The Project Gutenberg eBook of George Washington This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at gutenberg.telechargerjeux.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: George Washington Author: Ferdinand Schmidt Translator: George P. Upton Release date: September 4, 2019 [eBook #60236] Most recently updated: October 17, 2024 Language: English Credits: E-text prepared by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORGE WASHINGTON *** Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 60236-h.htm or 60236-h.zip: (https://gutenberg.telechargerjeux.org/cache/epub/60236/pg60236-images.html) or (https://gutenberg.telechargerjeux.org/files/60236/60236-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/georgewashington00schm Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). [Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON] Life Stories for Young People GEORGE WASHINGTON Translated from the German of FERDINAND SCHMIDT by George P. Upton Translator of “Memories,” “Immensee,” etc. With Four Illustrations [Illustration: A. C. McCLURG & CO.] Chicago A. C. McClurg & Co. 1911 Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co. 1911 Published September, 1911 The · Plimpton · Press [W · D · O] Norwood · Mass · U · S · A Translator’s Preface Among all the numerous life stories written by Ferdinand Schmidt for the delectation and education of German youth, none sures that of Washington. The author has condensed his material, drawn from the most authoritative sources, in a masterly manner, and presents it in a very attractive form. He has accompanied it by moralization which is pertinent, but never becomes tedious. It is questionable, indeed, whether any story of Washington’s life written for young people excels Schmidt’s in accuracy, conciseness, and general interest. As such this sketch of the Father of his Country from a German point of view is commended to American youth. G. P. U. Chicago, _May, 1911_ Contents Chapter Page I Boyhood 11 II The Surveyor 25 III Three Years in the Wilderness 32 IV The Ambassador 38 V Washington’s First Battles 45 VI A Year of Peace 54 VII Quarrel with the Mother Country 68 VIII A Trial of Arms 78 IX Washington Chosen Commander-in-Chief 82 X Washington Before Boston 86 XI The Declaration of Independence 93 XII Trying Times 98 XIII Washington Crosses the Delaware 106 XIV Lafayette—Kosciuszko—Steuben 113 XV Peace is Declared 120 XVI Washington’s Farewell to the Army 126 XVII Last Days 135 XVIII Blest be His Memory 142 Appendix 145 Illustrations Page George Washington _Frontispiece_ Washington among the Indians 34 Washington Crossing the Delaware 108 Washington as Proprietor 134 George Washington Chapter I Boyhood The contemplation of the wonders of the universe is always inspiring and uplifting—the crystalline purity of the sky, the splendor of the sunrise and sunset, the grandeur of the starry night, the fragrant forest, the smiling landscape, the tree, the flower, the boundless ocean, and all the countless manifestations of nature. But how much greater our iration and inspiration when we reverently contemplate the progress of a noble human soul toward ever higher and higher planes of perfection! Some of the good seed which it scatters may take root in our minds to strengthen and develop the best that is in us. We perceive the possibilities of the race and what we may ourselves become if the will to strive keeps pace with a love for what is good. In ancient times thoughtful people compared great and good souls to the stars. They rise in the spiritual firmament with a pure radiance and, ever anew breaking through the mists and clouds which obscure them, remain visible to later generations. Thus they become guiding stars for struggling human beings here below. The particular star which the reader who has the wisdom and the inclination to perfect himself is invited to study in these pages arose in the forests of Virginia on the twenty-second of February, 1732. It was there that little George first opened his eyes and looked out upon a world in which he was to play so great a part. There his negro mammy sat with him on the bench before the door, throwing crumbs to the turkeys and pigeons to amuse him, and there, under the rustling trees, he whittled his first horse out of hazelwood. George’s father, Augustine Washington, was a planter of English extraction. His first ancestor had emigrated from England when North America was still the undisputed property of the Indians. The territory which later became the United States is almost as large as the continent of Europe. Two hundred years ago the whole country was a trackless forest, broken only by enormous morasses, cane-brakes, and savannas or grassy prairies. In the prosperous plantation house on the east bank of the Rappahannock in which George was born, piety, industry, and probity had made their habitation. That was the first blessing with which heaven dowered the boy. Of course, living in a pure and healthy moral atmosphere is not in itself all that is required to guide a youth into paths of rectitude;