George Washington and His Hatchet

by James Baldwin

　　

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Ironically, this well-known story about George Washington's honesty admitting to cutting down his father's cherry tree was not truthful, invented by one of his first biographers, Mason Locke Weems. The story remains a part of American lore, even though it was debunked.

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John C. McRae after a painting by G. G. White, 1867

　　When George Washington was quite a little boy, his father gave him ahatchet. It was bright and new, and George took great delight in goingabout and chopping things with it.He ran into the garden, and there he saw a tree which seemed to say tohim, "Come and cut me down!"George had often seen his father's men chop down the great trees inthe forest, and he thought that it would be fine sport to see thistree fall with a crash to the ground. So he set to work with hislittle hatchet, and, as the tree was a very small one, it did not takelong to lay it low.Soon after that, his father came home."Who has been cutting my fine young cherry tree?" he cried. "It wasthe only tree of its kind in this country, and it cost me a greatdeal 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. Ichopped 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 dozencherry trees than that you should tell one false-hood."

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George Washington and His Hatchet was featured as TheShort Story of the Day on Tue, Feb 22, 2022

　　

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Enjoy reading some of George Washington's (true) writings and speeches.

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