But the last glorious act crowns his career and banishes
all hesitation. Who, like Washington, after having emancipated a
hemisphere, resigned his crown and preferred the retirement of domestic
life to the adoration of a land he might be almost said to have created?
"How shall we rank thee upon glory's page,
Thou more than soldier, and just less than sage?
All thou hast been reflects less fame on thee,
Far less than all thou hast forborne to be!"
Such, sir, is the testimony of one not to be accused of partiality in
his estimate of America. Happy, proud America! the lightnings of heaven
yielded to your philosophy! The temptations of earth could not seduce
your patriotism!
I have the honor, sir, of proposing to you as a toast,
"The immortal memory of George Washington."
FOOTNOTE:
[61] Delivered at a dinner on Dinas Island, Lake Killarney, Ireland,
given in honor of Mr. O. H. Payne (afterward Senator Payne) of Ohio.
IV
GAY, HUMOROUS, COMIC
A BOY'S MOTHER[62]
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY
My mother she's so good to me
Ef I was good as I could be,
I couldn't be as good--no, sir!
Can't any boy be good as her!
She loves me when I'm glad er mad;
She loves me when I'm good er bad;
An' what's a funniest thing, she says
She loves me when she punishes.
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