Poems
Like Washington
by Helen M. Richardson
"I wish that I could be as great
As Washington," said Joe.
"You can, my dear," his mother said,
"If you but will it so."
"But how?" urged Joe. "I cannot do
The things he did - to be
As great as he was would just mean
A General, you see."
"A General, my little lad,
You can be if you will.
A climbing boy can always reach
The summit of the hill.
"But to be great, we first must be
Brave, kind and good and true;
And Washington was all of these,
Though but a boy like you."
"Perhaps," said Joe. "I'd better try
To be just good, and when
I am as old as Washington
I may be like him then."
Our Presidents
by Winifred Sackville Stoner, Jr.
A jingle to help recall the order of Presidents from George Washington - Woodrow Wilson
George Washington, Adams and Jefferson three
First rulers of Uncle Sam's land of the free:
Then Madison, Monroe and Adams again
All clever and upright and good honest men;
The Jackson, Van Buren and Harrison first,
Tyler and Polk whose terms were so curst
By war with the Mexicans who lost in the fray -
Then Taylor and Fillmore and Pierce held their sway.
Buchanan and Lincoln, Johnson and Grant,
Then Hayes, martyred Garfield, despiser of cant,
Arthur and Cleveland, Harrison (Ben)
McKinley the martyr, beloved by all men;
Then most energetic and strenuous Teddy
And plump William Taft for a second term ready
When Wilson was placed in this nation's great chair
And promised to always rule wisely and fair.
