Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/69

 in 1812, he fought in a way that brought his fame up to a high point.

From his farm in O-hi-o, where his home was for twelve years, he had a call to be Pres-i-dent. Some tried to put him down, slur him, and say he had to live in a log-cab-in with naught to drink but hard ci-der. His friends took up the cry, and soon small log huts sprang up all o'er the land, and hard ci-der came to be much in use just then.

In 1841 Gen. Har-ri-son was made Chief with great pomp. There was much joy in the land and folks had hopes that all would go well. Some of the best of men went to help him. His Sec-re-ta-ry of State was Dan-iel Web-ster, whose name stands with that of Hen-ry Clay at the top of the list of the great men of those days.

DANIEL WEBSTER.

Har-ri-son was 68 years of age when he took the chair. Few of our Pres-i-dents were so old. His life had been much on the field, in fights, and on the rough lands in the West. The hard strain of his new post, and the change from his home life made him ill just when he had need of his best health and strength. In just one month from the day he took his seat, the good man who had been tried and found as true as steel was dead.

Grief was in all hearts. A fear came, too, lest new and strange hands might wreck the Ship of State.