Deed

As George Washington hacked at his cherry tree, Joseph said to him This is the tree that fed Mary When she lingered by the way. As George Washington polished his bright blade, Joseph told him This cherry tree Bent down and nourished the mother and her babe. As George Washington felled the cherry tree, Voices of root and stem Cried out to him In heavenly accents, but he heard not what they had to say. Rather, he was making A clearing in the wilderness, A subtle discrimination Of church and state, By which his little hatchet Harvested a continental Bumper crop for Mary Of natural corn.