The French Ambassador, filled with his own national pride, but too polite to dispute the previous toast, offered the following: "To France—the moon whose mild, steady, and cheering rays are the delight of all nations, consoling them in darkness and making their dreariness beautiful."
Then arose "Old Ben Franklin," and said in his slow but dignified way: "To George Washington—the Joshua who commanded the sun and the moon to stand still, and they obeyed him."
[A REVOLUTIONARY BAPTIZING.]
After the cold winter at Valley Forge, Captain Charles Cameron was sent home to Augusta County, Virginia, to recruit his Company. On his way back to the Continental Army, he and his men captured a Tory on the right bank of the Potomac River and decided to convert him, by baptism, into a loyal Patriot. Taking him down to the river bank they plunged him in.
Once—"Hurrah for King George!" came from the struggling Tory as he arose from the water.
Twice—"Hurrah for King George! Long live King George!" The Tory was again on top.
Three times—"Hurrah for King George! Long live King George! King George forever!"
The men looked helplessly at their Captain. "Loose him," were the orders, "and let him go. He is unconvertible."