“Why not?”
“Because you will never pay more than half price for anything; and I must have full price for my horses.”
This bantering reply set Mrs. Washington laughing; and her parrot, perched beside her, joined in the laugh.
Washington took this familiar assault upon his dignity with great good humour.
“Ah, Lee, you are a funny fellow!” said he, “See, that bird is laughing at you!”
III
When Washington died, it was Light Horse Harry who was chosen by Congress to deliver the funeral oration before both Houses. It was in this oration that he said those famous words:—
“He survives in our hearts—in the growing knowledge of our children, in the affection of the good throughout the World,— ... first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen ... pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere, uniform, dignified and commanding ... the purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues.”
Washington Irving and Other Sources (Retold)