Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber’s note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

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

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 surpasses 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