when george Washington was a small boy, he loved to ride through the forest with his father. Mr. Washington was a very kind man. He often stopped to help his men cut down trees for firewood.
"father," asked the boy, "can't I help, too ? I will do as you do ."
"No, my son. You are still too young." said his father. "But on your tenth birthday I will have a surprise for you."
George waited for his tenth birthday to come. He wanted to know what his father was going to give him. At last the day came. His father gave him a hatchet.
" Thank you, father," cried the boy. "it is beautiful! I like it. Now am I old enough to cut the trees in the forests?"
"We will begin to teach you," said Mr. Washington, George learned how to use his hatchet very quickly.
One day George went out alone. He saw a small tree in a field.
" I will have a surprise for my father." George thought. " I will cut down this tree before my father cames. Nobody will know about it."
"Someone has cut down my best cherry tree," he told he wife. "I asked all my men. They all said that they had not done it. I don't know who did it."
When George heard this, he was sad , too. He wanted to make his father happy by helping him cut down the tree, but now his father was sad. He went to his father and said, "Father, I am the one who cut down your cherry tree. I thought it would make you happy. I am so sorry."
Mr.Washington took the boy in his arms and said, "That tree was precious. But you are much more precious to me, my son. You have just told the truth; and that i sthe most precious thing. Always tell the truth, my boy."
George Washington always remembered his father's words. He grew up tp be a brave man and became the first President of the United States of America