Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/26

 and rest sent a call for him. So he went to his farm at Mount Ver-non where he had work to do.

Wash-ing-ton was made the first Pres-i-dent of the "U-ni-ted States of A-mer-i-ca," and took his place on April 30, 1789. This post he kept for two terms of four years each. He did so well that it was said of him, "He was the first in war, the first in peace, the first in the hearts of his coun-try-men."

When Wash-ing-ton was on his way to his new place, the church bells rang peals of joy in all the towns which he went through, and young folks spread buds and blooms in his path. Flags and wreaths were in sight while the air was full of cheers and bands played tunes which made all glad.

With a firm hand Wash-ing-ton stood at the helm of the Ship of State and was her guide through rough seas.

There were threats of wars here and there and spite, rage, debts, and hard things came up from time to time, but the great man at the head knew just what to do.

The A-mer-i-can flag went to far off seas. In 1790, the good ship Co-lum-bi-a, of Bos-ton, Capt. Gray in charge, took the Stars and Stripes round the world with him.

The good work and pluck of the men of the sea in the cause of A-mer-i-ca, and their wish to free her from the yoke of Eng-land, have won high praise for them. They were as true as steel for the right. With hearts of oak and arms of strength they met the foe and made them their own. The fame of the Yan-kee tars will not die while the world lasts!

Wash-ing-ton felt great pride in the sea forces, and they in turn, felt pride in him and had love for him.