President’s Day

The Story of the Cherry Tree and Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

President's Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor two of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Today is a great day to remind children of the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. After telling children the story be sure to make the cherry cookie recipe below.

George Washington and the Cherry Tree

When George was about six-years old, he was given a hatchet. He went around chopping everything that came his way. One day, as he wandered about the garden by himself he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.

Some time after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. He came into the house in anger, and demanded to know who had cut away the bark. Nobody could tell him anything about it.

Just then George, with his little hatchet, came into the room. "George,'' said his father, "Do you know who has killed my beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden?''

This was a hard question to answer, and for a moment George was staggered by it, but quickly recovering himself he cried: "I cannot tell a lie, Father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.''

His father’s anger died and taking the boy tenderly in his arms, he said: "My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! Yes , though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of the purest gold!''

Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

1 teaspoon vanilla
2 sticks butter or margarine
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the vanilla, butter, egg yolks, and brown sugar until creamy. Add the flour and salt and mix well.

Have the children roll the dough into 1" balls and place them on greased cookie sheets. Have the children make a thumbprint in each ball and then place a maraschino cherry in each thumbprint.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. (Makes about 3 dozen cookies).

What are you doing with your charges for President's Day?