Lives of the presidents of the United States in words of one syllable

Front matter

Mq^

LIVES OF THE

PRESIDENTS

CHAPTER I. CHAPTER n

CHAPTER HI.

CHAPTER IV.

• • •

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER IX.

William Henry Harrison John Tyler , . . .

James Knox Polk .

Zachary Taylor .

Millard Fillmore

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

• II

. 36

. 46

, 58

. 64

. 72

. 80

, 90

Contents.

CHAPTER XII.

Franklin Pierce . . . . . , » 113

CHAPTER XIII.

James Buchanan . . . . . , • n?

CHAPTER XIV,

CHAPTER XV.

Andrew Johnson . . . . , , .144

CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVII.

Rutherford B, Hayes ...... 169

CHAPTER XVIII.

James Abram Garfield . . . , . .173

CHAPTER XIX.

Chester Allan Arthur . . . , , .180

CHAPTER XX,

Grover Cleveland . . . , , . 1S4

CHAPTER XXI.

Benjamin Harrison . . . . , .190

CHAPTER XXII.

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Lives of the Presidents.

CHAPTER I.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

In Vir-gin-i-a, near the banks of the stream we call the Po-to-mac, there is a spot known as Bridges' Creek. It is so small a place that you can not call it a town, and yet it is dear to the hearts of A-meri-cans, for here, on the 2 2d of Feb-ru-a-ry, 1732, George Wash-ing-ton was born. A few fig trees are still seen, and here and there a wild rose peeps out of the weeds to show you that once on a time a home was there. A few loose bricks and bits of lime still lie on the ground where the old farm-house once stood. In 1815 a small stone slab was put there to mark the spot.

The coat-of-arms of the Wash-ing-tons was a white shield with two red bars on it, and on top were three stars, so that the whole was like the stars and stripes, in a way. When George was three years old the Wash-ing-tons left this home and went to live in a low red house on a hill near Fr^d-e-ricks-burg

The tale of the way in which George cut the fruit tree has been told all through the years to the small folks of this land, to show his love of truth. He had been brought up to tell the truth, and to do what was right at all times. One who was near kin to him tells the tale: "One fine day," she said, *'when George was five years old, his Pa took us both by the hand and bade us come with him to look at the fruit trees. The whole earth was strewn with the fruit. But there was one tree that had not borne in the past, and was a choice kind. This was found to be cut. George hung back. 'Who has done th's ?' said Mr. Wash-ing-ton, in a rage, for the bark of the tree had been cut in such a way that one could not hope for fruit for 3^ears. The small boy came forth in a brave w^ay : ' I did it. Pa. I can not tell a lie, I cut it,' he said. Mr. Wash-ing-ton was so struck by this show of truth on the

George Washington.

part of his son that his rage left him, and he felt more proud than he had been of his boy."

George, from the time he was quite a small lad, kept a book in which he wrote down allthethings that took place in his life. When George was scarce a man in years he took charge of some troops sent out to save his State from the bands of fierce In-dians and the hosts of

French who sought to steal more land. One fourth of all the State troops were put in his charge, and for his work in this line he got a small pay that in our day would scarce be thought what a strong man

_DJ-

WASH-IXG-TON AND HIS MOTH-ER.

could live on. He did a good deal of hard work to train his men in the right way for the fight. He had just got his men so that they could well cope with the foe, when word came from the head of the State that bade him start on a new task. It had been heard that the French and In-dians had gone to work to build forts in a long line on the O-hi-o. To find out if this was so, Wash-ing-ton was sent to the front with a note to the chief man of the French troops. Though it was cold and bleak, young Wash-ing-ton did not shrink at the task set for him. He well knew at the time that most of his way would lead through dark woods by bad roads for miles and miles, but he did not flinch. Wash-ine-ton had four men with him when he made the start — a guide to show him the way and one who knew how to speak French, with two men to guard their goods and to do all the odd kinds of work there might be on hand. A hard time they had of it at first, as their way led through swamp and mire. At last they found the fort of which they were in search. Here Wash-ing-ton had a long talk with the chief of the French troops, who was a man who had been long in wars. Though kind, he was very firm when his rights were at stake. George did not gain much by this trip, as he was told that the French had all the land round

George Waskmgion.

neath their thumbs. They had sent out word to seize all men found at large who did not prove they were friends. When Wash-ing-ton got the note he was to take back, he made his way, with his men, home once more. It was more cold than when they had made their start, for the snow and ice lay thick on field and stream, and it was hard to get f through it all. At one time they had to ford a stream by means of a raft, and Wash-ing-ton made a slip from the damp logs. If he had not been caught by one of his men he might have lost his life.

The way in which Wash-ing-ton had

done his task won him much praise, and the head of his State went so far as to make a note of his act to the King of En-gland. He was at once made a a Col-o-nel, and two bands of troops were put in his charge to stop the French who sought to seize more land. As George Wash-ing-ton had no gold with which to pay his men, and as the State did not try to help him, it was not strange that in his first fight he did not win the day, though he strove hard and well to turn the tide. The head of the French troops praised George and his men for the brave way in which they had fought, and his own State at once sent him some gold to pay his troops. It was not long from this time that George took charge of a part of the troops of Gen-er-al Brad-dock. This was thought at the time to be quite a high post, so you may be sure he was not long in doubt if he should take it.

It was in the month of June, 1755, that the troops made their way to Fort Du-quesne, where they were to stay. They had scarce been on the road a day ere Wash-ing-ton fell sick ; but he kept up like a brave man, and in spite of his friends would march at the head of his men.

Wash-ing-ton knew so well the tricks of the shrewd foe they had to deal with, that he wished Brad-dock to let him take the lead with those men who knew the In-dians' ways best ; but he would not. Brad-dock had cause soon to know his course had been wrong, for the woods were thick with In-dians, who rent the air with their shrieks and war-whoops. From rocks and trees they sprang on the troops Uke wild beasts. Wash-ing-ton had his horse shot and Brad-dock got such a wound that there was no hope for his hfe. They had to flee from the foe and he died on the way. His last words were to Wash-ing-ton: "Oh! if I had but done as you said, all might have been well — or at least our loss would not have been so great." He left Wash-ing-ton a horse that had been with him through the wars and an old slave whom he had brought up to serve him.

When the news of this fight was brought to Gov-ern-or Din-wid-die, there was great fear of the In-dians now that they had shown how strong they were. They knew, too, that if it had not been for Wash-ing-ton, their hopes would all be lost. '* Brad-dock lost the fight," they said, ''but Wash-ing-ton was the one who saved the troops."

When the heads of the State met they made a vote to give Wash-ing-ton a large sum, to pay, if they could, for all he had done for them ; and they made him the chief of all the troops in the col-o-nies. His first step was to place his men so that they could stop the In-dians when they tried to rob and burn the homes of the land. He did this so well that he got much praise for his work. To aid him in this task he made all his men dress in the same i8

Lives of the Presidents.

garb as the In-dians. This was a great help to them, as it was hght and cheap.

On the 17th of Jan-u-a-ry, I7S9> Wash-ing-ton was wed to Mrs. Mar-tha Custis. who was as good as she was fair. He spent three months with his wife at their home, which was known as ''The White House," in New Kent, and at the close of that

Mount Ver-non, his old place. While here, Wash-ing-ton gave much time to the care of his farm, but he still held in view the state of things in our _,,-._ ^

land, and did not lose sight of the great moves of the day in the cares of home life.

At this time men felt that the rule of En-gland was a hard yoke to bear, as the

MOUNT VER-NON.

George Washitigton.

tax on goods made here was quite high. Lord North sought to make this tax more than it had been, with not so much as a wo.d to our folk till it was done. It was not strange, then, that all who were free born should feel that this was a great wrong that was thrust on them, and that they

BOS-TON TEA PAR-TY.

would not stand it. They did not mind as long as En-gland was just in her rule, but they did not like to have the King treat them as slaves.

So they got in-to a rage with the sense of their wrongs, and said they would have their rights, which was but just. They tore down the homes of those in their midst who were on the side of the Brit-ish,

Lives of the Presidents.

and souo^ht to kill those who would force on them the "Stamp Act," the tax they had cause to hate. The mob was full of rage, and there was great fear that a war would take place if En-gland did not at once put a stop to the Stamp Act. They still kept up the tax of three pence a pound on

TO ARMS ! TO ARMS ! "

tea, and sent three ships here full ; but our men one nieht broke the chests and threw it all in the sea.

From that time signs of war were seen, and the first fight took place at Lex-ing-ton, on the Lord's Day, be-tween Brit-ish and A-mer-i-can troops ; and then the cry went out through the length and breadth of our land : ''To arms ! To arms !"

In view of this fear of a great war that might soon come, men met at Phil-a-del-phi-a on May lo, 1775, and Wash-ing-tonwas made chief of all our troops. He took full charge of them in the latter part of June in the same year, near Bos-ton.

The Brit-ish had thrown up earth-works on the hills on all sides, so that help would be cut off from the town, and the plight of those who had to bear this siege was in truth a sad one.

As soon as Wash-ing-ton could train his raw troops he made out to get rid of the foe, and one morn the Brit-ish got quite a shock when they saw that a new line of earth-works had been thrown up by him and his men in the night, and that he was in the best place, too. This they saw with fear, and sent troops by night to drive off our men ; but a storm was in their way, so they could not do much harm. When the Brit-ish saw that they could not force our men to go, they thought it best to leave Bos-ton with their ships, which was done.

When our troops went in the town they found its streets strewn with things the Brit-ish had left in their haste. All the great guns had spikes in them so that they were of no use. But Wash-ing-ton was glad to think he had won the day, and

Lives of the Presidents.

much praise was his for the part he had in the work. He had a fear that the Brit-ish troops might be on their way to New York, so he sent part of

his men to aid those

they fight there in case should have to for their homes. But in-stead of that the Brit-ish ships made sail for Hal-i-fax, from whence their troops took all the line of forts in Cana-da and made the land theirs.

It was at this time that Rich-ard Hen-ry Lee, of Vir-gin-i-a, made a move in Congress that our land should rise up and say it would be free from Brit-ish rule ; and for this was drawn up the Dec-la-ra-tion oi In-de-pend-ence, and the chief men of the day put their names to it, and Con-gress, on the Fourth of Ju-ly, 1776, put it in force.

When Wash-ing-ton got this he read it in a loud

WASH-ING-TON READ-ING THE DEC-LA-RA-TION OF IN-DE-PEND-ENCE TO THE AR-MY.

voice to all his troops, and its strong words did much to raise their hopes. For some time they had feared that they could not stand or gain their rights with such a foe as En-gland, but they took heart from this time.

Lord Howe, the En-glish gov-ern-or, tried to get Wash-ing-ton to draw off his men, and sent to him word that if he would stop the war the King would not be hard on him for the part he took in it. But Wash-ing-ton said, *'No; I fight for a just cause, and I will not give it up."

The Brit-ish then went in for war and had all their troops land at Long Isl-and. They had three times more men than Wash-ing-ton and a host of large guns, while he had few. Wash-ing-ton stood on a hill near by and through his field-glass saw them land. He felt great fear in his heart as he made a count of the hordes of the foe. He cried out, as he thought of his own troops, '' My God ! What brave men must I this day lose !"

From that time it would seem that all went wrong for him. Our ranks were mown down and great loss of life took place as they sought to flee from the foe.

It was not long from this time that the dread news came to Wash-ing-ton that Gen-er-al Lee, who had been sent with a body of troops to guard

Lives of the Presidents.

Phil-a-del-phi-a was in the hands of the foe. This was the dark hour of the fight, and Wash-ing-ton's brave heart was sick with tear. He still tried to show a brave Iront, and did not let his men know how sad was his heart.

The Brit-ish now took up their stand at Tren-ton,

WASH-ING-TON CROSS-ING THE DEL-A-WARE,

and Wash-ing-ton, who by this time had got more troops to his aid, thought he would cross the Dela-ware, though it was full of ice, and come on them^ when they did not know it.

At four, on the dawn of Christ-mas day, he and his troops made their way through the ice in the stream in boats. The cold was great and the men in their poor clothes felt it a great deal, but still they would not back out, and kept on their way with brave hearts.

That day our troops put the foe to rout and took a great deal of spoils in the way of arms and large guns, for which they stood in great need. Great was the joy through the land when this news was known.

When the new year came fresh hope sprang up in all hearts, for Wash-ing-ton won the fights at Ben-ning-ton, Still-wa-ter, and Sar-a-to-ga, and in Oc-to-ber of 1777 all the Brit-ish troops in charge of Gen-er-al Bur-goyne gave up their arms to Gen-er-al Gates. He let them go home when he had their pledge that they would not take up arms in our war in the years to come.

That year, when the cold set in, Wash-ing-ton made a camp with his men in Val-ley Forge, and a hard time they had of it there. Food was scarce, and not a man in all his ranks had a good pair of shoes on his feet or a whole suit of clothes too his back. Some had no shoes at all, and when they went round their feet left stains of blood on the snow. Yet they all kept their hopes up and still had faith in Wash-ing-ton. In the spring the camp in this drear place broke up, and all were glad to leave it.

Our troops met the foe once more at Mon-mouth

Lives of the Presidents.

Court House, and through the fault of Gen-er-al Lee, who had not done as Wash-ing-ton bade him, we lost the bat-tie.

In this fight the Mar-quis de La-fay-ette, a young man from France who had come to our land to fight

WASH-ING-TON AT WEST POINT (neW YORk)

for our cause, which he knew to be just, got much praise for the brave stand he made.

In the spring of 1779 Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton, now the head of the Brit-ish troops, tried to get in his hands the posts and forts on the line of the

Hud-son. He made out to take two when Wash-ing-ton came up in time to cut him off from the rest. One of these forts, which was known as Ston-y Point, was won at the end of a long fight. Stores that were worth a small mint of gold fell into our hands.

Ben-e-dict A r - n o 1 d had been put in charge of the fort at West Point and some posts on the line that the Brit-ish wished to get. He made up his mind to give them up to the foe at a price.

With this thought in view, he soon made a deal with the chief of the foe to give up the posts and forts for a large sum /^ ^^^^.^ ^^^^ 01 gold. 1 he note \,o ^ ^ ^^ /-^.^^c-v^^ ^ i

Clin-ton in which he ^

made his wish known was sent by a young spy, Ma-jor An-dre, of the Brit-ish troops. On the way back to his fort An-dr6 met three men in the dress of our troops and was made to halt. They found the lines from Ar-nold in his boots, and brought him to the camp of our troops. Pie was tried and hung as a spy. Wash-ing-ton felt sad

^4:

that he must cut this young man off in the prime of his hfe. Yet he knew he must do it or our ranks would soon be run down by such men. But Ben-e-dict Ar-nold had by this time made his way in great haste to a ship and set sail for En-gland, for he was in fear of his life. His name is one that all hear with scorn, as a wretch who

MA-JOR AN-DRE.

•

would have sold his land into the nands of the foe. The land to which he fled gave him a home, but no friends. Let us not speak of him in the same breath as those brave men who fought and bled that we might live in the land of the free.

With the help of the troops of brave French who had been sent to us through La-fay-ette, Oc-to-ber 19th, 1 78 1, the Brit-ish troops, in charge of Cornwal-lis, gave up their arms to Wash-ing-ton at Yorktown. This was a great stroke of luck that no one could have thought would take place.

1 1 was not long from this time that news was brought to Wash-ing-ton that it was the wish of our folk that he should take on him the name and crown of a King. This might w^ell tempt one fond of pomp and state, but Wash-ing-ton was not that kind of a man. He spoke his mind in such strong words that they did not press a crown on him.

In March of 1783 came the news of peace through the land, which Wash-ing-ton read with joy to his troops. Yet he shed tears at the thought that they must soon leave him.

Not long from that time Wash-ing-ton gave up the charge of his troops and said good-by to those who were his aids in the war. '* I may not come to each of you and take my leave," he said with tears

Lives of the Presidents.

in his eyes, *'but I shall be glad if you each will come to me and let me grasp you by the hand."

Wash-ing-ton now had a wish to go back to his home at Mount Ver-non, where he could rest from

the toils and cares of war. He knew that there was no fear of the Brit-ish, and that our land, for the time at least, was in peace.

At Mount Ver-non he gave his time up, for the most part, to the care of his farm.

He rose at the break of day, as a rule, and rode through the fields. He wrote a great deal each day to his friends, and did much hard work on his place, which he did not find was in so good a state since the war.

When our men met in Phil-a-del-phi-a in May, 1787, to fix on the laws of the land, Wash-ing-ton met with them ; and the laws then fixed on and put

TOMB OF WASH-ING-TON's MOTH-ER.

George IVashinzton.

in force are much the same as those we use to-day.

Then Wash-Ing-ton was at once thought of as the

right man for Pres-i-dent. You know the way we

choose a Pres-i-dent in this land is by votes. All

men do not think the same way or hold the same

views, so there have been at all times two or more

bands of men who chose whom they would have

for Pres-i-dent

and Vice-Pres-

i-dent. The

side that gets

the most votes

winstheday, of

course. In our

day these two

bands of men

are known as

Dem-o-crats

and Re-pub-li-

cans. In years

past the last were known by the name of Whigs at

one time. Wash-ing-ton did not wish, at his age

(near three-score), to take a place of such great care

and trust, but he was led to do so at last. On his

way to take this high place he was hailed with joy

by all. The bells rang out glad peals from the

church spires of the towns through which he passed,

WASH-ING-TON S JOUR-NEY and young girls clad in white strewed his path with sweet buds and bloom, and wreaths were hung and flags flung out to the breeze, and the cries of crowds

•n rent the air.

While Pres-i-dent Wash-ing-ton lived in a plain way (for pomp and show were not to his taste), he was prompt in his ways, and did all things by rule. He was kind to those who served him, but strict, and would not let them slight their work. When one of his clerks who came late each day gave as a cause more than once that his watch was slow, he said to him : ''Well, you must get a new watch, or I must get a new clerk."

The In-dians once more stirred up war and Wash-ing-ton sent out a small force to bring them to terms. He served two terms, but would not take a third.

IN-STALL-A-TION OF WASH-ING-TON.

George Washington.

Wash-ing-ton spent the last years of his Hfe in peace at home. A-mer-i-ca could ask no more from his hands — his work was done. His arm had been the one to save her in the dark hours that came ere the dawn that made us free, and now he must have rest. On the 12th day of De-cem-ber, 1799, he went out to take a ride.

At noon the snow fell and the rain, but he went his rounds just the same, in spite of it. He had felt ere he went on this ride that his throat was sore, and no doubt he caught more cold as he made his rounds through the storm. He had to take to his bed, and it was with great pain that he could breathe. All known cures were tried, but in vain. The end was near. At ten in the night they gave up all hope, and his

COINS.

Lives of the Presidents.

wife was brought to the couch where the brave man lay in pain. He tried to speak once or twice, _^=,,,^^-_^ , _ but did not have

the strength. At length he said, in a low voice that was full of hope for the life to come, '''Tis well, 'tis well ! " These were his last words. What a wail went up from far and near when

WASH-ING-TON S MON-U-MENT IN NEW YORK.

the sad news was known. More than one strong man cried like a child. The Old World and the New heard of his death with grief. They felt that a great man was lost to the world when that brave heart had ceased to beat. His name is held dear to this day in the hearts of all who live in the land he loved. His birth-day has been kept each year since he died, and throngs have gone to look at his tomb at Mount Ver-non, and felt it to be a boon to stand by the spot where the great man lies.

As we have said, Wash-ing-ton did not think it wise to serve for a third term. There is no doubt that this course led Jef-fer-son and the rest who came af-ter him, to feel that it was best to walk in his steps and serve but for eight years. So that now we have grown to look on two terms as all that a Pres-i-dent should hope for at the hands of his friends.

When Gen-er-al Grant, at the close of the war in which he had won so much fame, was placed at the head of the land, he served two terms. There was some talk of a third. His friends felt that they could not do too much to show their love and pride in the man who had led our troops so well and put an end to the sad war. But there was a cry raised by the press that though it was not down in the law of the land, yet it was a fixed fact that no one had ruled for more than eight years, and no one should hope to do so. So the friends of Grant feared to bring his name out, though they were in such force they might have won the day. There were some well known names kept back till it was seen that Grant would not be named. Gar-field's was one, and it was at last voted on and won the first place.