GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BOYHOOD.

George Washington was born in Virginia, on

February 22, 1732. The house in which he was

born was burned shortly

after his birth; and his father, who was a rich planter, did not build again, but moved his family to another plantation which he owned on the banks of the Rappahannock River. Here George Washington's childhood was spent. He had five brothers and

two sisters. Lawrence, the oldest of these, did much to help George Washington grow up into a noble man.

George went to school in a little log schoolhouse, which was called a "field school," because it was built in a field that was not worth planting. His teacher's name was Hobby. George was taught to read, to write, to spell, and to cipher. He was good in all but spelling.

One of his playmates was Richard Henry Lee, who grew up to be a famous man. When he

was nine years old, he wrote a letter to George Washington, who was about the same age. I think you can read it, but you will see that Richard Henry Lee could not spell "elephant" and that he did not begin his sentences with capital letters.

"RICHARD HENRY LEE TO GEORGE WASHINGTON:

"Pa brought me two pretty books full of pictures he got them in Alexandria they have pictures of dogs and cats and tigers and elefants and ever so many pretty things cousin bids me send you one of them it has a picture of an elefant and a little Indian boy on his back like uncle jo's sam pa says if I learn my tasks good he will let uncle jo bring me to see you will you ask your ma to let you come to see me.

"RICHARD HENRY LEE."

"GEORGE WASHINGTON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE :

"DEAR DICKEY I thank you very much for the pretty picturebook you gave me. Sam asked me to show him the pictures and I showed him all the pictures in it; and I read to him how the tame elephant took care of the master's little boy, and put him on his back and would not let anybody touch his master's little son. I can read three or four pages sometimes without missing a word. Ma says I may go to see you, and stay all day with you next week if it be not rainy. She says I may ride my pony Hero if Uncle Ben will go with me and lead Hero. I have a little piece of poetry about the picture-book you gave me, but I mustn't tell you who wrote the poetry.

"G. W.'s compliments to R. H. L.,
And likes his book full well,

Henceforth will count him his friend,

And hopes many happy days he may spend.

"I am going to get a whip top soon, and you may see it and

whip it."

In George Washington's letter, the sentences all begin with capitals, and none of the words are misspelled; for his mother corrected his mistakes and had him write the letter over again before he sent it.

When George was eleven years old, his father died and his brother Lawrence went to live at

Mount Vernon, which afterwards became George Washington's home, while George remained with his mother, who now became his teacher. She taught him to be orderly, to be honest, always

to speak the truth, and to be manly; and from her he learned that, "Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well."

George was a large and strong boy. He lived much out of doors. He learned to ride when very young, and all his life he was fond of horses and horseback riding. While yet a boy, he felt that there was no horse, however wild, that he could not master. His mother had a fine colt that had never been ridden because he was so wild and fiery.

One morning George, with some of his boy friends, went to the field and, after much trouble, caught the colt and put a bridle upon him. George sprang upon his back. The colt dashed up and down the field trying to throw his rider; but George sat firm. At last the colt gave one mighty bound into the air and fell to the ground dead.

When the boys went back to the house to breakfast, George's mother asked if they had seen the colt and how he was looking. For a moment no one spoke; then George replied, "The colt is dead. I killed him." His mother was very sorry to lose the colt, but she said she was glad her son would speak the truth.

George could beat all his playmates at running, jumping, swimming, and wrestling. To-day