down with his
- head on it. Then two tall Indians with big clubs in their hands came
- forward. The king and all his great men stood around to see. The Indians
- raised their clubs. In another moment they would fall on Smith's head.
- But just then a little Indian girl rushed in. She was the daughter of the
- king, and her name was Pocahontas. She ran and threw herself between
- Smith and the uplifted clubs. She clasped Smith's head with her arms.
- She laid her own head upon his.
- "O father!" she cried, "spare this man's life. I am sure he has done you no
- harm, and we ought to be his friends."
- The men with the clubs could not strike, for they did not want to hurt
- the child. The king at first did not know what to do. Then he spoke to
- some of his warriors, and they lifted Smith from the ground. They untied
- the cords from his wrists and feet, and set him free.
- The next day the king sent Smith home; and several Indians went with
- him to protect him from harm.
- After that, as long as she lived, Pocahontas was the friend of the white
- men, and she did a great many things to help them.
- GEORGE WASHINGTON AND HIS HATCHET
- WHEN George Washington was quite a little boy, his father gave him a
- hatchet. It was bright and new, and George took great delight in going
- about and chopping things with it.
- He ran into the garden, and there he saw a tree which seemed to say to
- him, "Come and cut me down!"
- George had often seen his father's men chop down the great trees in the
- forest, and he thought that it would be fine sport to see this tree fall
- with a crash to the ground. So he set to work with his little hatchet, and,
- as the tree was a very small one it did not take long to lay it low.
- Soon after that, his father came home.
- "Who has been cutting my fine young cherry tree?" he cried. "It was the
- only tree of its kind in this country, and it cost me a great deal of money."
- He was very angry when he came into the house.
- "If I only knew who killed that cherry tree," he cried, "I would—yes, I
- would"—
- "Father!" cried little George. "I will tell you the truth about it. I chopped
- the tree down with my hatchet."
- His father forgot his anger.
- "George," he said, and he took the little fellow in his arms, "George, I am
- glad that you told me about it. I would rather lose a dozen cherry trees
- than that you should tell one falsehood."
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