A man gathered all of his children

A man gathered all of his children together and said,

“Children when George Washington knocked down the cherry tree, he told his father honestly that it was him, now answer me honestly, Who knocked down the outhouse?”

Finally the youngest son admitted it was him, at which he received a lashing he wouldn’t soon forget.

“That’s not fair” complained the son, “George Washington didn’t get punished when he told the truth.”

“Son” replied the Father “The difference is, that George Washington’s a father wasn’t in the tree when he knocked it down!”