George Washington's Birthdays [VINTAGE 1963]

Hays, Wilma Pitchford

Published by Coward-McCann, Inc., New York, 1963

About this Item

Fine condition color illustrated boards. Illustrated with both black-and-white and color drawings by Peter Burchard. "Today was very special to George Washington for two reasons. It was his eleventh birthday and he was going to ride Firebrand, his colt, for the first time. The events of this and future birthdays helped to shape the life of young George. He was to know sorrow at the death of his father, and excitement at the prospect of a career at sea. With the skillful blending of historic fact and a gift for storytelling, Wilma Hays has written a unique, absorbing story of the early life of George Washington, first President of the United States." "Historical facts are few about the boy, George Washington, before he was sixteen and became a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. We do know the members of his family, his friends, the homes he lived in, that he was an unusually good horseman, the change in his plans which came with the death of his father. We know of the deep affection between George and his older half-brother, Lawrence. We know that Lawrence, in his will, left George the Mount Vernon plantation. We know that his mother refused to let him go to sea and that he became interested in surveying when everyone was talking about the dispute over the western lands. These facts, plus the diaries and journals of other men who lived at the same time, help us to know the kind of life George lived, the life of a boy in Tidewater Virginia in 1732-1748. It is also possible to see how his early life helped form the character of the man who became the leader of the American forces during the Revolutionary War. The boy who loved outdoor work and learned to endure hardship became the general who remained with his ragged, hungry soldiers, who lived in tents through the winter at Valley Forge. The boy who had to finish whatever he had begun became the general who would not surrender even though many people thought there was no use fighting the strong British army any longer. The boy who was exact in his work and could be trusted became the man whom the American people trusted and elected to be the first President of the United States." - Wilma Pitchford Hays (from last page entitled "The author says:"). Seller Inventory # 001491

Bibliographic Details

Title: George Washington's Birthdays [VINTAGE 1963]

Publisher: Coward-McCann, Inc., New York

Publication Date: 1963

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Burchard, Peter

Condition: Fine

Edition: Weekly Reader Book Club Edition