Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/51

 Books were soon in the hands of young Mon-roe, but he was made to grow strong, too, in all ways, and taught the best rules of life. The lad was but nine years old when his fa-ther and men of the same sort made it plain by their strong words that they did not like the Stamp Act. Both sides of James Mon-roe's house were stanch for free-dom from Brit-ish rule. Talk of this kind was the first that came to the boy's ear. His mind was full of the thoughts this must bring. Hot words of war were on all lips and it was plain that such a thing must come.

At last came the drill, drill of those who would learn arms. James gave his mind to books as much as he could, and when six-teen years old was in col-lege. He staid there but one year, went home for the hot months, and was then off to the wars.

Soon Mon-roe had a high place in the "Third Vir-gin-ia." He fought at White Plains and Har-lem Heights, and won much praise.

When Wash-ing-ton crossed the Del-a-ware and fell on the foe at Tren-ton, Mon-roe was in the fight. Most of the troops at Tren-ton were Hes-sians, from a Ger-man state whose prince for pay had sent them to fight.

There was a cry, "Now, boys! Down with the blood-y Hes-sians! We'll show 'em what they get for pes-ter-ing A-mer-i-cans. Fol-low me. For the guns! Charge!"

A lieu-ten-ant in the "Third Vir-gin-ia," young James Mon-roe, at the head of his own com-pa-ny, took up that cry, and, with a flash of his sword made a straight dash at the foe on the stone bridge.

These Hes-sians broke and fled at the end of the fierce charge. Mon-roe was struck by a ball, but flung him-self