On one occasion, he ran a race in his stocking feet with a comrade. His mother, in knitting his stockings, had knit the legs of blue yarn and the heels of white. Because of this and because he always won the races, the soldiers called him:—
“Silver Heels.”
J. B. Thayer (Arranged)
WITHOUT BREAD
Told by John Marshall’s Sister
He was then an officer in the American Army, and he came home for a visit, accompanied by some of his brother officers, some young French gentlemen.
When supper time arrived, Mother had the meal prepared for them, and had made into bread a little flour, the last she had, which had been saved for such an occasion.
The little ones cried for some, and Brother John inquired into matters. He would eat no more of the bread, which could not be shared with us.
He was greatly distressed at the straits to which the fortunes of war had reduced us. And Mother had not intended him to know our condition.
From the Green Bag