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Show Chronological. This is the anniversary of the discovery dis-covery of the cherry tree. It was a native of Old Virginia, and was found in 1732. Tho tree grew and thrived, and produced a fruit that was much sought alter by the hoodlums and birds of that day, Foi yens the boys aud the birds engaged in a lively contest to see which could eteal the most cherries; but tho birds had the best of it, about in the proportion of $ to 7. Hesides the boys, after letting the birds get away with them on the steal frequently came in ior sound floggings. About this time that useful little implement, the hatchet, was invented. If it was patented there is no record of the fact, and the period covered by the nalont right has long since expired. The hatchet soon discovered the rivalry that existed between the hood- i lers and tho feathered prigs, and i thought to remove tho cause; so it borrowed a hoy and went out one fine ' afternoon and slew the cherry tree. rbie occasioned considerable excitement excite-ment throughout the community, as f the tree had come to be a groat favor- t ite. The facta were all collected by an investigation committee, and laid a before a returning board, winch iu turn referred thorn to an arbitration l commission with judicial and executive execu-tive functions, and possessing power s iu cuu ior perduus anu papers, int hatchet was duly summoned befort the commission, and was required to answer the question of "Who cul down tho cherry tree V The hatchel thought to escape punishment by evasive answers and fillibustering, declaring de-claring that the commission couldn't go behind the returns to see whether there had been fraud in the mat'.er; but finding that it was liable to be adjudged in contempt for refusing to give a categorical answer, first entered a solemn protest, then reared back on its moral character, saying it could not tell a lie, and told a wilful falsehood, false-hood, charging the boy with cutting down the tree. Tho lad of course had no witness to the transaction, hence he adopted the wisest plan; and also declaring that it was morally impossible ior him to disregard the truth, said he slaughtered the tree, J and threw bimsell upon the mercy ot the commission. Some historians say that one of the high joints declared that he wouldn't have cared how much the boy lied if he had left that cherry tree alone; but bo that as it may, the boy escaped punishment, the commission, by a strict partisan vote, adopting a highly moral resolution, declaring that the youth was a first class lad, who at tended Sunday school, and didn't i "sass back" when reproved by his mother. The hatchet was voted to be the emblem of truth and honor, and it has so been considered to the present time. The boy grew up to be a good man with white curly hair, and is generally conceded to be the father of this country. |