k you gave me. Sam asked me to
show him the pictures and I showed him all the
pictures in it; and I read to him how the tame
elephant took care of the master's little boy,
and put him on his back and would not let
anybody touch his master's little son. I can
read three or four pages sometimes without
missing a word. Ma says I may go to see you,
and stay all day with you next week if it be
not rainy. She says I may ride my pony Hero if
Uncle Ben will go with me and lead Hero. I have
a little piece of poetry about the picture book
you gave me, but I mustn't tell you who wrote
the poetry.

"G. W.'s compliments to R. H. L.,
And likes his book full well,
Henceforth will count him his friend,
And hopes many happy days he may spend.

"Your good friend,
"George Washington.

"I am going to get a whip top soon, and you may
see it and whip it."

It looks very much as if Richard Henry sent his letter off just as it
was written. I suspect that his correspondent's letter was looked over,
corrected, and copied before it was sent. Very possibly Augustine
Washington was absent at the time on one of his journeys; but at any
rate the boy owed most of his training to his mother, for only two years
after this his father died, and he was left to his mother's care.

She was a woman born to command, and since she was left alone with a
family and an estate to care for, she took the reins into her own hands,
and never gave them up to any one else. She used to drive about in an
old-fashioned open chaise, visiting the various parts of her farm, just
as a planter would do on horseback. The story is told that she had given
an agent directions how to do a piece of work, and he had seen fit to do
it differently, because he thought his way a better one. He showed her
the improvement.

"And pray," said the lady, "who gave you any exercise of judgment in the
matter? I command you, sir; there is nothing left for you but to obey."

In those days, more than now, a boy used very formal language when
addressing his mother. He might love her warmly, but he was expected to
treat her with a great show of respect. When Washington wrote to his
mother, even after he was of age, he began his letter, "Honored Madam,"
and signed it,