I murmured a complaisant assent.
“Waal, sir, if ’t was right to make free whiskey in Washington’s day, hit’s right now!” and the old man brought his fist down on the table.
“But that is where you make a mistake,” I replied. “Washington did enforce a whiskey tax.” Then I told about the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794.
This was news to Grandpa. He listened with deep attention, his brows lowering as the narrative proceeded. When it was finished he offered no comment, but brooded to himself in silence. My own thoughts wandered far afield, until recalled to the topic by a blunt demand:
Cabin on the Little Fork of Sugar Fork of Hazel Creek
in which the author lived alone for three years
“You say Washington done that?”
“He did.”
“George Washington?”
“Yes, sir: the Father of his Country.”