A Lesson from History
Everything’s easy after it’s done;
Every battle’s a ‘cinch’ that’s won;
Every problem is clear that’s solved -
The earth was round when it ‘revolved!’
But Washington stood amid grave doubt
With enemy forces camped about;
He could not know how he would fare
Till ‘after’ he’d crossed the Delaware.
Though the river was full of ice
He did not think about it twice,
But started across in the dead of night,
The enemy waiting to open the fight.
Likely feeling pretty blue,
Being human, same as you,
But he was brave amid despair,
And Washington crossed the Delaware!
So when you’re with trouble beset,
And your spirits are soaking wet,
When all the sky with clouds is black,
Don’t lie down upon your back
And look at ‘them.’ Just do the thing;
Though you are choked, still try to sing.
If times are dark, believe them fair,
And you will cross the Delaware!
by Joseph Morris
One of three of George Washington’s crossings of the Delaware River occurred on the night of 25 and 26 December 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. Once on the other side, he and his troops undertook a daring surprise attack and captured nearly 1,000 Hessians, or German soldiers hired by the British as mercenaries, along with their military supplies.
Image shown:“Washington Crossing the Delaware” (1851) by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (1816 - 1868)
Everything’s easy after it’s done;
Every battle’s a ‘cinch’ that’s won;
Every problem is clear that’s solved -
The earth was round when it ‘revolved!’
But Washington stood amid grave doubt
With enemy forces camped about;
He could not know how he would fare
Till ‘after’ he’d crossed the Delaware.
Though the river was full of ice
He did not think about it twice,
But started across in the dead of night,
The enemy waiting to open the fight.
Likely feeling pretty blue,
Being human, same as you,
But he was brave amid despair,
And Washington crossed the Delaware!
So when you’re with trouble beset,
And your spirits are soaking wet,
When all the sky with clouds is black,
Don’t lie down upon your back
And look at ‘them.’ Just do the thing;
Though you are choked, still try to sing.
If times are dark, believe them fair,
And you will cross the Delaware!
by Joseph Morris
One of three of George Washington’s crossings of the Delaware River occurred on the night of 25 and 26 December 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. Once on the other side, he and his troops undertook a daring surprise attack and captured nearly 1,000 Hessians, or German soldiers hired by the British as mercenaries, along with their military supplies.
Image shown:“Washington Crossing the Delaware” (1851) by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (1816 - 1868)
