From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 30
"Whose daughter was she, then?"
"She was Powhattan's daughter; and her father was going to kill Captain Smith."
"No, she was not Powhattan's daughter; I tell you that Opechancanough was her father," rejoined the other
with some warmth.
"And I tell you that Powhattan was her father, and Opechancanough was her uncle. If you can't recite history
more correctly than that you had better keep still. Anybody knows that Pocahontas was the daughter of
Powhattan; and he was the greatest Indian chief in Virginia."
"And you are a conceited, ignorant fellow, to suppose that nobody knows anything but yourself."
And so the dispute became more heated, until both parties were greatly excited; whereupon a listening
school-mate called out:
"Leave it to George; he will settle it."
"Agreed!" responded one.
"Agreed!" shouted the other.
And George was called in to settle the controversy, both parties acquiescing in his decision.
George often acted as umpire among the boys in Mr. Williams' school. Sometimes, as in the above instance,
both parties chose him for umpire. Their confidence in his word and judgment led them to submit cases of
trial or controversy to him, whether relating to studies or games. Many disputes were thus brought to a speedy
termination by his discriminating and candid judgment.
Mr. Weems says of him at this time:
"He carried with him his virtues, his zeal for unblemished character, his love of truth and detestation of
whatever was false and base. A gilt chariot with richest robes and liveried servants could not have befriended
him so well; for, in a short time, so completely had his virtues secured the love and confidence of the boys, his
word was just as current among them as a law. A very aged gentleman, formerly a school-mate of his, has
often assured me that nothing was more common, when the boys were in high dispute about a question of fact,
than for some little shaver among the mimic heroes, to call out:
"'Well, boys, George Washington was there; George Washington was there; he knows all about it; and if he
don't say it was so, why, then we will give it up.'
"'Done,' exclaimed the adverse party.
"Then away they would run to hunt for George. Soon as his verdict was heard, the difficulty was settled, and
all hands would return to play again."
Another biographer, Mrs. Kirkland, says, "It is recorded of his school days that he was always head boy; and
whether this report be authentic or not, we can easily imagine the case to have been so, not exclusively by
means of scholarship, perhaps, but by the aid of certain other qualities, very powerful in school as elsewhere,
and which he so exhibited in after life. His probity, courage, ability and high sense of justice were probably
evident, even then, for there is every reason to believe their foundations were laid very early. The boys would,
therefore, respect him, and choose him for an umpire in their little troubles, as they are said to have done....