Fun Facts
* George Washington's favorite foods were pineapples and Brazil nuts.
* George Washington was a planter and was part owner and director of an iron mine.
* George Washington had all his teeth pulled out when he was 57.
* George Washington was educated by his father and brother.
* George Washington loved horses and was an excellent rider.
* George Washington never wore a powdered wig, as was the custom for men at the time.
* George Washington never shook hands with people.
* George Washington joined the British Royal Navy when he was 14.
* George Washington was the only president that did not live in Washington D.C.
* George Washington was the only president who was unanimously elected.
The Cherry Tree Myth
When George was about 6 years - old he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet which, like most little boys, he was extremely fond. He went about chopping everything that came his way.
One day as he wandered about the garden, amusing himself by hacking his mother's pea sticks, he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud of. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.
Sometime after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. he came into the house in great anger, demanding to know who the mischievous person was that cut away the bark on his cherry tree. no one could tell him anything about it.
Just then, George, with his little hatchet, came into the room.
"George," called his father. "Do you know who has killed my beautiful cherry tree over in the garden? i would not have taken five guineas for it!"
this was a hard question to answer, and for a moment George was staggered by it, but quickly recovering himself, he cried, "I cannot tell a lie, father, you know i cannot tell a lie!! i did cut it with my little hatchet."
The anger died out of his fathers face, and taking George into his arms, he said, "My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of gold!"
One day as he wandered about the garden, amusing himself by hacking his mother's pea sticks, he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud of. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.
Sometime after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. he came into the house in great anger, demanding to know who the mischievous person was that cut away the bark on his cherry tree. no one could tell him anything about it.
Just then, George, with his little hatchet, came into the room.
"George," called his father. "Do you know who has killed my beautiful cherry tree over in the garden? i would not have taken five guineas for it!"
this was a hard question to answer, and for a moment George was staggered by it, but quickly recovering himself, he cried, "I cannot tell a lie, father, you know i cannot tell a lie!! i did cut it with my little hatchet."
The anger died out of his fathers face, and taking George into his arms, he said, "My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of gold!"