First off: George Washington did NOT chop down a cherry tree. The fable had young Washington 'fessing up to "barking" his father's prized sapling.
However, the whole story is a moral lesson invented by the patriot's first biographer - a former Anglican pastor and itinerant Bible salesman named Mason L. Weems.
Known throughout the country as "Parson" Weems, he wrote several books on good conduct to supplement his Bible tracts.
His most popular book was: "The Life of George Washington with Curious Anecdotes Equally Honorable to Himself and Exemplary to his Young Countrymen."
The book was published a year after Washington's death in December 1799. It contained a good deal of factual information, but it also launched several legends, which made our first president appear somewhat priggish.
This is regrettable because the myths have obscured the real personality of our first president. He was a man of great dignity, but a vital and emotional man. He was ambitious, hard working and sensitive to others.
Washington's integrity was recognized by all whom he met. Yet, he labored throughout his life to curb a quick temper.
There is no documentation for Weem's charming tale of the cherry tree. He writes that he heard the story from "a distant relative close to the family."
Close relatives asserted they had never heard the tale. Nonetheless, the alleged incident is in character with Washington's childhood personality.
He was tutored until age 11 by his father, Augustine. The elder Washington stressed honesty and obedience - as George's marked textbooks and copy papers still in existence testify.
After his father's death, young Washington taught himself the art of surveying. By age 15 he was actively engaged in that occupation. This trade took him constantly into the frontier as far west as Ohio and Kentucky.
In 1754, Washington was sent by the governor of Virginia to drive out a French force occupying a fort at the fork of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, now Pittsburgh. The young American major was defeated and forced to sign a humiliating surrender paper. It was the start of the French and Indian War.
In later campaigns, George Washington vindicated himself and was chosen for several important military assignments.
Washington was 44 and a successful tobacco planter when the American Revolution started. As such, he was reluctant to challenge the mother country militarily.
Nevertheless, he obeyed the call of the Continental Congress to take charge of the small army in Boston that had withstood the besieging British at Breed Hill - not Bunker Hill as popularly related.
It took an honest man to face up to the realities of an irrevocable break with Great Britain -- to undertake the dangers and hardships of creating a new nation against armed might.
The War For Independence is now remembered as the Revolutionary War. As a matter of fact, it was our most unpopular war -- the Civil War and Vietnam War notwithstanding. Many colonists were loyal to England and bitterly opposed to separation.
Washington's patience and perseverance made a resounding success out of a bad war. He justly deserves the sobriquet: "Father of Our Country."
It is unfortunate that his real talents and achievements are obscured by the do-good image foisted on his memory by a well-meaning Parson Weems.
For example, here is the complete cherry-tree tale as told by the enthusiastic Weems:
I Cannot Tell A Lie
"When George was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet, of which, like most little boys, he was immoderately fond, and was constantly going about and chopping everything that came his way.
"One day, in the garden where he often amused himself by hacking his mother's pea sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on the body of a beautiful, young English cherry tree, which he barked so terribly that I don't believe the tree ever got the better of it.
"The next morning, the old gentleman (Washington's father), finding out what had befallen his tree - which, by the way, was a great favorite - came into the house. With much warmth he asked for the mischievous author, declaring at the same time that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree.
"Nobody could tell him anything about it. Presently George and his hatchet made their appearances. 'George,' said his father, 'do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden?'
"This was a tough question, and George staggered under it for a moment but quickly recovered himself. Looking at his father with the sweet face of youth, brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he bravely cried out, 'I cannot tell a lie, Pa. You know I can't tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.'
"' Run to my arms, you dearest boy,' cried his father in transports. 'Run to my arms. Glad am I, George, that you killed my tree for you have paid me for it a thousand fold.