The old gentleman, suspecting what George would be at, gave him his hand, which he seized with great eagerness, and tugging him along through the garden, led him point blank to the bed whereon was inscribed, in large letters, and in all the freshness of newly sprung plants, the full name of
GEORGE WASHINGTON
“There, Pa!� said George, quite in an ecstasy of astonishment, “did you ever see such a sight in all your lifetime?�
“Why, it seems like a curious affair, sure enough, George!�
“But, Pa, who did make it there? Who did make it there?�
“It grew there by chance, I suppose, my son.�
“By chance, Pa! Oh, no! no! It never did grow there by chance, Pa. Indeed that it never did!�
“Why not, my son?�
“Why, Pa, did you ever see anybody’s name in a plant bed before?�
“Well, but George, such a thing might happen, though you never saw it before.�