An Officer Who Learnt a Lesson

During the American War of Independence, an officer and a group of soldiers were trying to lift a heavy tree from the ground. They needed it for a battery. There were not enough soldiers for the work, but the officer did nothing — he only shouted orders.

Suddenly, another older officer, not in uniform, rode up on his horse.

“Hello!” he said to the officer of the group. “Why don’t you help your men to lift that tree?”

“Can’t you see that I am an officer?” was the reply.

“Oh, you are, are you?” said the older officer. He got down from his horse and helped the men. He worked until drops of sweat covered his face.

When they finished and put the tree in its place, the older man turned to the young officer and said, “Good-bye, sir. Next time when you don’t have enough men for this kind of work, call the Commander-in-Chief. I shall be happy to help you again.”

It was George Washington himself, the Commander-in-Chief of the army.