Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/35

 for the good of those in his care. While Thom-as was there the last speech was made ere the chief left his home. The white boy could not make out the words but he saw that the red man felt what he said, and made those who heard him know what he meant they should.

From the time when the child first heard the birds sing in the woods he would try to mock them. He had a love for their sweet songs and soon could make his own. His kind fa-ther, who saw his taste, bought him a vi-o-lin and glad hours were spent with it.

Not far from the farm house at Shad-well, was a small school, and here Thom-as Jef-fer-son, who one day would write the "Dec-la-ra-tion of In-de-pend-ence," went, at the age of five.

When the boy was nine years old he went to live with a wise, good man, Rev. Wm. Doug-lass, who could preach as well as teach. Here the lad took up Lat-in, Greek, and French. All were good for him, but the last he had cause to use much in those days to come when he must speak in France for the good of his own land. Though five years in this home, he oft saw his own folks, for Shad-well was near.

One day there came a sad blow at the farm-house. The good fa-ther was dead. No one thought death would come so soon to a man so strong and well. Thom-as was then half a score and four years old. The home farm was left to him. The last words of the fa-ther were that the boy should go on with his book work. So then he went nine miles off from his home to the school of Rev. James Mau-ry, who made him fit for col-lege. In two years more Thom-as Jef-fer-son took up his life at Will-iams-burg, Va.,